Predestination

There is a thought among some believers, that predestination means some souls are predestined to be saved, and some are predestined to be lost, i.e. go to hell.
The very thought, God would predestine people to go to hell is absurd.
I'm glad these folk are not my judge.

Looking at Ephesians chapter one, and Romans chapter 8 we see where the erroneous line of thought on predestination begins.

In Ephesians 1: 4-6, using the King James Version, we read, (4) "According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved."
Also in Romans 8: 30 we read, "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."

Here we see a process. Not an end.
First, "whom he did predestinate". All people, before they become born again, are predestinated to be justified, and all glorified. Some just refuse the calling. Notice, the "calling" comes after predestinated, in Romans 8: 30.
Next we see, "them he called, he also justified". It is here where our involvment of the process begins. With our freedom of will, to choose to answer the call. If we refuse the call, then the process stops, until we choose to obey.
By refusing to answer the call, of what God has already determined for us. We then make our own destiny hell. We destine ourselves to hell, by our own choice.

The line of thinking, that "some" souls are predestined to be saved, and "some" souls are predestined to be lost, is not here. And I challenge anyone to find anywhere else in the entire sixty six books, of the known cannon of books, called the Bible, where there is any scripture saying, some people are "predestined" to be lost.
What we do find in Ephesians 1: 5 is the word, "us". Granted, Paul was speaking to the believers at Ephesus. However, the 'Doctrine of Predestination' as some teach, that some are to be saved, and some are to be lost, as if it where God's will, flys in the face of the rest of His Word.

God desires ALL to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2: 4).
God predestinates EVERYONE to be formed in the image of His Son Jesus. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate...". (Romans 8: 29) God knows every single person before they are even born. People forget Him, He does not forget people. Of the Rock that begat you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who formed you. (Deuteronomy 32: 18)

People deny to answer and obey the calling. People by freedom of choice, deny Christ, and bring judgment and condemnation on themsleves.
But ALL are called, to be justified, and glorified through the free grace of his (God's) will. Those who refuse, are not predestined to hell. God never says anything about being predestined to be lost. The only time predestination is used, is in the positive. Where he talks about our predestination to be justified, and glorified.

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. (Romans 8: 29)

Ephesians 1: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, (who obtained an inheritance? Those who excepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior) being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: (Everyone has the same predestination, its just that some don't enter into that predestinated inheritance)
Everyone is predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son. To be in glory with him.
Some just deny to answer the call to except Christ as Lord. They are not predestinated to hell. They just make a bad choice.
Does God know what choice they will make? Sure, but he doesn't predestinate them to hell. The choice to repent remains open to them.

I wonder how many souls are lost, do to believers, excusing themself from witnessing to them saying, "I don't have to witness to them, because they are predestined to go to hell."
For this reason, "I'm glad these folk aint my judge."

King James Version
2 Timothy 2: (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. KJ V

God's Word Translation (Names of God Version)
2 Timothy 2: (25) He (we) must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the good news. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth. (26) Then they might come back to their senses and God will free them from the devil's snare.

It is not up to us to decide, and God has not decided yet. He will make the judgment at each individual's appointed time of judgment when their appointed time arrives. (Hebrew 9: 27)

1 Peter 2: 8b. God's Word Translation: The people tripped over the Word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.

People are not destined for hell by decree from God. He knows who will choose to answer the call, and who will not. But he doesn't predestinate them to those choices. He predestinates them to be in glory with him. The choice is theirs.

If Christians will observe faithfully, 1st Timothy 2: 1 and 2 and 2cd Timothy 2: 24 through 26, the chance more souls entering into what God has predestined for them, is greater.
"There are two reasons lost souls don't get saved, 1. They never met a Christian. And 2. They've met a Christian." Pastor Jeff Towne (What do lost souls see and hear, when they look at and listen to you?)
"You may be the only Bible someone might read today." That had to be by the Holy Spirit, because I'd never heard it before I first said it, and then read the same words in an article, by someone else, in a magazine almost a year later.
Let us who claim to be Christians, stop complaining, and do more praying, and sharing Jesus.