What Does It Mean to Say We’re Predestined?

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:

[brando]

I like that last little description.
I also like the one I came up with (at least I don’t know anyone who’s said it like this):
“We do not know what God knows about us, until we freely choose it.”

[cazglen]

It’s so refreshing to hear issues like predestination explained intelligently and succinctly. Thank you so much, Dr. Craig.

[drewm]

God foreordains all events. The fact that the future is determinate, however, does not mean the future is determined.

[juhfreak]

Thanks for the informative video! The Lutheran view as I understand it is that Christ was predestined, and if you're in Christ, you're counted among the predestined

[danielb.]

that quote at the end is awesome, gotta write that one down

[ReasonableFaithSA]

The Greek word for predestine is proorizó, which means to foreordain, predetermine, or mark out beforehand. This word is used mainly by Paul, with one other instance in Acts.

The Greek verb for choose or elect (eg You did not choose me but I chose you John 15:16) is eklegó, which means to pick out for myself, choose, elect, or select. The corresponding adjective is eklektos, which means chosen out, elect, choice, or selected. The correponding noun is ekloge, which means a choosing out, selecting, choice (by God).

The Greek adjective for called is kletos (eg many are called but few are chosen Matthew 22:14) means called, invited, summoned by God to an office or to salvation. The corresponding verb for call is kaleo, which means to call, summon, invite. This has a weaker sense than chosen, and they are contrasted in Matt 22:14.

The words predestine, election and choose contain the claim that God selects. It may sound offensive to us and unfair, but is WLC and Molinism trying to water this down to avoid the offence?

[dcouric]

Wonder if that fits with my brother's "God is 100 percent responsible for our salvation; we are 100 percent responsible for our sin."

[sopad]

Wow…that answer didn’t really answer the question.( it just went circle, round and round)

[stevepierce]

What does it mean to say that? It means that people say that we are predestined. Lots of people say lots of nonsense.

[sederskierpodcast]

"It is up to God whether we find ourselves in a world in which we are predestined, but it is up to us whether we are predestined in the world in which we find ourselves."

This makes absolutely no sense...

If in the first part God decides to actuate a world in which we are NOT predestined, then the second half of that statement is not true because we can't be predestined haha...

[joop]

What does he mean by "everybody agrees with predestination in that sense"?

[justinbenglick]

The people who never heard the word of Christ would not have believed in him if they had heard. That's what Craig is saying. That would include ~ 100 billion people. Does anyone really believe this?

[restorationacresfarm]

I think the more pressing and appropriate question isn't what predestination means but what God predestines all of us for. Biblically it's never to eternal life it's always God choosing people, places and things for service and reward. Buy the book, "Chosen to Serve" by Shawn Lazar!

[MarkNOTW]

If a chosen group of people were predestined for salvation apart from their ability to freely choose, then the cross of Christ is meaningless.

[Tom-joup]

I like and read a lot of Dr. Craig, but he's mistaken here. Molinism and the concept of "middle knowledge" can be found nowhere in scripture. It was invented to try to get around the clear teaching of scripture, that God chooses to have mercy on those whom he chooses. It's not about knowing in advance but about His sovereign choice.

[sopad]

We have free will. Although God can say what our future will be because He is all knowing ( which is what you describe as predestination anyway?), as children of God, loved by God, gifted with Grace and Love, isn’t it up to our obedience as His children and our love for our God the Father that determines if we get to see Him in His Holiness in Heaven?

[gojohnnygo]

Man is the only creation of God that has freewill. No other creatures on earth has that.
Therefore God predestined the way before the foundation of the world and you decide which path to the narrow gate.

[jayahladas]

If "No free will to choose" were true then the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment would be a joke. Think on these things:. how could souls be judged and held responsible if they were predestined without free will? Is that just?.

[dominickefrim]

I've often struggled with predestiny and freewill. God is certainly capable of knowing which way you will choose because time has no bearing.he can look into the past, future and everything in between.

If he couldn't see into the future his salvation would be based on when you make that choice rather than if you've already chosen.

Calvinists vs Armeniasts argument. Both sides hold some valid viewpoints but i tend to believe God knows the future.

[klaudiacarolinemaianeves]

Predestination sucks simple as that.. we didnt ask to be born or whatever god just decides arbitrarily who gets saved