Probably the most noted and extreme view of “predestination” is that advocated by the core of those with Calvinistic theology. In their view God chose a relatively small group of people to be “saved” and the rest are going to the fires of hell (the pagan rooted traditional “hell”, which I consider disproved). In this scheme there is no choice. You are either a small elect group that is saved or you scream for endless eons (suggesting that God sustains sin).. One text often cited to support this is Ephesians 1:4—
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”
This text does plainly indicate that God certainly chooses certain people and fits other verses and scriptures like John 6:44, although there is nothing here proving everyone else goes to the fabled hell. People are saved from what? They are saved from DEATH (Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Matthew10:28…etc…). They are not saved from Dante’s Inferno! Another text often used to support some predestination is Romans 8:28-30. Although these verses do indicate clearly that God chooses a special elect group it does not support the general Calvinistic contentions that only a little group are saved and the rest go to a sadistic hell. They put the above verses in contradiction to many other verses due to their incorrect outlook. Many verses imply that many people are eventually saved, if not all. Look at Romans 5:18-19—
“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”
These two verses contradict the contentions of Calvinistic predestination. The above does not say only a small group of elected people are saved. It implies that everyone will be!! See also 1 Corinthians 15:22. Now one might still ask if Ephesian 1:4 is really in contradiction to Romans 5:18-? I would say no. Although some verses speak of God choosing some people, whereas other verses seem to imply that God wills all (or many) to be saved, there might be a simple answer to clear this up!
I think God chooses some people to be saved now and the rest he chooses later. After all the scriptures are clear that “every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess God.” (Romans 14:11). I doubt if God is going to destroy all these folks bowing before divine majesty, nor is it a forced bowing and confessing.
Ever since the start of Christianity there has been people that wish to bring in false doctrines and confusions only to control and enslave others with fear. Woe to those that make what is simple difficult in order to lord it over others or to gain financially. This is not to say that proponents of the regular “hell fire” view are evil and deceptive..of course not.. They are victims too…held hostage to error.
Pastor Zomok