I would like to start off saying that this is a very touchy subject and many solid Christians fall on both sides. I won't get into Calvinism vs Arminianism just yet, that will be a later post.
Let's start with the nature of man.
Romans 3:10-12
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
How does man, who clearly cannot be righteous, understanding, God seeking, strait path following, profitable, and good, on his own choose to give his life to God? Romans clearly states that he cannot. In-order for man to be righteous, God seeking, etc. they need some sort of outside intervention. Something from someone greater then these restrictions, namely God.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If we were to on our own choose God, wouldn't that be a work? If, as I've heard many people say, God comes down to us, opens our eyes to him, and all we have to do is accept. Wouldn't the act of accepting be a work?
Then we get to the last portion of this verse. "...which God prepared in advance for us to do." It's not like God new in advanced, or God had an idea it would happen in advance, but he was the one who caused it to happen in advanced, he PREPARED it!
Romans 9:19
You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"
This is a rhetorical question with an implied answer of, "No one." So if God prepares something for you to do, there is no possible way for you not to do it! This ultimate control of us that God has is what causes us to be saved. He saves those who he wants to save and doesn't save some to show his justice.
Ephesians 1:4-6
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Remember, he chose us, we did not chose him. Why did he chose us? It was because it was His will. Who's to say why he chose some over others, we may never know.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
This is an overview of the process of salvation. Look at all the stuff that God does and compare it to what we do. He saved us when we didn't know we needed saving.
Romans 9:20-24
On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.
This is a great verse for those who are called, and scary for those He did not. The fact that God predestines who goes to heaven implies that He also predestines who goes to hell. Who is to say that it is wrong for God to mold some people for heaven and some for hell? Did you see it in the verse up there, "What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?" Many don't like to admit it, but God clearly says that he created some to go to hell.
I'm sure you've heard this said just as much as I have, "It is not God's will that anyone should go to hell." That is 100% inaccurate with the Bible. God has made it clear through his word that the reason he makes people go to hell is so he can make known the riches of His glory upon the vessels of mercy. Don't get me wrong, this is a very sobering verse, and, if you have an accurate image of hell, should make you feel sick to your stomach.
You can sum this up in verse 18, "So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires." Some get mercy, some get hardened.
I just skimmed the surface of this subject. I could go on and on, but what would that accomplish? I would like to end this answering one other question I hear a lot. Does this mean we still have to witness? After all, if God has predestined someone, it is impossible for them not to go to heaven. Or if they are not predestined, then they will go to hell.
Let us step back and re-examine our motives. Do you love Jesus? Jesus says that if you love him then you will do what he commands (John 14:15). In Acts Jesus tells us to go out and make disciples of all nations (aka The Great Commission). Let your light shine on the earth, go be salt to the nations.
Do not say, "If God wanted me to do it he would have made me be doing it already." Maybe in the future I will post on my belief of limited freewill, but for now, remember to search the Scriptures. Know what God says. Make sure everything you believe is clearly backed up by the Bible.
In closing I would like to point out what this means for believers. God has complete control of everything. If he notices the sparrow and the flower in the middle of a field, how much more will he notice and care for you. It is he who works out all things for good for those who love him.
