"Five Passages Which Doom Predestination"

Larry R. Ping II

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     Calvinism and its tentacles have worked their way into numerous different denominations and religious groups. One of its major tenets is that of predestination.

 

     John Calvin notoriously wrote “By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death” (Institutes, Book III, Chapter 21).

 

     While predestination is certainly a Bible topic (Eph. 1:5; Eph. 1:11), Calvin’s form of predestination, also known as unconditional election, is false. It deprives man of choice, and spawns incorrect ideas about God. These Bible passages doom this teaching. 

 

     1) I Tim. 2:3-4. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” If God has predestined some to Hell, and that decision cannot be altered, how could God want all men to be saved?

 

     2) II Pet. 3:9. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” If God has predestined some to Hell, and that decree cannot be changed, how could God want all men to repent, and be saved?

 

     3) Heb. 2:9. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” If God has predestined some to Hell, and that ruling is fixed, why would Jesus need to taste death for every man? 

 

     4) Ezekiel 33:11. “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” If God has predestined some to Hell, and that verdict cannot be adjusted, then why would God express His grief at the death of the wicked? Further, if one’s eternal fate is fixed, and cannot be amended, why would God encourage His people to turn and change their ways, and be saved?

 

     5) Deut. 30:19. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” If God has predestined some to Hell, and that dictate is permanent, why would God put forth such a monumental choice before His people? Why would He ever urge men to make such important choices, if Calvinistic predestination be true?