Ancient Greeks in cities like Athens, Corinth and Ephesus believed in “Fate” (also given the personal name “Moira”). Fate was the unseen force, they said, that overruled even the gods. It had no purpose or direction, and kept all of life uncertain. It especially frustrated humans. Many Greek plays were called “tragedies” because of Fate’s destructive nature.
Whether given the name “Fate” or not, similar beliefs are common in the religions of the world. Pagan religions tell us that cruel gods, spirits and magical forces determine how people live and die.
Astrology sees human destiny determined in the stars. Materialists argue that humans evolve from, and depend on, accidents of blind chance. Harsh experience seems to confirm, for many, their sense of helplessness. They feel trapped by their family history, by poor circumstances, by bad habits, and finally by illness and death. Everything seems determined for them, hence the broader term, “determinism.” Fatalism and determinism enslave billions of sufferers to despair. These people think that they have no real choices, and that nothing can change their misery.
Many bring determinism into their views of Christianity. Now they blame “God” instead of “Moira.” They call Fate’s method “predestination.” “Election” becomes a sad gamble. A lucky few (the elect or chosen ones) win eternally, but nearly all adults, children and babies lose. Unlike an impartial lottery, none of these losers has a choice or a chance. Each is like a robot made and programmed to lose, then to suffer for it eternally. Such fatalistic work, once attributed by pagans to their worst gods and demons, is now claimed as God’s “sovereign will.”
Have we learned nothing from Jesus? He assures us, “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). As we watch Jesus, we see the opposite of fatalism and determinism. He comes, not to condemn, but to rescue all the world (John 3:16). His Gospel calls “every creature” – every person – to be saved (Mark 16:15-16). “But,” determinists argue, “People have no free will to accept or reject Jesus’ call.” Is it so easy to turn Jesus’ call into such a cruel joke, or even a lie? Is His invitation really the opposite – a hard door slammed shut in most faces? Jesus Himself treats people as if they all have free will:
“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God” (John 7:17).
“Let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).
The Source Of Evil “But,” determinists reply, “People choose evil because God made them to choose it.” Is it so easy to make God the author of every evil choice, every crime, and every brutal atrocity? Satan likes to paint God that way, making people think they have no real choice, no direct responsibility and no ability to resist temptation. He wants them to feel they must sin by God’s decree (or by fate, or by heredity, or by evolution, or by evil spells – any excuse will do). Scripture reveals the opposite, that God is the source of all goodness (light). He has nothing to do with sin (darkness).
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one….Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:13,16-17).
Evil thoughts arise, not from God, but within our own hearts (Luke 6:45; Matthew 15:19).
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin (James 1:14-15).
Satan is the tempter. He tries to turn our desires against God (Genesis 3:1-7; Luke 4:1-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). God tries to persuade us to honor truth above our own desires (Genesis 4:4-7; 6:3; Galatians 5:17-26; Acts 17:4; 18:4; 2 Corinthians 5:11).
The Importance Of Choice Why does God not simply force us to follow Him? Because God wants us to respond to Him willingly. If we do only what we are forced to do, we are no different from created objects or animals or machines. God has plenty of those already. He created humans in a special way for a special purpose. He reveals to us that we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6; James 3:9). He also reveals that He gives us the ability to make choices (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15,22; 2 Samuel 24:12; Psalm 119:30,173; Proverbs 1:20-31; 3:31; John 5:35; 7:17; Luke 10:42; Hebrews 11:24-26; James 4:4; Revelation 22:17). With God’s help, we can choose to love, to worship and to obey God. Love is not real love if it is forced. True love, worship and obedience come from willing hearts. (Exodus 25:2; 35:21; Deuteronomy 4:29; 6:5; 8:2; 10:12; 11:13; 13:3; 15:10; 26:16; Joshua 22:5; 1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 9:1; 24:4; Mark 12:30; Romans 6:17; 10:10; 15:6; Ephesians 5:19; 6:6). That is why God gives us the gift of will or choice, so that our relationship with Him can be real.
