Predestination and Foreknowledge

Why is it important to research and discuss these topics?First, these topics are for the thinkers of the earth to increase their knowledge and wisdom of the things of heaven. In understanding that through the research we could all gather this knowledge and wisdom over the things of heaven to give us a solid foundation for the security of our salvation, yet there might not be anything wrong with walking in the faith that the Lord has given us understanding that we might not truly understand. Some questions our solid understanding of these topics might clear up could be,
“Could we lose our salvation?” and “Are works really important?”

The first contradiction that is noticed is that if we have the knowledge that our salvation is secure, then what need is there for good works to be done? What need is there to have faith at all?
If we believe that our salvation is secure through works then what need is there to have faith? If we believe that our salvation is secure due to our faith, then what need is there to do good works?

Therefore, we can see that the understanding of predestination and foreknowledge is important to the foundation of our practice of Christianity because whatever the case, wherever we find that salvation is secure, what we believe will determine the thoughts and actions that we present to others about Christ. These actions could determine the amount of souls to be won or not to be won and the method in which they are won and one….

Overall, the safest stance that is supported by scripture is that both predestination and foreknowledge are characteristics of the Lord. He both chooses those that are led to be His chosen people and He knows exactly who they are or are going to be from the beginning to the end of time. In this we can see that both our salvation is secure in that He has chosen us to act in faith as He has already predestined for us to do so and that He already knows who will and will not act in this faith.

The acting out of our faith could be His predestined plan to grow us in the ways that He already knows we’re going to grow. If we can look at it this way, we turn the thinking around from the choices and knowledge of an egocentric God that knows and chooses for us, back to the choices and limited knowledge of an egocentric people of free will. It is possible that the Lord is truly all about knowing us, teaching us and letting us choose what we will, not about Himself being Lord, but then again…this would be another contradiction to the premise that He is Lord and over again His word stated that the only thing that He wants from us is that we acknowledge Him as Lord.

When all other understanding fails and we’re exhausted in thinking about the topic, we can run back to what we know, HIM! That is, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, then ascended in to heaven. If we can at least get to this understanding as His chosen people then we will hunger, crave and thirst acting in faith to show Him that He truly is Lord in our lives and that we trust Him. We will be so in love with Jesus Christ that we won’t be able to stop doing work for Him and the sharing of His love with others whether they are saved or not will be both difficult when it is rejected and a blessing when those around us accept Him as we are part of one body. His love will cover any efforts of us attempting to lose our salvation through sin and it is so big that it covers any feelings that we lack control over our destinies because we can recognize Him as Sovereign, knowing that all things He does for the strengthening of us in showing His love.

Scriptures for further study:
Rom 10:6-13 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Jam 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Deu 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,…

1Jo 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for* our sins.

1Jo 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.