Biblical Predestination: Does God Choose Who Is Saved?

Based on the Bible Message "Romans 8 Series — Predestination: A Biblical Refutation of Calvinism," by Scott Mitchell – Unlock the Bible Now!

Does God predetermine who will be saved and who will be lost? Is salvation reserved for certain individuals chosen before the foundation of the world, or has God given mankind the free will to believe on Jesus Christ?

These questions have divided Christians for centuries, particularly concerning the doctrine of Calvinism. Yet the answer to biblical predestination must come from Scripture rather than theological systems or human reasoning.

The Apostle Paul addresses predestination in Romans 8, but understanding his teaching requires us to distinguish between God's foreknowledge, His predetermined purpose, and man's responsibility to believe the gospel.

The Scriptures do not contradict themselves. When we allow the Bible to interpret the Bible, the meaning becomes clear.

Biblical Predestination and the Meaning of Romans 8

Paul writes in Romans 8:29:

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Notice carefully what the verse says. Those whom God foreknew were predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son.

It does not say they were predestinated to believe. It does not say God arbitrarily selected certain individuals for salvation while condemning others without giving them an opportunity to believe.

The predetermined purpose is conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.

To understand this distinction, we must first examine two words that are frequently treated as though they mean the same thing: foreknow and predestinate.

Biblical Predestination: Foreknowledge Is Not Predetermination

The Greek word translated foreknow is proginosko, meaning to know beforehand.

We find this word used in Acts 26:5, where Paul refers to those who knew him from the beginning of his life among the Jews.

The meaning is straightforward. They possessed prior knowledge of Paul.

God's foreknowledge is infinitely greater because He is omniscient. He knows all things before they occur. But knowing something beforehand does not necessarily mean causing it to happen.

The Greek word translated predestinate is proorizo, meaning to determine or appoint beforehand.

These are two distinct words expressing two distinct concepts.

God can know beforehand who will believe on Jesus Christ without removing that person's ability to choose.

Confusing foreknowledge with predestination leads to the assumption that because God knows who will be saved, He must have predetermined who would believe.

But that is not what Romans 8:29 says.

God predetermined that those who believe would be conformed to the image of His Son.

Does Biblical Predestination Eliminate Free Will?

One of the fundamental problems with the Calvinistic interpretation of predestination is the idea that mankind possesses no free will concerning salvation.

Yet Scripture repeatedly demonstrates that man has the ability to choose.

Consider Leviticus 1:3, where the Lord gives instructions concerning the burnt offering:

"He shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD."

The words voluntary will are significant.

God permitted the individual to bring an offering willingly. This establishes a biblical principle that mankind possesses a will capable of making choices.

Throughout Scripture, men are called to obey God, turn from evil, believe His Word, and seek His mercy.

Why would God call men to make choices if they possessed no ability to respond?

How Prayer Demonstrates Free Will

Romans 8 begins this discussion by describing the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:26 states:

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Paul does not say we do not know how to pray. He says we do not always know what we should pray for.

We may ask for something that is not according to God's will because we do not fully understand His purposes.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf according to the will of God.

This intercession demonstrates that our petitions are personal. We have the freedom to ask, even when our requests are not properly aligned with God's will.

James 5:16 declares:

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

James then points to Elijah, whose prayers concerning rain were effective.

Prayer accomplishes something.

God's foreknowledge does not eliminate the effectiveness of prayer or the voluntary participation of His children in seeking His will.

If every prayer and decision were predetermined without any exercise of man's will, what purpose would there be in the Spirit interceding when we pray amiss?

The Spirit's intercession demonstrates both our limitations and God's gracious provision.

Was Jesus Christ Free to Obey the Father?

The question of free will becomes even more significant when we consider the obedience of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. He willingly submitted Himself to the Father's will and suffered for our redemption.

His obedience was not meaningless or mechanical.

In the wilderness, Satan tempted Christ and offered Him the kingdoms of the world. Yet Jesus rejected the temptation and remained obedient to the Father.

His willingness to suffer and die for our sins is central to understanding His sacrifice.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not have His life taken from Him against His will.

He willingly gave Himself for us.

This truth also helps explain the mystery Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 2:7:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:"

The word translated ordained comes from the same Greek word associated with predestination.

God determined beforehand that His hidden wisdom would be revealed unto our glory.

The mystery of Christ's death for our sins was part of God's eternal redemptive purpose. Yet the Lord Jesus willingly fulfilled that purpose through obedience to the Father.

God's predetermined plan did not diminish the significance of Christ's willing sacrifice.

Biblical Predestination and God's Plan of Salvation

If biblical predestination does not mean that God arbitrarily chooses individuals for salvation, how does someone become one of God's elect?

Paul explains the process in 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14:

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Notice the relationship between salvation, belief, and sanctification.

God calls us through the gospel. We believe the truth, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us.

Paul gives the same order in Ephesians 1:13:

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

The order is unmistakable.

We hear the gospel. We believe on Jesus Christ. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The sealing follows belief.

Biblical Predestination and Being Chosen in Christ

Being chosen in Christ does not mean we were saved before we believed.

God established His plan of salvation before the foundation of the world, but Scripture tells us how we become participants in that plan.

We are called through the preaching of the gospel, and we respond by believing the truth.

The moment we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit seals us, sanctifies us, and places us into the body of Christ.

We become children of God.

Our standing in Christ is not the result of personal merit or worthiness. It is entirely dependent upon the grace of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ.

We are not saved because we are better than those who reject Him.

We are saved because we believe the gospel.

What Does Romans 8:30 Teach About Predestination?

Paul continues in Romans 8:30:

"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

This passage summarizes God's predetermined purpose for those who are in Christ.

Those who are predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son are called through the gospel.

Those who believe are justified through Jesus Christ.

And those who are justified will ultimately be glorified with Him.

The fulfillment of this glorification is connected to the redemption of our bodies, which Paul discussed earlier in Romans 8.

We presently suffer in bodies subject to corruption, but we await the adoption, which is the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:23 declares:

"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

God has already determined the glorious destiny of those who belong to Jesus Christ.

We will be delivered from corruption and conformed to the image of His Son.

That is the hope of biblical predestination.

Salvation Is Offered to Whosoever Will Believe

Perhaps the clearest passage concerning man's responsibility to believe is Romans 10:13:

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The word whosoever is not restricted to a privileged group of individuals who were arbitrarily selected for salvation.

The gospel is proclaimed so that men might hear, believe, and call upon Jesus Christ.

Paul continues in Romans 10:17:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Faith comes through hearing God's Word.

Not everyone who hears the gospel will believe it. Some reject the truth.

Romans 10:16 acknowledges this:

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"

The fact that some do not obey demonstrates the responsibility of mankind to respond to God's Word.

God desires men to be saved. He has provided redemption through His Son and calls men to believe the gospel.

We should never confuse His foreknowledge with a doctrine that removes man's responsibility to believe.

The True Hope of Biblical Predestination

Biblical predestination is not intended to create confusion about whether we are among a predetermined number selected for salvation.

It is intended to give believers confidence in God's eternal purpose.

God has predetermined that those who belong to Jesus Christ will be conformed to His image.

Our present suffering will end. Our bodies will be redeemed. We will be glorified with Christ and delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

This is the promise revealed in Romans 8.

We do not need to understand every mystery of God's foreknowledge to believe His Word. Nor must we reconcile every philosophical argument concerning free will before trusting Jesus Christ.

We simply need to believe the gospel.

Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

If you have not trusted Him as your Savior, do not spend your life wondering whether you are one of God's elect.

The Scripture says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

If you are a whosoever, you can be saved.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.