Does God Predestine Some to Hell and Some to Heaven?
Before we can come to an answer to the question posed in the title, and in order to be clear on what the Bible teaches concerning predestination, and to keep people from coming to the wrong conclusion about God, it is necessary to clearly understand what the Bible teaches.
First, we must be clear, according to Scripture, God is a merciful and good: “Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies” (Psalm 69:16).
Second, God’s thoughts and His ways are not ours: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD” (Isiaih 55:8). Humanity is finite in mind and body; therefore, it is impossible to understand the mind and ways of God who is infinite. This may seem unfair to us at times, but remember, God is never wrong, and His work is always true and just.
Third, predestination, foreknowledge, and election are taught in Scripture: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30). Paul gives us the complete line leading for the point of salvation right up until the time of glorification in Heaven; there is no break in the line, and it is all God’s work, and the only part each of us play in it is our faith in Jesus.
Today, because of modern technologies, parents can know the gender of their children before they are born and even have the option of naming them. Because of God’s omniscience, He goes a step further and knows them before they are conceived. He also knows those that are His children. What is the difference in knowing them in advance and electing them. He not only knows those who accept him but also those who reject Him.
The doctrines of predestination, foreknowledge, and election are on God’s infinite side, God’s business, meaning it is not our place to be overly concerned about them or to even understand them. On our finite side there is a blessed hope for whosoever will come to Jesus. For the Scripture says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Not only does God elect His children, he also elects the means by which they come to Him: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).
Humanity is not lost because it is God’s will; people are lost because of sin: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 4:23). Therefore, humanity deserves God’s penalty for sin, which is completely just. Each person is responsible and accountable for their choices, therefore, when the wrong choice is made, they are guilty, and deserving of punishment. However, because of God’s mercy, He chose to save some through election. The elect is still responsible to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus. We who are saved are responsible to share the gospel with those who are lost; that is the great commission that Jesus gave the church just before He ascended into heaven. It is God’s plan to save people through the gospel, which convicts of sin and the need for forgiveness. Although, people do not like to hear that they are sinners, which is the most hated doctrine of the Bible; humanity is born total depraved of any good and is born in sin and in need of God’s forgiveness without which there is no hope in this life or the life to come
Fourth, there is a place called hell even though some deny it: Jesus said more about hell than He ever did about heaven. All but two of the following descriptions of hell were uttered by Jesus Himself: “Hell” is a place of weeping (Matthew 8:12); it is away from the presence of the Lord where there is eternal destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9); the punishment is everlasting (Matthew 25:46); it is a place of outer darkness (Matthew 25:30); there is wailing (Matthew 13:42); there is gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); it is burning with flames (Luke 16:24); it is a fire that is everlasting (Matthew 25:46); it is a furnace of fire (Matthew 13:42); it is a separation from all righteous (Mattew 25:46); it is a place of torment (Luke 16:23); it is the lake of fire burning fire with brimstone (Revelation 19:20); The English language is exhausted describing how awful Hell is. The Scripture is clear that all who haven’t accepted Jesus’ death on the cross for the atonement of sin will spend eternity separated from the love of God in hell.
Fifth, it is not God’s will that any should perish: According to Scripture God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell. The Bible makes this abundantly clear: “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” (2 Peter 3:9). It is God’s desires for all to be saved: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). It is interesting to note that it was Paul who wrote in Romans concerning predestination, foreknowledge, and election; now here in 1 Timothy he speaks of God’s desire for all to be saved. Is he confused? No! In Romans, he wrote concerning the sovereign work of the infinite God, and in first Timothy he wrote concerning the free will and responsibility of finite man toward infinite God.
William Craig rightly said, “Therefore, through the work of the Holy Spirit, God draws all men to Himself, seeking to convict them of sin and bring them to repentance. Anybody who makes a free and well-informed decision to reject Christ thus seals his own fate; he is self-condemned. His damnation can’t be blamed on God: on the contrary, he has resisted God’s every effort to save him. He separates himself from God forever, in defiance of God’s will that he be saved. In a sense, then, God doesn’t send anybody to hell – people send themselves.”
Jesus extends the invitation to whosoever will to come to Him and follow Him: “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
Finally, the answer to the question in the title from a finite perspective: Whether a person goes to heaven or hell depends on their decision to either accept Jesus for salvation or deny Him. It is not God who decides to send people to hell; people choose their own destiny.As the quote declares: “God sends no one to hell. We send ourselves. God has done all that is necessary for us to be forgiven, redeemed, cleansed and made fit for heaven. All that remains is for us to receive this gift.” – Paul Little.
Are you ready today to come to Jesus? Nothing else matters if you choose to deny Christ. For the Bible says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:36-38).
God’s plan of salvation is as simple as A, B, C: Admit that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ for the atonement of sin: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever beleiveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Call upon the name of the Lord repenting of your sins and asking His forgiveness: “Whosoever shall call on the nabe of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
A prayer does not save; it conveys the trust we already have in our heart to God. I hope you are willing to pray the simple prayer below confessing your faith in Jesus:
“Dear God, I admit that I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe in Jesus Christ that He died for the atonement of my sins and rose again. I call on you trusting in Jesus to be my Savior and commit to follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. I pray for your Guidance in my life and that your will be done, in the name of Jesus. Amen.” For more instructions and information on the next steps, CLICK HERE.
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Tags: Heaven, Hell, Predestination, Foreknowledge, Election, Freedom of Choice, Salvation, Eternal Life