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1 Bible quotes for Predestination​​

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2 Bible quotes against Predestination​​

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1 - Bible quotes for Predestination​​

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Romans 9,9-23

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9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that GOD’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is GOD unjust? Not at all! 15 For he saith to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16  It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on GOD’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore GOD has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does GOD still blame us? For who is able to resist His will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to GOD? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? 22 What if GOD, although choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—.

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The doctrine of predestination originated in the third century AD. It originates from Augustine, one of the ancient "church fathers" of the Roman Empire. According to this doctrine, the eternal fate of every human being is sovereignly predetermined by GOD; some for eternal life, others for eternal torment in hell. No one can change their fate in the slightest or influence it through their own decisions. This theology was advocated, among others, by Bishop Ambrose of Milan (4th century AD). Its most famous representative is John Calvin (16th century AD). Calvinism was named after him.

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The doctrine of Calvinism is extremely dangerous because it presents a false image of GOD. It indirectly implies that GOD acts arbitrarily, favoring certain people for no apparent reason while allowing others to perish without cause. Calvinism emphasizes GOD's omnipotence and sovereignty while simultaneously ignoring other important attributes of GOD, including justice and mercy. ​GOD is omniscient. There is nothing GOD does not know. Since GOD also knows the future, He can predict things before they happen. For GOD leaves nothing to chance. Because GOD is omnipotent, He can plan everything precisely so that His will is fulfilled. Furthermore, GOD is able to influence people in every way. However, this does not mean that GOD remotely controls us humans like robots or determines our fate in advance, as Calvinism teaches.

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All people are sinners and, according to GOD's law, deserve death. In the book of Romans, Paul explains that no one seeks GOD on their own. Since all people are guilty, we are all dependent on GOD's mercy. A sinner has no claim to GOD's mercy, nor the right to call GOD "unjust" when GOD condemns them, or to question GOD's actions. For everyone is condemned according to their own guilt. If GOD condemned all sinners, that would be just. On the other hand, GOD is not unjust if he shows mercy to some sinners. GOD is not obligated to show mercy to us. It is GOD's sovereign decision. Our own efforts are of no use.

 

GOD "makes" or "appoints" some people to be vessels of wrath, allowing them to act wickedly according to their sinful nature, in order to ultimately judge them for their actions. Pharaoh proved himself to be an evil man throughout his life. But he was by no means without willpower. He consciously chose to resist GOD. That GOD "raised up" Pharaoh means that He caused him to reveal his wickedness. Instead of listening to GOD's warnings and heeding His signs, Pharaoh hardened his heart. But instead of destroying Pharaoh instantly, as his wickedness deserved, GOD patiently endured him for a time, ultimately demonstrating His power through him so that GOD's name would be known throughout the earth. After hardening himself repeatedly, Pharaoh was ultimately hardened by GOD, making repentance impossible. This means that GOD left Pharaoh to his own devices without showing him mercy. This was not unjust, but the natural consequence of his disobedience. The blame for his downfall therefore lies with Pharaoh, not with GOD. GOD shows both great patience with sinners, leading them to repentance, and great mercy with those who allow themselves to be led to repentance. Israel, too, repeatedly sinned against GOD by breaking His law. Nevertheless, GOD heard Moses when he interceded for the people and showed mercy on a portion of Israel.

 

GOD's sovereignty is not demonstrated by creating people to perish, but by offering His salvation to those who are at risk of perishing. The image of the "pot and the potter" used by Paul illustrates that GOD creates new people from those already tainted with sin by granting them grace and a new heart so that they may be holy, while condemning others who reject His grace. When Paul writes that it is "not up to the one who wills," he does not mean that a person's will plays no role in their salvation. On the contrary: It takes a conscious decision of the will to follow GOD's call to repentance, even though the first step always comes from GOD. However, repentance and contrition are prerequisites for receiving forgiveness. GOD does not save or condemn anyone arbitrarily. Rather, our fate is always the result of our choices.

