Acts 13:48

[houston]

( Acts 13:48 ) Did the writer of ACTS believe in predestination?

[Michael The Disciple]

Obviously.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Obviously.

Do YOU?

[mizpeh]

Yes, God predestines according to his foreknowledge.

[AncientPaths]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Yes, God predestines according to his foreknowledge.

And what does he choose to foresee?

[Lafon]

Acts 13:48 (King James Version)
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

I believe the "key" word which should be taken into consideration as one endeavors to determine what the writer (Luke) intended to convey, is "ordain."

ORDAIN -- to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc....

It would seem, to me at least, Luke was asserting that whenever all those Gentiles who heard the things which Paul and Barnabas had preached concerning God's grace being extended to them also, they glorified God, after which the "gift" of eternal life (i.e., salvation) was bestowed upon them because they had "believed"; not that they were "predestined" to be saved.

It can be said that God has "predestined" all who believe (the truth) of the gospel to be saved, but not that He has already determined who will and who will not be.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by houston

Do YOU?

Luke wrote Acts. He was a partner to the Apostle Paul. If Luke believed in predestination it must be true.

[fireofGod1996]

I believe that God make choices based on your choices for Him. I do believe that God knows the decisions you will make before you make them, but I believe that sometimes, you don't follow God's plan and He has to use the "backup" plan.

[Jay]

The Bible says that it is not God's will for any to perish. That most will choose to transgress the will of God does not mean that all men were not predestined for heaven.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Yes, God predestines according to his foreknowledge.

True. But I've discovered there are several ways of defining "foreknowledge". Both positions are valid and orthodox interpretations of Christianity. My church considers the entire "free will" vs. "predestination" debate as being an "in family discussion" among Christians. But again, how do we define "foreknowledge"?

For example, with regards to salvation...

Does God look down through time like an all knowing psychic and predetermine who will accept the Gospel in accordance to their free will and then elect them to salvation? (Man determining God's actions)

Or...

Does God predestine individuals to salvation in accordance to the foreknowledge of His sovereign will and divine plan from eternity past without these individuals having any merit in God's eyes? (God sovereignly determining what will be, because He's God)

You see... both those who advocate "free will" and those who advocate "predestination" believe that God moves in accordance to His "foreknowledge"... the question is... What is the nature of that "foreknowledge"?

Did God foreknow the choices we'd make and therefore we earned the right to be placed in the book of life? Or did God foreknow His plan for each and every one of us from eternity past, working it out in us, though we don't deserve it?