BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION OF DOUBLE PREDESTINATION

 

 

Interpretation of the Bible can be difficult. Sometimes, the interpretation and/or translation of words can throw us off. I think that one example of this problem is the notion that God destines some to damnation without their having an opportunity to escape this fate:

 

·       They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined [pre-determined] to do. (1 Peter 2:8)

 

Ephesians 1:11 can also be construed as God predestining some to damnation:

·       In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.

 

Yet, a multitude of other verses assure us that God is perfectly just and holy:

 

·       Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. (Romans 2:1–2)

 

Therefore, no one can claim, “I was predestined to rebel against God and to be damned.” We will not find such an excuse in the bible! Instead, God must be righteous in order to judge:

 

·       But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? (Romans 3:5–6)

 

If God is unrighteous, He could not judge those who are unrighteous. Besides, God wants all to come to salvation:

 

·       The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

 

This could not be so if He had already condemned the many to damnation even before they were born!

 

Nor has He implanted evil desires in us to make us reject Him:

 

·       Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts [entices] no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13–15)

 

We do not sin until we give in to our own evil desires. It is not a matter of God implanting evil desires within us! Instead, we must take full responsibility for our sins.

 

How then are we to understand God ordaining all things? If God is both omniscient and omnipotent, He knows everything that will take place and has the power to stop them. By merely allowing the evil, he has ordained that it will take place.

 

For example, God knew exactly what Hitler would do and had the power to stop Him. However, He allowed Hitler to perform his evil as He had allowed the Devil to afflict Job for His own good reasons.