The Scripture's Doctrine on Predestination (2 of 4)
Eddie Snipes
Hopefully from the previous section it is understood how predestination gives the Christian confidence so we can stand by faith. This section is a bit more difficult to write. People often have such strong feelings and preconceived notions that they are too closed minded to see what the Bible teaches on this topic. Many stand on a glass foundation and quickly reject scripture once they realize that it threatens to shatter their beliefs. We should not be protecting our beliefs from scripture but drawing our understanding from scripture. Anytime we have to refuse to look at scripture, this is a clear sign that our doctrine is not consistent with the Bible. Just because many believe a doctrine does not make it true. Church history testifies to this fact.
I can say these things because I struggled through many preconceived notions that I was taught but turned out to be inconsistent with scripture. In the past, I gained doctrine from secondhand information such as books, study guides, commentaries and other teachers. This limited my understanding to only what was filtered through those whose like mindedness I adopted. Before setting my heart to dig in the word, I was opposed to any concept of predestination for it seems appalling to think that God would foreordain someone for judgment. There are hard-line sects of Calvinism which teach that God creates individuals for the purpose of judging them and that God judges or shows mercy because both fulfill God's pleasure. I heard a man say to a father that God may have created that child for the purpose of condemning him to hell.
With misinformation like this, it is no wonder that people are revolted at the very thought of predestination. However, this topic must be examined for the Bible speaks often on this subject and understanding predestination is vital to understanding faith, works, salvation, and many other scriptural principles that direct us ...
Eddie Snipes
Hopefully from the previous section it is understood how predestination gives the Christian confidence so we can stand by faith. This section is a bit more difficult to write. People often have such strong feelings and preconceived notions that they are too closed minded to see what the Bible teaches on this topic. Many stand on a glass foundation and quickly reject scripture once they realize that it threatens to shatter their beliefs. We should not be protecting our beliefs from scripture but drawing our understanding from scripture. Anytime we have to refuse to look at scripture, this is a clear sign that our doctrine is not consistent with the Bible. Just because many believe a doctrine does not make it true. Church history testifies to this fact.
I can say these things because I struggled through many preconceived notions that I was taught but turned out to be inconsistent with scripture. In the past, I gained doctrine from secondhand information such as books, study guides, commentaries and other teachers. This limited my understanding to only what was filtered through those whose like mindedness I adopted. Before setting my heart to dig in the word, I was opposed to any concept of predestination for it seems appalling to think that God would foreordain someone for judgment. There are hard-line sects of Calvinism which teach that God creates individuals for the purpose of judging them and that God judges or shows mercy because both fulfill God's pleasure. I heard a man say to a father that God may have created that child for the purpose of condemning him to hell.
With misinformation like this, it is no wonder that people are revolted at the very thought of predestination. However, this topic must be examined for the Bible speaks often on this subject and understanding predestination is vital to understanding faith, works, salvation, and many other scriptural principles that direct us ...
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