Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

Having rejected the Calvinist doctrine of predestination and election, we now propose to consider what the Bible actually does teach is predestined and what the Bible actually teaches about election. That the Bible actually does teach on these subjects is apparent from a cursory consideration of some of the following passages:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Rom. 8:28-30).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (Eph. 1:3-5).

Let us consider these passages and a few others to see exactly what the Bible teaches about the doctrines of predestination

and election. We are not interested in this article about the Calvinist perversions of these doctrines; we are only interested in what the Scriptures actually teach about the subject.

God’s Work Through Jesus Christ

From beginning to end, the Bible is concerned about God’s work through Jesus Christ. God predetermined from the beginning of all time to redeem mankind through His Son Jesus Christ. Hence, when we begin to speak about the doctrine of predestination, we begin by recognizing that God’s predetermination was to save men through His Son. It was God’s will that Jesus die for our sins; hence, Peter stated on the day of Pentecost, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:22-23).

God’s plan for the salvation of man was predetermined from the beginning. When man sinned, God began to work to save him. He planned to do this through the sending of Jesus Christ. God took upon Himself the form of a man and dwelt among us. He even endured the agonies of Calvary that we might be redeemed from our sins. If we will but remember that this is the primary thing predetermined by God, and not the salvation or damnation of specific persons, we will have moved a long way in understanding a difficult subject. Now, let us look at some of the specific passages which teach about predestination and see what has been predetermined.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Please open your Bibles to this passage and specifically examine the individual verses which I mention in this discussion. Space will not allow me to reproduce the verses at this place. Let us, therefore, notice what God has chosen in this passage:

1. To bless us through His Son. The thing which God has predetermined is to bless all men through the Son of God. Notice the specific statements: (a) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (v. 3); (b) “According as he hath chosen us in him . . .” (v. 4); (c) “having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 5); (d) “. . . wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (v. 6); (e) “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. . . ” (v. 7); (f) “that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ” (v. 10); (g) “in whom also we have obtained an inheritance” (v. 11).

Hence, God predetermined the realm in which men would be saved-in Christ! No one can be saved, blessed of God, except in Christ our Redeemer. The predestination which we read of in the Scriptures, therefore, is God’s predetermined plan to give all of His spiritual blessings to mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.

2. To have those who are redeemed in Christ to be holy and without blame (v. 4). God has not only predetermined the realm in which men would be saved (in Christ), He has also determined the character of those who will be saved. Those who will be saved must be holy and without blame. Man is “without blame” through the forgiveness of sins made possible through the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Having his sins washed away through Christ’s blood, man stands before God with6ut blame. His character is that of a saint; he tries to walk in moral purity. All of this, God predetermined before the first man was ever saved. He predetermined the character of those whom He would save. God never thought about saving the man who rebelliously walks in wickedness; He predetermined to save those who walk in moral purity.

3. To adopt these who are saved in Christ as children (v. 5). The text reads, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 5). God also predetermined that those who would be redeemed through Christ would receive the adoption as sons. (See Gal. 4:1-6 for further discussion of the idea of adoption as sons.) Again, we read nothing about a specific person being chosen for salvation and another person chosen for damnation through the arbitrary will of God. Rather, we read what God predetermined to do for those who were saved through Christ-to adopt them as children.

4. To gather together in one all things in Christ (v. 10). In addition to the things previously mentioned as being a part of God’s predetermined will, Paul added, “that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ . . .” (v. 10). And this is what God has done. He brought together both Jew and Gentile in one body through Jesus Christ. Regarding this, Paul wrote, “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Eph. 2:16). What God predetermined to do was to save both Jew and Gentile in the one body (the church) through the one Savior, Jesus Christ.

5. To obtain an inheritance (v. 11J. Verse 11 reads as follows: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” God also predetermined to grant an inheritance to those who are redeemed through His Son.

