Predestination (Part
1) by
Elder Glen Williams
Introduction
A thousand or even a hundred years
hence the opinions of human beings with reference to
good or evil of this writing will be of no importance to
me whatever. But then, as I trust I am now, I shall be
more concerned with the approval or disapproval of God.
The widespread
misunderstanding as to what Primitive Baptists believe
and what I understand the Bible to teach about
Predestination together with my belief that a basic
knowledge of this subject is necessary to a proper
understanding of God’s plan of salvation has prompted
this writing.
I am not seeking
financial profit and therefore I have not tried to write
a popular or salable book. I seek neither the temporal
applause nor the diminishing riches of men. But I have
simply tried to present the truth as it is in Christ
Jesus, plainly, calmly and without being antagonistic.
If men will not accept it then I am not responsible, but
if they will accept it I shall be happy for only the
truth will make them free.
May the richest of
God’s blessings rest upon those in whose hands this book
may some day fall and may it be of some comfort and
edification to those who read it is my hope and my
prayer.
Predestination
The word PREDESTINATION does not
appear in the Bible, the doctrine of predestination is a
Bible doctrine. It is taught in the Bible and since God
gave us good doctrine, the doctrine of predestination is
a good doctrine. Contrary to what many people think,
predestination does not hurt anyone. It benefits the
objects of predestination but does not hurt anyone else.
Were it not for
predestination as taught in the Bible, the entire human
race would be lost. Too many people, when they think of
predestination, think of something hard and harsh,
perhaps evil, in which they imagine it means that God
did before time began, predestinate, decree, ordain,
appoint and fix every event of time, regardless of how
great or small, how good or bad, and that everything
that ever was has happened or ever will happen to the
quiver of the tiniest blade of grass, happens because
God did in eternity predestinate it, and that it could
not possibly be otherwise. In my judgment, nothing could
be farther from the truth.
To illustrate what
I mean let me now copy from a church periodical which
recently came to my desk: “Is man really a free moral
agent, or has God already mapped out his life, down to
designating the day of one’s death?” This question goes
to the very heart of the matter. It speaks of two
extremes and in them is couched the basis of all
religious error.
Is man a free
moral agent or did God predestinate every event of his
life? This is the substance of the question. My answer
is, “Neither one.” Man is NOT a free moral agent, and
God did NOT predestinate every event of his life. The
young man who asked the question takes the position that
man is a free moral agent and therefore he can believe
anything, or refuse to believe anything, at his own
option, that he can love or hate of his own volition,
that he can will or desire, or he can do anything if he
wills to do it, and if he chooses to will it, be can
will it. This is one extreme – Free Moral Agency.
On the other hand
the extreme Calvinist, or better
known they may be today as “Absoluters,” believe that
God has predestinated every event of time, regardless of
its nature or character, and every thing happens exactly
as it does happen and could not possibly be different
because God fixed it that way; and that man does exactly
as he does because God unconditionally appointed him to
that end and he cannot do differently. This is the other
extreme – The unlimited predestination of all things.
Now, in my
opinion, somewhere between these two impossible extremes
lies the truth. So I am sure that if we will but lift
our eyes above the fog and confusion brought about by
them and turn with open minds to the Sacred Scriptures
and accept what we find there for what it says, we will
find the truth respecting predestination, beautifully
written, as precious as a jewel, as tender as a mother’s
love as refreshing as the morning sunrise.
Distinction Between Foreknowledge and Predestination
As I have already
pointed out, the word PREDESTINATION does not appear in
the Bible. PREDESTINATE appears twice and PREDESTINATED
(past tense) appears twice, so it is quite obvious that
Predestination is taught in the Bible.
Here I should like
to point out and make it clear to the reader that there
is a difference between foreknowledge and
predestination. I rather think that a failure to make
this distinction is the cause of much of the confusion
that exists in the world today relative to this great
subject. ‘Foreknowledge’ means to have knowledge
beforehand of events that will later come to pass.
‘Predestination’ is an act of God. Knowledge and action
are not necessarily the same thing.
I do not doubt,
nay, on the other hand I firmly believe that God has
known everything. I believe that His foreknowledge
embraced everything that ever has or ever will happen.
But to say that He knows it because He predestinated it
in order that He know it, does not follow at all. I
rather think that if God is capable of knowing all
things, and if indeed He does know all things – as He
does – then He is capable of knowing, and does know all
events and mitigating circumstances that lead up to and
are conductive to bringing about the things that happen.
But again that is not saying that He predestinated it or
caused it. It simply means that He knows what is going
to happen and why.
“Foreknowledge” is a noun and “Predestinate” is a verb.
They therefore cannot be the same. When God
predestinated He acted, but that act was not
foreknowledge, it was according to His
foreknowledge. This principle is beautifully
expressed in the first chapter of First Peter, verse
two” Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father.” To say that I know that a certain thing is
going to happen does not mean that I predestinated it,
or, that I even desire it to be that way.
For instance we
have a grandson and I know that if he lives he is going
to sometimes be disobedient to his parents and will be
punished for it, but I certainly did not predestinate
him to that end, neither do I want it to be that way. I
simply know that is the way it will be because I know
something of the nature of the child and something about
the temptations that will beset him.
And again, here in
Muleshoe there is a fine new church building. This
church building is equipped with a mechanical organ of
some kind that is set to play music at certain times of
the day. Every morning at eight and each afternoon at
six we hear the chimes of the church organ. As near as
is humanly possible for me to know anything, I know that
in the morning at eight o’clock and again tomorrow
afternoon at six the church bells will chime. I know
that before. That is foreknowledge. But, my friends, I
did not predestinate it. I have had nothing whatever to
do with it happening. I do not even will it to happen. I
know it will happen because I know the organ is there
and I know the attendant circumstances, therefore I know
why it happen.
Thus it is with
God. He knows all things. He knows all flesh, all
organic and inorganic matter. He knows the nature of all
living things. He knows all the temptations that will
confront the creatures of earth. He knows their
attendant and mitigating circumstances and therefore He
knows what is going to happen because He knows why
it will happen. The difference in His knowledge and mine
is, mine is very limited and imperfect but His is
boundless and perfect.
Based upon this
kind of knowledge-foreknowledge, if you will – God acted
when He predestinated His people. This is one reason why
His action is perfect, because it is based upon perfect
knowledge. So I hope that as we return to the subject
the reader will be careful to keep in mind the
difference between foreknowledge and predestination.
Unless this is done confusion will be the result and a
clear understanding will, in my judgment, be impossible.
|