The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl – Predestined For Heaven or Hell?

Today’s Reading: 1Chronicals 6, Proverbs 7, John 5-6

Today’s Passage: John 6:35-40

Good morning! Isn’t it great to be saved, to know your saved, and to know that you will spend all eternity in Heaven when you die or the rapture comes? My friend Gary Geiger, in his comment on my blog, asked me to pray for several men they talked with in the jail ministry. The one that caught my attention was a man named Luis. Gary wrote, “Pray for Luis who believes that his salvation is based on predestination and not by his choice.” Let’s take a closer look at the verse used for predestination: Romans 8:29-30: “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.” God knows everything: past, present, and future. He knows who will receive Christ and who will reject Christ for salvation. The ones God knew would receive Jesus as their Saviour, those He predestined to be like Jesus. Here is where the problem lies. Let me ask you, Luis, if you believe that God chose all who would be saved and all who would die and burn in Hell, why would He allow verses in His Holy Word like 2Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Or John 3:16-18: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Even John the Baptist, when he saw Jesus said, “ Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

Somewhere in your life, you need to have made a choice to receive Jesus as your Saviour. When God saw this, He predestined you to be conformed to the image of His Son, but you still had a choice. Look what Jesus said in John chapter 6…

Joh 6:35-40 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. [Some did not believe.]  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. [This is predestination. The Father will not give any to Jesus who God knew would reject His Son’s sacrifice on the cross for their salvation.] For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God offers salvation to everyone. It is not anything we can pay for, or work to achieve (Eph. 2:8-9). We are all in the same boat: we are all sinners (Romans 3:10 & 23). And the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). And God made it so simple: “For whosoever [That’s anyone.] shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Peace. (2Peter 3:9)


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Gary Geiger
Gary Geiger
12 years ago

Wow, thanks Ted. I just got home and read your blog., interestingly enough Luis was not there tonight but I have copied your notes to give to him if he comes next week (line upon line). God once again receives all the Glory as he saw fit to bring 16 men tonight with 2 new men whom trusted Christ as their savior tonight!!! Continue to pray for Tom (eternal security), Todd (Cancer), Steve (Moved to Trenton State), Michael (Thoughts), Leon (controling his talk & actions), Nigel (memorizing scripture) and Deawelo (filling his void with the Word). Pray for Brian, linc and myself to continue with this work in spite of all the attacks by the devil. Amen!!!

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