12/12/08: 1 Peter 1-2
Examples of both predestination and free will can be found in 1 Peter 1 & 2. For instance, "To God's elect...who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father..." (1 Peter 1:1,2). The elect have been chosen--that is, predestined--by God for salvation. Even Jesus Himself was chosen: "He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake" (1 Peter 1:20). Thus, it was predestined, by God the Father, for Jesus to come into the world. Furthermore, before the creation of the world, it also was predestined for Jesus to be slain (crucified): "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).
Interestingly, this last verse also includes a reference to the predestination and the free will (choice) of the lost, whose names have not been written in the book of life. Not only is it predestined for them to be lost, but they will choose to be lost by worshipping the beast (Antichrist). We know that these individuals will be lost forever, because "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
Other examples of both predestination and free choice, at the same time, are shown here: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15,16), and "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (2:21). In the first case, God called certain individuals to be holy, and conversely they will desire to be holy in the things that they do. In the second case, many have been called by God (to suffer for doing good--2:20); likewise, they have decided to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who suffered for them.
Another example of both predestination and free choice, within the same verse, is here: "'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for" (1 Peter 2:8). For these unbelievers, it was destined for them to stumble; concurrently, they will choose to disobey the message, causing them to stumble. Thus, they will be lost. There is a one-to-one correspondence; neither predestination nor free choice can be present without the other.
Interestingly, this last verse also includes a reference to the predestination and the free will (choice) of the lost, whose names have not been written in the book of life. Not only is it predestined for them to be lost, but they will choose to be lost by worshipping the beast (Antichrist). We know that these individuals will be lost forever, because "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
Other examples of both predestination and free choice, at the same time, are shown here: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15,16), and "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (2:21). In the first case, God called certain individuals to be holy, and conversely they will desire to be holy in the things that they do. In the second case, many have been called by God (to suffer for doing good--2:20); likewise, they have decided to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who suffered for them.
Another example of both predestination and free choice, within the same verse, is here: "'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for" (1 Peter 2:8). For these unbelievers, it was destined for them to stumble; concurrently, they will choose to disobey the message, causing them to stumble. Thus, they will be lost. There is a one-to-one correspondence; neither predestination nor free choice can be present without the other.