Notice, in summary, what Eph. 1:3-14 teaches. It does not teach that God predetermined before the foundation of the world and without consideration as to what He might see in man (such as faith and obedience to His will) to save a given individual and to damn another. Rather, God chose His plan for the redemption of man through Jesus Christ and the blessings which He would grant to men through that Christ.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

This passage gives some people a good bit of trouble. Let us begin by noting who is spoken of in this passage. They are variously described as “them that love God” and “them who are called.” Those who love God are those who keep His commandments (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23); the call which God gives to men is through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). Hence, we are not discussing some men who received some kind of secret divine call in some mysterious way. We are discussing those who have heard the call of the gospel and obeyed it.

God, before the world began, looked ahead and saw that certain persons would obey His word and that others would not. I do not mean that God foresaw that some would and some would not obey; rather, God foreknew exactly who would and who would not obey His word. Yet, foreknowledge is not predetermination. Furthermore, for God to foreknow what a man with free will is going to do is no more difficult for His almighty power and omniscience than for Him to know what a mere robot would do. Hence, I see no problem in admitting that God knew before the world ever began all persons who would be saved and all who would be lost. To teach that God predetermined both of these groups, however, causes untold problems for the disciple of the biblical text.

Now, here is what God predetermined: “for whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (v. 29). God predetermined before the world began that those who would be obedient to His will would be conformed to the image of His Son, i.e., that they would receive the same resurrection body as His Son received.

Here are the other things which God has done for this group: (1) Called them. This has occurred through the preaching of the gospel. Paul later wrote, “whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:14). Those who are going to be saved have all been called through the preaching of the gospel. None else can be saved. (2) Justified them. God predetermined that this group would not only be called but that they would also be justified, i.e., made to stand without sin before the law. He did this through remitting their sins. (3) Glorified. These persons who chose of their.own free will to be obedient to the Lord’s will, God has predetermined to glorify. This, of course, refers to God’s plan to give us a home with Him in heaven.

Conclusion

We see now what the Bible doctrine of predestination actually is. There is nothing in these verses ‘which remotely intimates that God personally chose every man who would be saved without regard to whether or not that person would be obedient to His will or not. Nor, is there anything which intimates that God arbitrarily decided to damn men without regard to their disposition toward Him. Rather, God’s predetermination concerns His work through His Son and His plans for those who obey Jesus.

Truth Magazine XXII: 35, pp. 563-565
September 7, 1978

By Earl Robertson

What a heart-warming statement! No doubt it is the very thing all lovers of the Lord, want to hear. Paul wrote to the Romans and singled out one brother who obviously had stood the test of faith, saying, “Salute Apelles approved in Christ” (Rom. 16:10). We know not what his trial of faith was to have received so favorable an accolade from Paul, but we do give emphasis to the fact that inspiration says he was “approved in Christ.” Paul further wrote, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendth” (2 Cor. 10:18).

“Approved” translates dokimos, and is said to mean, “proved, tried: in the N.T. one who is of tried faith and integrity.” It goes without proving that one can do what the faith of the gospel teaches only as he knows that faith. This is further supported by what Paul wrote to Timothy: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). One’s right actions before God are dependent upon what the Lord teaches; so, He teaches one to study. Out of this study one can “show himself approved unto God.” This means his actions are fruitful, that he is bearing fruit for the Lord (John 15). Jesus said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. . .” (Matt. 7:24). So, one’s approval before God depends on hearing and doing the will of God!

The opposite condition is exemplified in the coarseness and wickedness of the Gentiles. Paul said they did not approve to have God in their mind, so God gave them up to an unapproving mind (Rom. 1:28). God did not stand proved in the hearts of the Gentiles, they rejected Him; in turn, He gave them over to a mind unapproved to do the things unbefitting. The words “retain” and “reprobate” translate, in its negative form, the same word Paul used about Apelles. These Gentiles, like the sterile soil of Hebrews 6:8 where the word “rejected” translates adokmos, were cursed. Oh, how the Christian needs to prove himself with the beautiful deeds the will of Christ demands in his life (Matt. 5:16). The lukewarm and the sinful so-called Christian is not now approved in Christ, and, without repentance and fruitful living, will be lost in the judgment. Let the example of this ancient believer, Apelles, motivate one and all to a life of faithful service to Christ in spite of all problems.

