Part Two: "Salvation, A Deeper Look" (Various Scriptures) Election and Predestination

What is the doctrine of election and predestination? The Greek word translated, "election" is defined as, "To select, to pick out, to pick or choose out for one's self, a choosing one out of many." This definition is found in "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 2007, GK 1588." According to the Bible, the one who does the choosing, the selecting, the electing, is God. Based on the definition of "election" we see that it directly applies to the issue concerning a person's destiny and how that destiny is determined! This brings us to the definition of another word with respect to salvation. It's the word, "predestination." The Greek word translated, "predestination" is defined as, "To predetermine, decide beforehand, to appoint beforehand." This definition is found in "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 2007, GK 4309." Predestination is the biblical teaching that God decides beforehand certain events and people to accomplish what He desires, for His purposes! Based on the definition of "predestination" we see that it directly applies to the issue concerning a person's destiny and how that destiny is determined! We will examine the following Scripture passages: Ephesians 1:4-5,11; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Romans 8:29-30; John 15:16 and 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4. Before we continue, allow me to say that if you have struggled with this Bible doctrine, please look up the passages listed above and pray to God to give you wisdom and understanding as well as a teachable heart. It's a very important doctrine and we need to understand it correctly and properly. The most common challenge to the teaching of election and predestination is that it's not fair or unloving! The question asked is, "Why would God choose certain persons and not others?" However, the most important thing for us to remember is that no person deserves to be saved! Paul says we have all sinned (Romans 3:23), and are all worthy of eternal judgment (Romans 6:23). Because of this, God would be perfectly just in allowing all persons to spend eternity in hell. Because God elects some to salvation, He's not unfair to those who are not elect, because they're receiving what they deserve. No person deserves anything from God; therefore, God's choosing to be gracious to some is not unfair or unloving to the others! In Romans 9, Apostle Paul says that God is the potter who has the absolute right to do with the clay as He desires, and none has the right to object. God does not owe us an answer! The only answer we have from the Bible is God does what He does. And that includes the saving of His elect and the judgment of others! Be encouraged