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Finding Comfort in Predestination
by MacCartney Mendolla
Predestination (or election) is a topic that Christians
become squeamish about. However, the doctrine of predestination gives comfort
to the believers because it assures them of their eternal life in Christ.
Sometimes we want to put this doctrine on the back burner because it causes
confusion, intimidation, and may cause “hurt feelings.” We don’t like thinking
that our God wouldn’t select some for eternity in heaven. Our own human reason
makes us feel uneasy about the doctrine of election because we like to think
God chooses everyone to be saved. Paul described
the doctrine of election in this way: God
“chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless
in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious
grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:4-6). These thoughts can make us uncomfortable
because selection occurred before creation. Before we could even breathe or
sin, God chose us. Our own human logic believes that if God created some to be
elected then he had to have chosen some to damned. However, this is not the
case. God wants everyone to be saved (as stated in 1 Timothy 2:4).
The doctrine of election also makes us uncomfortable because
we don’t know if we have been selected, for that is veiled from our eyes. We
cannot see the “list” of those selected. But we do have the Bible and it is
God’s truthful Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in
righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Although we cannot see back into eternity and
know who is elected, we can find comfort in our lives now and notice what God
is doing for us and what he promises to do for us in the future. We also
receive his Word by hearing, listening, and reading it. God has taught us to
trust him. And we do trust his promises,
for God never breaks a promise. This is
the promise of God we hang onto: “Those
God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined,
he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also
glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).
God elected some, but the Bible does not say he chose any person to be damned to hell. However, people can willfully reject God’s grace in Christ and not receive the inheritance of heaven, which is given to us through faith. God’s election is not something by mere chance; rather, it is by God’s underserved love for us. Jesus said to his disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). God chose us and there is nothing we could have done to become one of the chosen. It is by grace that we believe in Jesus as our Savior and because of grace we will be in heaven. Election is the starting point of our salvation and also a promise from God that we embrace by faith. The doctrine of election goes along with justification, sanctification, and salvation.
People all too often believe that they must do something to
be saved. Unfortunately, no matter how many “good deeds” we do, it will never
get us into heaven. Because of our sinful nature, we will never measure up to
God’s standards of being holy and blameless. If it were up to works for
salvation, grace wouldn’t be needed from God. Paul affirmed this truth: God “has saved us and called us to a holy
life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and
grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2
Timothy 1:9). Because of Jesus’
redeeming work we can stand “holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4) already
now and finally on judgment day. Jesus has already paid for our sins. Through
him we believe in him and all he has done for us.
Christians, take comfort and reassurance in the doctrine of predestination. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this not from ourselves, it is a gift of God—not by works—so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Take this gift given to us and believe in Christ Jesus our Lord who has saved us from hell and gives us eternal life through him. Continue to grow in the faith and knowledge of our loving God. Look forward to our eternity in heaven.
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"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 17:8).
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