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.