Truth Magazine XXII: 35, p. 565
September 7, 1978

By William Imrisek

It is not at all uncommon for us to make judgments about a person we are meeting for the first time simply on the basis of his appearance, how he grooms himself and how he dresses himself. And such judgments can often’ be quite near the truth. Our appearance tells a lot about ourself to others. We should be careful that our appearance is casting a true image of the inward man.

Some belittle the importance of how they adorn themselves in public, or even in the assembly of the saints when they gather together to worship God. They express the sentiment that “it’s what’s inside that count’s.” True, but they fail to realize that what is manifested outwardly reveals what is inside (Matt. 12:34-35). Just as our speech reveals what we have treasured up in our hearts, so also the way that we adorn ourselves reveals such things as our emotions, our attitude toward life and toward those that we are associating with, and yes, it may even reveal a lack of godliness.

Note some of the things the Bible tells us that clothing has revealed about a person in times past and may even suggest today.

(1) It may suggest whether one is rich or poor (James 2:2).

(2) It may reveal whether one lives in a king’s palace or a pauper’s shanty (Matt. 11:8).

(3) It may signify that one is filled with sorrow (2 Sam. 3:31; Jonah 3:5ff).

(4) By the modesty and discreetness of the clothing it may tell if one is godly or ungodly (1 Tim. 2:9-10).

(5) It may suggest that one is displaying a false piety (Matt. 23:5; Mark 11:38-40).

(6) It may identify the type of people that one associates with (Zeph. 1:8).

(7) It will suggest whether one is male or female (Deut. 22:5).

(8) At times and in various cultures, it has signified if one is a virgin (2 Sam. 13:18).

(9) Likewise, in some cultures it may identify one as a widow (Gen. 38:14,19).

(10) It may suggest that one is a harlot (Prow. 7:10).

(11) It may identify one as a prisoner (Jer. 52:33).

(12) It may reveal that one has a very special love for another (Gen. 37:3).

(13) It may identify one’s wife or mother as one who provides good care and protection for her family (Prow. 31:21ff).

(14) It may suggest the type of activity that one is engaged in, or the type of function that one is attending (Matt. 22:11-13).

(15) It can reveal the respect (or lack of it) that one has for God when approaching His presence (Ex. 3:5; Matt. 18:20).

What are we telling others about ourselves by our appearance? Are we casting a true image of ourselves? Maybe it is truer than we think.

Truth Magazine XXII: 34, p. 557
August 31, 1978

By Stephen P. Willis

Ever been called an atheist? You may wonder why the question is asked. Most likely, the readers of this article have never been called an atheist-at least in the present usage of the word–one who does not believe in God. In the sense of believing that there is a supreme being, atheists are “without excuse” for “since the creation of the world His (God’s–sw) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made” (Rom. 1:20). “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of his hands” (Ps. 19:1), so that it is only the fool who has “said in his heart, ‘There is no God”‘ (Ps. 14:1). Yet at one time, Jews and Christians were termed “atheists.”

When it came time for the church to face the fourth empire of the Danielic prophecy, Rome, their choice was: sacrifice or die. This test had been applied to the Jews in earlier times, as is cited by W.H.C. Frend in his book, Martyrdom & Persecution in the Early Church (Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1967):

Finally, It Is clear that the sacrifice test was employed to establish the fact of Judaism. Nearly fifty years later, Pliny’s advisers in Bithynia urged the same course and for the same reason, against the Christians. Supplication with Incense to the Emperor’s statute and the recitation of prayer to the gods were “things (which so It was said) those who are really Christians cannot be made to do.” Implicit In both situations was the charge of atheism. . .(p. 103).