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In the case of Jacob and Esau, election refers to GOD's promise of offspring. GOD chose Jacob to continue the line of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. This was not based on works, but on GOD's sovereign decision. GOD's favoritism does not mean that Esau was condemned. On the contrary: Esau, too, was blessed by GOD. This is a different context than the example of Pharaoh. It is not about salvation.

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2nd Timothy 2,20 f.

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20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

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Paul divides people into two groups: 1. "vessels of honor" and 2. "vessels of dishonor." The first group includes all those who obey GOD and do His will. The second group, however, includes those who disobey GOD and disregard His will. All of GOD's works are perfect and good. This means that GOD does not create evil people. This would contradict GOD's nature of love. Likewise, GOD does not force people to do evil. It is sin that corrupts the human heart and character. Paul explains that every person has the potential to be a vessel of honor. The precondition for this is that the person purifies themselves from sin and stays away from ungodly people. This, in turn, makes it clear that no person is helplessly at the mercy of their supposedly predetermined fate, as Calvinists teach. Instead, every person can partake of GOD's grace by repenting and obeying His commandments.

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Romans 8,28-30

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28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 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. 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.

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Ephesians 1,3-6

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3 Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 according as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: 5 having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.

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Ephesians 1,11

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11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: (...).

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The key to a correct understanding of these statements lies in the words "in Christ." They express that a person's election depends on their free choice. Before their conversion, believers were not yet children of GOD. Accordingly, they were not among the elect, although they—like every other person—are called to salvation. Through their decision for Jesus, this changed. Thus, in principle, every person who chooses Jesus has the opportunity to share in election and thus in the heavenly blessings of the future world that GOD promises to His children. This fact contradicts the teachings of Calvinism.

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The word "predestined" appears only four times in the New Testament. It refers to various groups of people, including Israel, Jesus, Jesus' disciples, angels, and the church. Crucially, election always refers to service, not salvation; especially since Jesus and the angels do not require redemption. Eternal life is reserved for believers, and fire is reserved for the devil and all the ungodly. Even though GOD knows the outcome of every person in advance, no one's fate is predetermined. Whether we are saved or perish depends on our personal choice.

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2nd Peter 1,10

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10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (...).

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This is another verse that refutes the doctrine of predestination. In context, it's about the holy way of life that every Christian should strive for, which determines the outcome. If a person's salvation were already predetermined from the beginning, Peter's statement would make no sense. Then no believer would need to strive for a godly life.

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Matthew 22,14

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14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

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Jesus' statement that many (meaning all) people are called to eternal life also contradicts the doctrine of predestination. GOD wants all people to be saved. But not everyone is willing to change their lives and be reconciled with GOD. The responsibility lies with us humans. Even though everyone is called to eternal life, only a few reach the goal.

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John 6,44

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44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.

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John 12,32

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14 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

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GOD draws all people to Himself; not just a portion. GOD does not exclude anyone from eternal life. Yet, because we humans have our own will, it is up to us whether we allow GOD to draw us (as happened with the tax collectors and sinners) or whether we resist Him (as did most Pharisees and scripture scholars). GOD shows us the way and tests whether we obey Him and follow His path. When we do this, our faith and our relationship with GOD can grow. If we refuse, there are consequences. Those who continually resist GOD harden themselves and ultimately risk perdition.

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2 - Bible quotes against Predestination

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1st Timothy 2,3 f.

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3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our Saviour; 4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

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2nd Peter 3,9

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9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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Ezekiel 33,11

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11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

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It is GOD's express will that people repent and be saved. For GOD loves all people and takes no pleasure in seeing them perish. Therefore, He offers reconciliation to all. These unequivocal statements demonstrate that GOD loves all people and that no one is indifferent to Him. This, in turn, clearly contradicts the doctrine of Calvinism. GOD presents every person with a choice and calls them to follow His call. At the same time, GOD makes the consequences of our decision clear to us, so that no one will have an excuse.

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1st John 2,2

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2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

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John explains that Jesus died for all people so that all who are willing to believe in him and turn to GOD will be saved. GOD's invitation is for all people, not just a few. Otherwise, John's statement would be nonsensical.

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