Of course, people who can choose right can also choose wrong. As Creator, God gives us ability to choose. As Judge, He holds each person accountable for his or her choices (Ezekiel 18:1-32; 33:12-20; Romans 5:12; 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 2:23; 20:12-13). Sin has many terrible results, but it does not remove from the heart its God-given ability to make decisions. We know this because God urges all sinners, even the worst, to repent (Acts 17:30; 26:20; Luke 24:47; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; Titus 2:11-12). He empowers that change. “The wicked man…turns from his sin and does what is just and right.” (Read Ezekiel 33:12-16 cf. Deuteronomy 4:25-31; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 33:1-13; Psalm 19:7; 51:13; Ezekiel 18:28; Jonah 3:1-10; Lk 15:1-20). When people change, God also changes His plan for them (Exodus 32:14; Psalm 106:45; Ezekiel 3:17-21; 33:14-16; Jonah 3:10; 4:2; Jeremiah 18:6-10; 26:3; Joel 2:13-14; Amos 7:1-6). Scripture declares God’s primary plan for all mankind:
“The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:9).
“God our Savior…desires all people to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
Though many perish, they do so against God’s desire (Ezekiel 18:23,32; 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9). The Bible tells of God hardening sinners (Exodus 4:21; Romans 9:17-18), but it also shows those people as fully involved by their own choices and actions (Exodus 8:15,32; 9:17; Romans 9:32-33; 10:3; 11:20-23; Hebrews 3:8). To whom does God send “a powerful delusion”? To those who “delighted in wickedness.” Why do they perish? “Because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). God, who gives us choice, also makes us eat the fruit of our choice (Proverbs 1:31). We must love the truth, or else be hardened by choosing error (Proverbs 28:14; Ephesians 4:19; 1 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 3:13).
Some people object to such freedom of will. They think God cannot have absolute power if humans have any power to choose. They fear that God’s sovereignty is not complete if people can resist Him.
Is God Truly Sovereign? Does God rule over all creation? Does He have full freedom to do as He pleases? Is He, as Ephesians 1:11 says, the God “who works all things according to the counsel of His will”? To such questions the Bible answers, “Yes, absolutely!” (Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 10:14,17; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Job 9:1-12; 11:10; 42:2; Daniel 4:35; Proverbs 16:1,9; Isaiah 14:24-27; 40:13-25; 43:13; Matthew 10:29-30; 26:53; John 19:11; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Revelation 1:5; 4:11; 5:13)
Yet the same Bible also describes people resisting God’s purpose. Pharisees “rejected the purpose of God for themselves” (Luke 7:30). Determinists show Judas as one who had no choice but to betray as prophesied (John 17:12; 13:21-30; 18:2-3; Acts 1:16). Judas actually exemplifies a person defying election.
”Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him (John 6:70-71).
Jesus did not say, “I have chosen the Eleven.” Jesus chose and appointed Judas as an apostle, one of the Twelve. Judas first accepted, then rejected, that divine choice and appointment made for him. Thus Scripture reveals that God created beings that have enough freedom to choose for Him or against Him. God did not make Judas sin. But God foresaw Judas’ sin, and God worked it into His own plan for Jesus to die for sinners (including Judas, who could have repented as Peter did). Far from shaking God’s sovereignty, Judas’ challenge confirmed God’s sovereignty. God obviously succeeds when He has no enemies. Far more impressive is the fact that God succeeds when enemies willfully oppose Him (Psalm 2:1-12; 110:1-7; Acts 2:23; 4:24-28). God wins, not only through raw strength, but also through weakness (1 Corinthians 1:25; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Philippians 2:6-8). Even now, He advances His cause by the “foolish” method of calling sinners through the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Mark 16:15-16; Colossians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:14).
Does this open invitation, which men so easily reject, interfere with the fact of God’s sovereignty? Again, the Gospel method confirms God’s sovereignty. First, it shows that God does whatever He pleases, even if it seems self-limiting. Second, the Gospel shows God as so effective that He can work through weak “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7 cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 1:25-31). Third, the Gospel welcomes and exalts every person who truly recognizes in Christ the reign of God (Romans 2:7; 10:9; Hebrews 5:9). Fourth, it weeds out all who persist in rejecting His sovereignty (Matthew 13:37-43; Luke 12:47; Mark 16:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17-18). The result is that heaven rings eternally with willing praise, not forced praise. How genuine and grateful is this worship, which rises from hearts moved by grace (Revelation 7:9-10), not from mechanical response. Those who have been forgiven the most love the most (Luke 7:36-47).
