[Faith-talk] Scripture Regarding Predestination

[Everett Gavel]

Hello Antonio, and all,

My pastor can share the scripture and some specifics on 
Predestination much more clearly than I am able to 
right now.  So I asked him to help me respond to your 
questions and statements on this topic, Antonio.  His 
reply is below.  I hope it can help anyone reading 
this, with any questions you may have on this Biblical 
topic. All I ask of each of you who read it, and who 
may be Christ-followers, is to please pray first.  Ask 
God to lead you with His wisdom and His discernment on 
this topic.


God Bless Your Efforts--and Your Path,
Everett


----- Original Message ----- 
Antonio,

I would encourage you to read John 6 (whole chapter), 
Romans 9 (whole chapter), and Ephesians 1 (whole 
chapter).  We are not just taking out a few verses, but 
we are putting them in the context in which we find 
them, which, in the case for predestination (election), 
it is explain in whole chapters.  I would start there.

Secondly, you said, "Then, what is it worth the effort, 
if said effort may be fruitless?"  On this their are 
two important things: 1)  Your effort will never get 
you into heaven unless you are completely perfect!  You 
are not, and neither am I, and only Jesus is!  This is 
works based righteousness, and it is a sin (Eph. 
2:8-10; Isa.64:6).  In works based righteousness, 
rather than gift righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21, correct 
view), the question becomes, 'How good is good enough 
for God to love me?'  This is the wrong question to be 
asking.  How good is good enough to satisfy a holy 
angry God?  Answer: Perfection!  And unless you are 
perfect, you need grace, and that my friend is where 
the doctrine of predestination is such a beautiful 
thing.  Grace (gift righteousness) says, "God loves me, 
therefore I can become good."  Not, "If I become good 
by trying really hard, God will love me."  2) 
Predestination does not work like you think.  Again, 
going back to your quote, all your effort is useless, 
and it does not benefit a perfect God, but it is not in 
vain.  Listen carefully.  If you love Jesus, then you 
are predestined as one of his children.  If you ask the 
question, "Well, what if I love him and he doesn't love 
me," then you are of the elect.  God would never keep 
anyone from salvation that desired it!  But, the desire 
was not yours, it was by God's divine grace that you do 
desire him.  That is what makes election so beautiful! 
You don't deserve it, but he gives it to you, not 
because of you or anything you've done, but because of 
his amazing grace!  When properly understood, this will 
drop you to your face in humility, because you 
understand for the first time that God doesn't love you 
for the things you do, but that he loves you despite 
the things you do--which, in turn, will make you stop 
doing the stupid things you do.  Understand?

I have believed how you do, my friend, and I know the 
lonely and endless road of sin you are on, just trying 
to maintain your salvation until the end.  If you love 
Jesus, no one can pluck you from his hand, not even you 
(Jn. 10:28).

Third and finally, God does love the world, but that 
passage is speaking of those who are elect from the 
world, just has people from every nation, tongue, and 
tribe will be saved (Rev. 5).  Remember, if you want to 
be saved, you are elect; if you do not want to, you are 
not elect.  Simple.

If you have any questions either email Everett or 
myself at: jeremy at themovementchurch.info


In His Grip,

Pastor Jeremy



----- Original Message ----- 
Hi,

So, acording to the doctrine of predestination, God has
already decided who
will follow him? I may or may not be destined to ascend
to heaven? Then,
what is it worth the effort, if said effort may be
fruitless?

I always believed, and learned that God died for ALL
people, and that Jesus
suffered and died for all sins, notjust some selected
group.

this doctrin is either misinterpreted, or it is wrong.

God knows all things, so he knows all of my choices,
past, present, and
future. He knows how many times I'll attend church
durring my lifetime, and
more importantly, he knows whether I will choose a
christ-centered life that
will leed to salvation. But he didn't choose to save
me, he gave me the
choice. He just happens to know what my choice will
ultimately be. Isn't
this how it goes?

Antonio Guimaraes