Paul expects someone to ask, “Is there unrighteousness with God?” He answers firmly, “God forbid” (Rom. 9:14). Paul explains that God has total freedom to show mercy on whom he pleases. He quotes the Lord’s statement, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Rom. 9:15). God’s grace is a free gift apart from any human choice or effort. 

God’s Sovereignty and Our Personal Responsibility

The doctrine of predestination, including both election and reprobation, has long been controversial. The Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign over all things. He saves sinners by his grace alone. God elects his people and rejects others. Yet the Bible also teaches that people bear personal responsibility for their actions.

People have many questions about predestination. Here are some of the most common ones.

1. Does God Will the Salvation of All People?

Paul says that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). However, this Scripture cannot mean that God chooses to save every human being. God accomplishes all his will (Ps. 135:6), but he does not save all mankind (Matt. 7:13–14).

It is better to understand “all men” to refer to people from every kind and category. God saves kings and subjects, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, women and men, young and old. Paul calls for prayer for “all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1–2). Therefore, we should tell the gospel to all kinds of people. We do not know whom God chose until, by his grace, they are saved by faith in Christ to the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:3–4, 11–14).

2. How Could a Good and Loving God Choose to Damn Some People?

It is certainly true that God is love (1 John 4:8). He is good to all people (Luke 6:35). But God is free to exercise his love as he chooses (Ex. 33:19). He did not choose to give eternal life to all sinners. Rather, he chose to save some sinners but to give others the punishment that their sins deserve.

God is the source of all good (James 1:17). Likewise, suffering comes as God’s punishment of sin (Rom. 5:12; 6:23). Thus, God damns sinners not because of any malice in him, but because of his justice against sin. Even in his wrath, God remains good. It is sinners who are evil. The Lord says, “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help” (Hos. 13:9).

3. Why Should We Teach Predestination Instead of Just Preaching the Gospel?

We should preach the gospel. But we should also teach predestination. It gives solid hope to those who believe the gospel. Paul says,

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 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. 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. (Rom. 8:28–30)

Since God chose whom he would save, he will bring his chosen ones to glory.

Paul then asks a series of questions (Rom. 8:31–39). If God is for us, who can be against us? If God gave up his Son for us, how will he not also grace us with all things? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? Who will condemn us? What can separate us from God’s love in Christ? Every one of these questions drives us to the same happy conclusion: those in Christ may rest assured that God’s love will never fail them. God will bring them safely through every sorrow to be “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). Therefore, election is a message of enduring hope.

4. Did God Choose Those Whom He Foreknew Would Trust and Obey Him to the End?

The golden chain of salvation begins with those “whom he did foreknow” (Rom. 8:29; cf. 1 Pet. 1:2).

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