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This past Sunday I had two people ask me basically the same question – What does the Bible teach about “predestination?” I had used 1 Peter 2:9-10 that declares that we are “God’s chosen people” and it seemed to prompt some questions. I decided to teach on the topic that evening in the small group that meets in our home. To my surprise, it was one of the best discussion we had ever had. So, I decided I would share a few thoughts on it.

Predestination has two major interpretations. One line of thought says that God predetermines what will happen ahead of time, including those who will go to heaven and those who will not. The other line of thought says that God has knowledge of how things will happen and He has determined that those who follow Him and His teachings will go to heaven. One is an individualistic view of mankind’s destiny, the other is a corporate view of mankind’s destiny.

My understanding of it all is that God has predetermined that those who follow Him will be a part of the family that dwells in heaven. He doesn’t pick and chose the individuals that will be in heaven, He has chosen that those who follow Him will be i heaven. Man has been given the free-will to chose God or not. Those who decide to chose God will also receive His blessings. I believe that this view is more consistent with scripture overall. God desires that no one be lost but that all would come to Him (2 Peter 3:9). God sent His Son to the world so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

This is a very short explanation of a very complicated issue, but hopefully it will cause you to think a little deeper and study a little harder!