[Sissy]

Actually, the free will versus predestination argument is a disagreement looking for a reason to exist. It is based almost exclusively on a poor translation of a Greek word.

In English we think that predestined means "it has been decided, and there is nothing we can do about it." But that is NOT what the Greek word means.

It really helps to know that the Greek word translated "predestined" means "planned in advance" (as in, God has a purpose for your life), but does NOT imply that what has been "planned in advance" WILL happen. It may happen, it may not. And whether or not it does is a function of free will. We CAN miss God's plan for our lives.

If you want to find God's purpose for your life, you are wanting to find out what He predestined for you. If you reject Him, you MISS what He predestined for you.

I don't think finding God's purpose for your life, and voluntarily trying very hard to fulfill that purpose is all that controversial.

Once you understand what it actually means, free will and predestination are not mutually exclusive ideas, thus there really isn't anything to argue about.

Grace and Peace to you,

Rhomphaia

If anyone is interested, I can give you a little more information.

The word translated "predestined" is prooridzo. It occurs six times in the NT (Acts 4:28; Romans 8:29, 30; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:5, 11).

It literally means "to mark out a boundary in advance," and in practical meaning, that is "to plan in advance." It is derived from a verb that means "to mark out a boundary," from which we get our word "horizon" (as in, the horizon is the "boundary" or "limit" of how far we can see). The idea of "marking a boundary" has the meaning of "planning" in everyday language from the idea that a plan is something that metaphorically "draws a boundary around, or sets the limits of" our future actions.

The problem is that in ENGLISH, predestined means that what has been planned in advance WILL HAPPEN. There is nothing we can do about it. If God predestines something, it WILL happen.

That is NOT what this Greek word means.

It contains no inherent concept that the plan or boundaries that are drawn in advance WILL happen. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. God has made a plan for our lives, WAY in advance of when we were even born. We can fulfil that plan, or we can reject God, and miss that plan.

Because of the "predestination" versus "free will" argument, most people think the two are contradictory (if one is true, the other cannot be true).

The irony is that "free will" and "predestination" go hand in hand. When God "predestined" us to be conformed to the image of His Son, we are told that He has made a wonderful plan for our lives to be LIKE His Son. We have the free will to accept or reject that plan.

So all "predestined" means is "to plan in advance."

There are times that God predestines (plans in advance) something to happen, and then takes a direct hand in human affairs to make sure it happens as He planned. In the scriptures, these are primarily global events, not the fate of individual lives.

Examples of these would be Jesus coming in the flesh, being condemned to die, dying on the cross, rising from the grave: all for the salvation of all of humanity. An example of the word being used of events in which God directly took a hand is Acts 4:27-28:

"For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your Holy Servant Jesus, whom You did anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose had predestined (pre-planned) to occur."

Those were things that God pre-planned, and then stepped in and took an active hand to make sure they happened as planned (note that it says God's HAND was involved, which indicates direct action on His part), so that humanity could be redeemed. We will see more of that in the end times with the Antichrist, the return of our Lord Jesus, and the establishment of the kingdom of God forever.

If you are reading or have read "The Purpose Driven Life," you are studying how to find out what God has "predestined" for your life, and actually fulfill it. If it were going to happen whether you liked it or not, there would be no need to "find God's purpose for your life."

So when you see "predestined" in the Bible, in your head substitute "pre-purposed" or "pre-planned." That way you do not also include that idea that it MUST occur. If God takes a hand in it, it will occur, if it is left up to your free will, then it MIGHT occur.

May each and every one of you FIND God's purpose for your life, and live it in its entirety.

Grace and peace to you,

Rhomphaia

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