Based on Romans 8:28-39 (New King James Version)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This passage holds one of the deepest love messages, but also brings some confusion. We will try to explain a bit what causes confusion so that we can get to the highlight (because unfortunately, the enemy tries to disturb the things of God with controversy that divides and destroys). What does the word “predestination” mean? Translated from how the Real Academia Española defines it is as follows: something’s previous destination; ordering of the divine will where it has chosen those through its grace who will find glory. If we believe in the God of the Bible, then we understand that the Supreme Being is eternal. He always is; without a beginning and without an end (Revelations 1:8). Even more so, if we believe in the God of the Bible, we believe that He is composed of three people (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) (see 1 John 5:7 in King James or New King James versions because other more modern versions omit this, including other parts of the original Scriptures). Therefore, by definition that God is an eternal being (man is not eternal since we have a beginning), then He is the only one that could have been predestined since the beginning. God already knew that man was going to fall, so He prepared beforehand that Christ would die for His creation before the fall of man.
Here is the other part of the explanation. God created man for good things, not so he would burn in hell. So, man’s “predestination” (before man fell in sin) was to practice righteousness. For it is written: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. Therefore, the “predestination” or “something’s previous destination” was for good. Hell was not made for man. It was made for the devil and his angels. For it is written: “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” Matthew 25:41. It was not God’s intention to send man to hell, but because of man’s obstinacy to sin and not subject themselves to the Lordship of God, man sends himself to the place God never predestined him for.
So then, the answer to predestination is this: God predestined Christ to save man from his sin, so those that would “choose” out of their own “free will” to submit themselves under the mighty hand of God, by making Jesus the Lord and owner of their lives, then they could form part yet again of that predestination, fulfilling the original purpose of God. For it is written: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:1-6. A person finally decides to be part of Christ, or not to be. God calls us to salvation, but it’s up to us to answer God’s call. If it were up to God, He would want everyone to be saved. As such, man was never predestined to be lost. He decides it under his own will.
Now, on to the highlight of this passage. God loves each one of us incredibly. There is nothing that can separate us from His love. He has provided an incredible salvation, removing the curse of sin forever through His Son Jesus Christ. But, there is something that we must understand. It is necessary to return God’s love. God loves us unconditionally, but He wishes for that love to be returned. For it is written: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words [those relating to loving Him] which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Remember that God’s promises are conditional. Everything will work together for good, to those that “love God.” If we do not love God, then there is nothing. That’s why we need to learn to love Him as He teaches us through His Word. Love for God is everything. And when you love God, everything is possible. Loving Him makes you obey Him, follow Him no matter what the circumstances, no matter what trials you might face, no matter if you are being despised or persecuted, etc. If you love Him, you will even come to give up your life for Him, like so many of the holy apostles, prophets, and many other believers did before us. True love has no limits. For it is written: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. God’s love is very different to the love of this world, or human love. It goes much deeper. And God’s love never justifies or accepts sin.
So then, do you know God’s love, the kind that does not compare to anything else in this world? Lord bless! John