Posted: September 5th, 2022

Predestination and Free Will in Christianity

Predestination and Free Will in Christianity
In Christian theology, salvation is explained based on divinity and humanity. Predestination and free will are two concepts that contribute immensely to salvation. Free will is the ability of human beings to choose whether to follow the word of God or not, while predestination is God’s will to save humanity.
Predestination argues that before the creation of the world, God had chosen the people to save. He chose prophets, apostles, and evangelists to spread his word. God also appointed Jesus Christ to save the world. God appointed Israel through Moses, he sent him to ask them whether they are ready to accomplish his assignment, and the Israelites agreed. However, at some point, they went against his will.
God sent Jesus Christ to save the world. John 3; 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus came to ensure the inclusion of both the Jews and the Gentiles in God’s will. Apart from Jesus, God also chose prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. These people were predestined by God to serve him and spread his word.
Free will is all about responsibility. According to Christian theology, human beings are not robots; they can choose whether to believe in the gospel or reject it. In the bible, God allocated some people specific tasks, and they failed to do them, for instance, Israelites went against the will of God. When people choose not to abide by the will of God, they surrender their will to God. It’s only him who can save them through his grace.
The bible states that people who abide by the word of God will go to heaven, and those who reject the gospel will end up in hell. Both free will and predestination contribute to salvation. God chooses his people, and the people decide whether to follow him or not. People are responsible for their deeds. If you do evil, you will end up in hell.
If God had predestined certain people, does it mean that he had planned for Adam and Eve to sin or Lucifer and a third of the angels to go against his commands? The answer is no. Both Adam and Eve, together with Lucifer and the angels who sinned, were chosen by God. However, they decided to sin out of their will.

References
Feinberg, John, et al. Predestination & Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom. InterVarsity Press, 2009.
Rist, John M. “Augustine on free will and predestination.” The Journal of Theological Studies (1969): 420-447.

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