The Truth

The concept of predestination has been secularized thus twisted and misconstrued. People get confused by the notion that God can see the future but just because He can see the future does not mean that it’s not necessary for it to occur.

Furthermore, the future is both objective and subjective to God because He is the source of our conscience.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

It cannot be argued that we make our own choices... to argue that would be insane. It is beyond apparent.

Therefore we must conclude that our understanding of predestination is wrong. Which would make sense as it is above our understanding to understand. We think in terms of opposites existing independently and in opposition therefore the concept of opposites coexisting is nonsensical to us.

The problem could be addressed in terms of an analogy to language barriers. One cannot understand a language that they haven't knowledge of. They are likely to misinterpret it without an interpreter.

God has intentionally created us so that we cannot understand without trusting Him-- He gives us understanding once we trust Him.

Consider yourself coauthoring a book. The characters in the book have personalities. You cannot alter them, but you can alter everything outside of that, like the circumstances which surround them. You think the story kind of sucks. And you don't like the way the characters are acting. But you can't alter the characters so you devise a plan to attempt to alter them so as to have a better ending for them. Your particular plan involves creating another character that can then redeem the other characters in the story through sacrifice (this particular character is different because He has your nature in Him. He represents you in the story). But, unfortunately, not everyone is going for this new character you've planned to intercede for them. However, some are. These you label 'the elect' because they have been redeemed.

You have seen this story and devised your plan for redemption long before it came to pass... you also know the personality of the characters in the story and what they will do before they do it. Therefore, this allows you to devise your plan around these characters and their thoughts/actions.

Picture it like this: God sees the story of humanity before time begins. He sees how it plays out; the choices we will make.

He also sees what will occur when He intervenes according to His plan…

Which can only occur only according to those who choose Him (His elect) because He chooses those who choose Him… we have to allow Him to intervene in our lives and thus follow our predestined purpose in Him.

God has a plan to intervene and redeem us

And He hasa plan to destroy Satan and his followers

(because He and His elect detest evil)

We can choose to follow Him.

Or we can choose to follow Satan.

It's our choice.

.....

When one reads the scriptures his guide will interpret it for him.

This means that if one is guided by Satan then they will interpret the scriptures in his way and if one is guided by God then he will interpret the scriptures in truth.

The problem is those that are neither hot nor cold will follow whichever interpretation they hear-- so when Satan twists the scriptures it sounds like the interpretation is correct to those who are lacking in wisdom.

I’ve seen these scriptures that were misinterpreted and I’ve seen how Satan made them sound. He misconstrued the understanding of terms. There can be multiple meanings translations of words. One will interpret it a certain way depending on his/her mind set. This is why Satan will attempt to put subliminal messages in our mind pertaining to scripture knowing that it will negatively influence how we interpret it.

Last night I asked God to show me how Satan had confused people through the concept of predestination. He had shown me that he had twisted words but I wanted to know how.

Words only have meaning because we have given them meaning. Therefore, if someone alters the meaning of a word that was not clearly defined in the first place then people are more than likely just going to accept whatever meaning they hear.

Satan reversed the truth.

By teaching a false meaning of predestination.

He said that He predestined some

but He predestined ALL

Everyone has a predestined path but we are the elect because we "chose" our predestined path. We can of our own free will not choose that predestined path…

hence Romans 8:28-30 says:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified."

(this is the verse he twisted. among others)

So lets paraphrase this verse in its true meaning:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who accepted His call and purpose. For those whom God [knew would choose Him] were also predestined [as we all were] to be conformed to the image of His son that they may be reborn [spiritually in Him]. And those whom were predestined He also called [because no one can come to the father accept through Him-- Jesus Christ. This is referring to the process in which He draws on our heart], and those whom He called He also justified [this is referring to the purification/rebirth through the Holy Spirit], and those whom He justified He also glorified [this is referring to the glory of His holy ones; those who exist in Him/Christ].

The first sentence tends to throw people off because it says 'those who are called'

It says that because God has to draw on our heart or call us before we can accept the call. But this is a two way process. God is not drawing us without our cooperation and we are not inactively being drawn. We have to accept the call.

The Holy Spirit calls everyone for redemption. But not everyone accepts the call. Therefore only those that answer the call are called. Hence the verse states: and we know that for those who "love God" all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose [His plan to redeem us].

I’m being overly thorough here because of the division the misinterpretation of these verses has caused... the entire doctrine is completely contradictory to the rest of the scripture; it's complete nonsense.

The scripture says repeatedly that Jesus died for the sins of all humanity not desiring that even one should perish-- but that ALL should come to repentance.

I found this. I don’t think it could have been said any better:

"... God's ways and thoughts are much higher than man's.

John Calvin taught a false predestination. That God made some for heaven and the rest are doomed for hell. That is not what the Scriptures teach. God in His sovereignty, being all knowing, knows who will accept Christ and who will not. Those who do, are predestined for all the promises and privileges that God has for them."

The scriptures clearly state that hell was not created for anyone but Satan and the angels that followed him.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

The Lord does not desire for even one of His children to belong to Satan... but He gave us free will so that we could choose because the last thing He wants to do is force us to love Him and have a relationship with Him. John Calvin was wrong. He twisted the scriptures and taught a false doctrine claiming that God is responsible for the evil of humanity... and He hates it. It is the furthest from the truth.

God is love. There is no fault in Him. He DOES NOT cause evil. He destroys it.

1 John 4:16 - And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:8 - He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 14:20-21- At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

Romans 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

John 13:35 - By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.