Frend discusses the problem of “atheism” at a later point in the history of the Roman Empire:

The requirement was for all free inhabitants of the Empire, men, women and children, to sacrifice to the gods of the Empire, pour a libation, and taste sacrificial meat. The penalty for refusal was death (Acts Pionii 7.4). Though these deities were not specified to the sacrificers we know from contemporary sources of offerings made to Jupiter, the Roman triad Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, to Dea Roma, to Apollo, Diana, Venus, Nemesis and to the genius of the Emperor himself (p. 302).

Some of these houses of worship were set up in the cities of Asia Minor where John’s Revelation was sent (see 1:4; ch. 2-3). The church at Pergamum (where the Temple of Augustus and the Altar of Victory stood, Frend, p. 148) had some who were eating things sacrificed to the idols (Rev. 2:14). Thyatira, noted for its trade guilds, which required its members to sacrifice to the gods, too had some who ate of these sacrifices (Rev. 2:20). The other churches of Asia and the rest of the Empire met similar problems as these.

These were the “atheists.” They denied the Roman gods. They were also called asebeia-a Greek word meaning “want of reverence, impiety, ungodliness.” (For N.T. usage of this word see Rom. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:16; Tit. 2:12; usage of its cognate Rom. 11:26; Jude 15, 18.) In their attempts to serve the one and only God, the religious world about them thought that because they did not partake in the same practices that the Romans did, the Christians were atheists.

They even had a method devised to keep track of the theists (Romans) and the atheists (Christians and other protesters). This practice seems to be related in Rev. 13:15-17:

And there was given to him to give breath to the Image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and came as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the .laves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one would be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Frend tells us,

Moreover, census and tax rolls provided by local officials in each district controlled the number and identity of those who presented themselves to sacrifice. On completion they received a certificate (libellus) signed by the commission testifying that they had duly done sacrifice (p. 303).

As already noted some of the Christians thought that they could serve God without compromising themselves in spite of sacrificing to idols. Frend tells that some Christians went so far as to illegally purchase the certificates (p. 305). The scriptures tell God’s attitude toward those who made such compromises:

. . .If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his Image, and whoever receives the mark of his name (Rev. 14:9-11).

Well, how about it. Have you ever been called an atheist? I think in light of the way that the word was used at that time in history some Christians can indeed be called atheists. Only if we do not receive the religious practices of the world around us, though, can we be called atheists in the way that those Christians were.

There are a lot of doctrines and practices of the surrounding religious world to which we should be called atheists. Some are awaiting the coming of the kingdom of Jesus-so much that anyone who believes the Bible, which teaches that the kingdom is already here, is considered an atheist. The miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit is another doctrine which is held by some to which we should be considered atheists. The tenets of Calvinism are avowed by almost every sect of denominationalism. We should be atheist to such views and others.

But the Romans did not consider Christians atheists merely for their doctrine, but also for their practices. In fact, they really could have cared less about the doctrine, as long as the sacrifice was paid (this is evidenced by the actions of the compromising Christians). Today there are such practices that we should be looked upon as atheists in that we do not keep them. The “religious holidays” (holy-days) such as Lent, Easter and Christmas would be some examples. No doubt the Christian’s nonobservance has caused many to feel that he is an atheist-and rightfully so! But what about abuses of authority, such as misuse of the Lord’s money? Should we be like all the world about us and support missionary societies, colleges, old folks and orphans’ homes out of the church’s treasury? No! Be an “atheist”! Where would such abuses end? Church socials for saints? Providing refreshments for aliens and saints whether it be every Sunday or for “Vacation Bible School”? Games? Ball Teams? Movies? Gymnasiums? Instruments of Music? Abusing the authority given by God to do what He has told us to do (and not to do what He has not told us to do) makes us atheists all right-but not in the sight of men, as we have found with the Romans’ charge toward the Christians; we would be atheists in the sight of God!

Have you ever been called an atheist by men?

Perhaps it is time that you were!

Truth Magazine XXII: 35, pp. 568-569
September 7, 1978