Theory of Predestination

Chapter Predestination

Section IV

Elucidation of biblical verses, which justify the Theory of Predestination

We have clarified many problems concerning God's predestination. But the problem yet to be solved is how to elucidate the Biblical records, such as those enumerated in the introduction to this chapter, which are written as though all things are of God's absolute predestination.

Let us first elucidate Romans 8:29-30, which says:

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined...and those whom He predestined He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified.

God, being omniscient, knows who is endowed with the qualities to be the central figure in the providence of restoration (cf. Sec. III--199). Therefore, God predestines and calls the person He foreknew in order to fulfill the purpose of the providence of restoration. Calling the person is God's portion of responsibility, but this alone has nothing to do with the person's being justified and finally glorified in God. He must accomplish his own responsibility in the position of a person called by God before he can be justified; only after he is thus justified will he be glorified by God. It is predestined that man can enjoy glory from God only by accomplishing his own portion of responsibility. There are no words such as "man's own portion of responsibility" in the Bible, so everything appears to be accomplished merely by God's absolute predestination.

The Bible says (Rom. 9:15-16):

...'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'. So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy.

As elucidated above, God chooses the one who is most suitable for the fulfillment of the purpose of restoration, foreknowing all his qualities. Therefore, it is God's privilege to elect such a person and to have mercy on him or have compassion for him. It depends not upon man's desire or endeavor. These Biblical verses are given in order to emphasize the power and grace of God.

It is again said (Rom. 9:21):

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?

It has already been said that God set up man's own portion of responsibility as the condition to exalt him to be the lord of all creation and to love him most by having man take after His creative nature. However, man fell, having violated this condition. Therefore, man became an existence deserted like trash; so this verse was given to teach people that man has no right to complain against whatever way God may handle men of this kind.

Further, the Bible states that God loved Jacob but hated Esau, and that "The elder will serve the younger." (Rom. 9:10-13). What must have been the reason that God loved Jacob and hated Esau while they were not yet born and had done nothing, either good or bad? This was to fulfill God's program in the course of the providence of restoration. Further details will be discussed in the section covering the providence of restoration centering on Abraham's family (cf. Part II, Ch. 1, Sec. III--261). We must understand here that God gave Isaac twin sons, Esau and Jacob, because He had to restore through indemnity the will for the restoration of the birthright, which had been left unaccomplished by Cain's killing of Abel in Adam's family. This He intended to do by setting up the twin brothers, in the positions of Cain and Abel, and by having Jacob (in the position of Abel) make Esau (in the position of Cain) give in. God said this because Esau, being in the position of Cain, was liable to be hated by God, while Jacob, being in the position of Abel, was entitled to His love.

God's actually either loving or hating one or the other depended upon the fulfillment of their respective portions of responsibility. In fact, Esau, having surrendered in obedience to Jacob, received a blessing of love equal to Jacob's though he was in the position liable to be hated by God. On the other hand, Jacob, though he was in the position to be loved by God, could not have received such love if he had failed to accomplish his portion of responsibility.

It was because of ignorance about the relationship of man's portion of responsibility to God's in fulfilling the purpose of the providence of restoration that there appeared a man like Calvin, who obstinately held to his "theory of predestination", and that such a theory has been believed by so many people for so long.