How About You? Are you one of the chosen? If you are a fatalist, you are never quite sure. Fate has a way of playing very cruel jokes, making people think they are safe when they are not. When determinism pretends to be “Christian,” it still offers no clear way to tell if your faith is real or counterfeit, if you are elected or deluded. In any case, nothing – not you, not your faith, not even God Himself – can change your destiny. Your only hope is to win heaven’s lottery. Very few are that lucky. So your damnation is virtually assured – if you believe in fatalism. On the other hand, if you believe in Christ, you can and should have full assurance (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; 10:19,22; 11:1).
- He loves and seeks to save each person in the world (Luke 15:1-24; John 3:16; 8:12; 12:46; 17:21; Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 26:4; Psalm 145:9; Isaiah 49:6; Jonah 4:11; Acts 17:26-31). That means He loves and seeks you (Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:15-16).
- He died to take away the sin of the entire world (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:9,29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 6:33; 11:51-52; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 1 John 2:2; 4:14). That means He takes away your sins.
- He sends this Good News to every individual in every nation (Matthew 22:10; 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 17:30; Colossians 1:6,23,28). That means He sends Good News to you.
- His invitation is open to “anyone” (John 7:37-38; Mark 3:35; 8:35; 9:37; 9:40; Luke 15:4; 24:47; 1 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:20; 22:17; Isaiah 55:1). Therefore He invites you.
- In all this He is totally impartial. “God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34-35 cf. Romans 2:11; 3:29-30; 10:12; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). God’s complete fairness means that any person, even you, can be acceptable to Him.
- God’s love reaches even the worst of sinners, and brings them safely home despite the worst of trials (1 Timothy 1:12-17; 2 Timothy 4:18; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; 10:13; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3). Divine power and love can also save you completely (Hebrews 7:25).
Truly, “God is love!” (1 John 4:8). That simple fact renders fatalism false. God’s love is so full, so sacrificial, so all encompassing, that He genuinely invites and empowers anyone willing to receive salvation. “If anyone’s will is…” (John 7:17). “Let the one who desires…” (Revelation 22:17). Plain passages like these demolish fatalism and determinism. The Scriptures inspire trust, not in yourself, but in the God who calls you so clearly and so graciously. They instill confidence in the truth that God planned ahead or “predestined” in such a way as to include you. Like Paul, you can say with assurance, “the Son of God… loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20); and, “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8). Yes, you can have “the faith of God’s elect…knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (Titus 1:1-2).
“Chosen” and “Predestined” Biblical words like “chosen” and “predestined” are never words for a heartless tyranny. They describe divine kindness. “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4-5). The Greek word for “predestine” occurs 6 times in the New Testament (Acts 4:28; Romans 8:29,30; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:5,11). It means, “to decide beforehand,” and in each case the thing decided is positive. (Never is this word used in connection with damnation.) Though predestination affects people, its focus is on how God determined to work, or what He aimed to accomplish. Thus predestination has to do with the circumstances and results planned by God.
God’s choice or “election” deals more directly with who, the people. Sometimes, as in the apostles’ case, it has to do with men or angels chosen for certain tasks (John 15:16; Acts 1:24; 9:15; 22:14; 1 Timothy 5:21 like Acts 6:3; 15:22). At other times it stands for the entire family of God. From a final viewpoint, “the elect” are all members brought safely to heaven (Matthew 24:24,31; 2 Timothy 2:10). From a current viewpoint, “the elect” are members “in Christ” that must still heed the command: “Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10 cf. Ephesians 1:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:9; 5:13). Since God’s selection tool is faith, members must “continue in… faith” (Colossians 2:21-23; 3:12 cf. Romans 11:7-22; Hebrews 2:1; 3:14; 10:23,29,38). The group thus selected is the body of Christ, the church. Individuals in that group may be called “chosen” (Romans 16:13; 2 John 1:1,13). Like “chosen” Moses, however, they still have the personal responsibility to make the proper choices (Psalm 106:23,32; Numbers 20:8-13; Hebrews 11:25; 2 Peter 1:10).