I am going on a personal week long internet fast (I still have to use the internet for work), so I will not be posting again until Friday next week. If you are wondering what an internet fast entails it is like a food fast, basically no internet for a week. I have also decided to limit my computer access (minus the internet), to one hour per night, which would be for writing articles for next week and maybe finishing watching arrested development :)
I will write on the experience and why I did it when I return, I just feel I need to regroup mentally. I also see it as a great opportunity to really focus on reading and reflecting on scripture and God's grace and truth which he delivered through Jesus (John 1: 17). So I hope it is a good week and I gain something valuable from the experience and I wish all my readers the best until I post again.
God Bless
Predestination? Craziness or Truth?
I always thought predestination was bonkers. How could we not have a say in our salvation? Did I not decide to believe in God, do I not choose to do good? Why only a few posts ago I argued how choice was in humans or else our existence did not make any sense. However, I now believe I was wrong.
The reality is that most people believe they have some control over their lives, and that this control is central to their happiness and well-being. This applies to most Christians too. Whether it is about God or the car we drive or our career or what to eat, we see ourselves as having some free will in the decision to do and/or believe. I myself have always held that we have minds that can think and God must have given them to us for a reason. The reason he did though is where I believe I have faulted in my thinking.
Firstly, can we earn salvation? Well I would say no, since that would require perfection and perfect obedience to God, which we cannot do as sinners.We cannot forgive our own sin and cannot earn this forgiveness, we can merely ask God to forgive us through Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. additionally, God's grace cannot be conditioned and compelled, for if it was it would mean he was not in complete control of all things and His dominion could be challenged.
So now to predestination (salvation of the elect), or more specifically double predestination (the elect and everyone else). So God chooses His elect to save through grace alone. And the rest He leaves to themselves to do as they like. The thing to remember is that we all start as sinners in rebellion against God. We have no way of reaching God on our own or of fixing our condition. God chooses to forgive the elect, even without earning forgiveness and "free will" to choose God is merely the awareness of salvation already given, acknowledging the power of the Holy Spirit to help align ourselves more closely to God's will. Meanwhile, those not of the elect, already turned from God, merely face God's justice at the end times. God does not abandon them nor put evil upon them, He merely lets them live in sin and face judgment.
It is not the best explanation of predestination, a better one is found here, but it is suffice to say I am more convinced than ever before of this. When you remove our desires and opinions and thoughts and read scripture without prejudice, I feel this becomes more clear. I like to think I can explain everything rationally, and learning to be humble and trust in God's plan for me has been difficult but rewarding.
How do we know we are saved or how does God choose are for another day, if they matter at all. Those that follow Christ's example, who act for ours and for the fulfillment of God's plan and glory are the signs of the saved. It is merely trusting in His grace and mercy, which when you think of it is an immensely freeing experience to know that God will deliver us to salvation regardless of our weakness and failings and the dictates of the world. To end I would say simply if you are not sure about your own salavtion: Love unconditionally to all, as God has loved us unconditionally, as he gave his son unconditionally.
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