Across the month of January we’ve been looking at some of the more controversial topics in the Christian arsenal, last week being the topic of predestination. The reason this topic causes so much controversy is because (i) it is confusing to the human mind, and (ii) it doesn’t fit with our human view of justice.
To begin with, how is it that God can on the one hand choose who it is that will turn to Jesus in repentance and faith (e.g. Ex 33:19; Deut 10:15; Ps 33:10; Ps 65:4; Matt 24:22, 24 & 32; Acts 13:48; Rom 8:33; Phil 1:29; Col 3:12; 2 Thess 2:13-14; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 1:1; 1 Pet 1:1-2; 1 Pet 2:8-9), but on the other hand hold everyone else accountable for their sins (e.g. 2 Cor 5:10)? How do predestination and human responsibility (for our sin) hold together? The Bible’s answer is that while these 2 doctrines may seem incompatible to our limited human perspective, according to God’s limitless perspective, they are completely compatible. Our job as humans is simply to trust God when he tells us they both operate in His world.
Secondly, why then doesn’t God predestine ALL people? Again, the Bible doesn’t give a definitive answer that neatly suits our limited sensibilities. Instead it says that the God of the Bible will always do the right thing (e.g. Rom 9:20-21). Our job as humans is simply to trust that the God of the universe will always do what is right.
Yet in all of this, there is 1 key factor that Christians should keep in mind. According to the doctrine of original sin, humans are incapable of choosing to turn to God by themselves. As Paul describes it in Eph 2:1, we are ‘dead’ in our transgressions and sins. As such, Christians should be eternally thankful that God has worked in our heart, through his Spirit, to ‘make us alive with Christ’ (Eph 2:5). Whenever God works in a person’s heart (or ‘hits them on the head’, as the analogy goes), a person will always turn to Jesus (or ‘scratch their head’ in the analogy). As such, Christians should echo Jesus in Matt 11:25-26 and say we praise you Father, for this was your good pleasure.
