What is Predestination?

If we look at this concept from God’s point of view, then everything is in a predestination mode. Why? Because God knows all things past, present and especially future. If God knows everything that is going to occur in all of our futures - down to the smallest and most minute details - then this means we are all in a "predestination mode" with God since God knows exactly what all of our futures are going to hold for us. As a result, everything is predestined as far as He is concerned.

However, there is another angle in which to look at this concept from - and that is from all of our points of view. As humans, we do not know what the future holds - either for us or for anyone else. We don’t know what’s going to happen to us two minutes from now, much less what is going to happen to us two years or twenty years from now. Only God does.

Since we do not know what our futures are going to be holding for us, we have to play the game of life with the idea that only God knows what is in store for us in the future and we should all be trying to play this game of life with the intention of trying to win in God.

Here is what I mean. Say you have a loved one who is not saved. God already knows what is in that person’s entire future and whether or not he or she will accept His gift of eternal salvation. However, we do not know any of this person's future. And unless God gives us a direct word not to pray for this person's eternal salvation - we should continue to pray for this person until he or she literally dies, since some people do get saved on their deathbeds. We cannot give up until the last pitch of the ninth inning has been thrown.

Most of the time, God will not reveal future events that will be coming our way. The Bible does tell us that the Holy Spirit will from time to time show us specific events that will be coming our way - but this is always done for a reason and a purpose - and that is to help prepare us to handle this future event. But for the most part, we have to live life not knowing what is really in store for us even two minutes from now. We can plan all we want for the next days events - but we never know if something will come out of the blue to disrupt our perfectly laid plans for that next day.

Since we do not know what God’s intentions may be on a specific event or issue - we have to stand on the basics - which is the fact that God is sovereign, that He can be prayed to, communicated with, reasoned with.

We have to pray to win when approached with adverse circumstances since we know God is sovereign and there is always a good chance that He will choose to answer our specific prayers - especially if we have established a good personal relationship with Him.

In my opinion, predestination just simply refers to the fact that God knows all things that are going to occur in the future - but for the most part will not reveal those things to us because He expects us to try and play the game of life to win as best we can. Not knowing what the future holds for any of us is actually a blessing as it makes this life much more fun and spontaneous. We wake up every day never knowing what is going to happen next.

Can you imagine professional ballplayers knowing exactly what was going to happen in each game they played - who was going to win, who was going to lose. It would take all of the fun out of the game. The uncertainty of tomorrow keeps us on our toes, keeps us more alert, makes the game of life that much more fun to play - especially when you are walking close with the Lord. You wake up everyday never knowing what God is going to do next in your life.

All in all, I think Christians should be very careful not to get too bogged down with the idea of predestination. God knows what the future holds - we do not - and unless God decides to reveal the future on a specific issue or event - we should just concentrate on playing hard to win the game of life with God on whatever comes our way.

Here is a good verse showing that things are in a predestination mode as a result of God’s perfect knowledge on all future things. This one has to do with our salvation.

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Though God the Father knows who will be getting saved and who will not since He can see perfectly into all of our futures - this still does not violate man's free will on all of this. God's initial intentions and plans on all of this is that all men and all women accept His gift of eternal salvation through His Son Jesus. He is thus giving every man and every woman a free choice to make on this decision during the entire time they are walking down here on this earth.

Since we do not have God's perfect knowledge on any future events, we still have to play the game of life as hard as we can and as best as we can - since we never know what God may do next.

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Does it make sense for God to chose to elect someone because he foresaw that they would believe? If he knew they would already believe, why predestine to save them, since their belief already would save them? Please explain this to me, as I really want to try to understand how you guys understand scripture.

God's time is not our time.  Time has no meaning to Him.  He lives in future time and has seen all things already happen.

This commentary (I am assuming that is what it is) takes the "middle ground" approach. It appears the author is afraid to lean to the left or right to far, so his commentary will appease and be accepted by all. It assumes God ONLY knows what the future holds, and does not give God credit for also ordaining and causing his plans to come to past to fulfill HIS purposes and not mans. He ordains all things whether good or bad, in regard not only to individual salvation but also to simply the course of events on the earth and in the heavens which he has created. For times sake I have not given any vs. but if one desires those I would be more than glad to supply them.
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No, Jerry, most of us are familiar with all the usual verses that are used.   

I think the writer of this commentary is correct... Only God knows, don't we already understand that anyway?

He is in complete control and all He has ordained will come to pass no matter what we do.

I believe also that God knew beforehand.  He lives in future time, outside of time as we know it.

1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

My head isn't buried in the dirt.  We have personal responsibilities toward God and nothing should be placed above that.  I have nothing to change.  What would I change we must love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourself.

Proverbs 14:12

I have corrected the post.

Jimmy, I don't think we can know who are predestined.
We need to go about our lives serving the Lord and be ready to give an account for ourselves.
If we could possibly know, what would we do different?