Continuing on the Pre-destination Doctrine from the Holy Scriptures...
3) The Result of Man's Sinful Condition
Because of man's sinfulness, he's unable to understand YHWH, seek HIM, or do anything good: There's none righteous, not even one; there's none who understands, there's none who seeks for YHWH; all have turned aside, together they've become useless; there's none who does good, there's not even one. - Romans 3:9-12
Because of his sinfulness, he loves darkness rather than light; he loves evil rather than good: This is the judgment, that the light is come into the world & men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. - John 3:19
Because of his depravity, he's incapable of accepting the things of YHWH or understanding them: A natural man doesn't accept the things of the SPIRIT of YHWH; for they're foolishness to him & he can't understand them, because they're spiritually condemned. - 1Corinthians 2:14
The natural man is the unregenerate man, he can't understand the things of YHWH. Notice it doesn't say, 'has trouble understanding,' or 'can if he's sincere,' or 'will be able to if he chooses YHWH.' It says he can't understand. Salvation is one of those 'things of YHWH,' & so is the understanding of being lost, of being a sinner, of needing repentance, etc. All of these are out of reach of the natural man, he can't understand them.
How can an unbeliever come to an understanding that he needs salvation if the Word teaches that he can't understand this need, that his nature is evil & that he doesn't seek YHWH? What effect, then, does this condition have on his free will?
4) Man's Free-Will
Many believe that man, by his own will, by something that resides in him, is completely able to independently accept or reject YHWH. This is un-Scriptural. Being, man's will by nature is sinful, what will a sinful free-will choose? It'll choose sin, his own will would never allow him to reach for YHWH.
But we must ask, 'What's free-will?' Generally, it's accepted to mean the freedom to choose according to one's desires. This seems true. But someone is only as free as his nature is free. His will is limited to that which is within his nature. The unregenerate can only choose what his nature allows him to choose. Since he's full of sin, his choices can only be sinful.
In other words, a person can choose to do only that which his nature allows him to do. He can't simply will to suddenly vanish into thin air or fly like Superman because he's incapable of such feats; his nature limits him. So too with the nature of fallen man. He's limited by what he can & can't do.
The sinful man:
can't understand spiritual things (1Corinthians 2:14),
is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23),
doesn't seek for YHWH (Romans 3:11),
is lawless, rebellious, unholy & profane (1Timothy 1:9).
How then can the good desire to want YHWH come out of the unsaved evil heart? It can't! How's he able, in his sinful free-will, to desire YHWH when his inclinations are always to reject HIM? He can't! How can he, with his blind & sinful will that's deadened, hardened & enslaved by sin (Romans 6:20) ever choose YHWH? He can't! It's impossible. That's why YAHUSHUA said, 'With man this is impossible, but with YHWH, all things are possible.' (Matthew 19:26)
But some still maintain that YHWH works on a person & slowly teaches & guides him or her into believing. Others say that there's something in a person's free-will that enables him to choose YHWH. They maintain that everyone's equally able to accept or reject. But if they were, then why don't they all equally accept YHWH, or why don't they all equally choose to reject YHWH? Why are there variations in choice? Are the variations a result of a tendency that YHWH gave them? But HE made them that way. Is it because of their environment? But YHWH put them there. Is it because of some physical inclination? But YHWH gave them their bodies. Is it because of their parents' influence? YHWH also gave them their parents.
Man isn't entirely free; he's sinfully free. The unsaved can act freely, but only within the limits of their sinful nature which can't understand spiritual things, doesn't seek for YHWH,but hates HIM & is in slavery to sin (Romans 6:17, 20) etc. YAHUSHUA said, 'No one can come to ME, unless the FATHER who sent ME draws him'. - John 6:44
and...
No one can come to ME, unless it's been granted him from the FATHER. - John 6:65
These are not the statements one would hope to find if the sinner were so free to choose to accept or reject YHWH.
5) The Necessity of Predestination
So, man is completely a sinner who's incapable of understanding & coming to YHWH & has a sinful free-will capable only of rejecting HIM. Therefore, in order for salvation to occur, YHWH must predestine it. It can be no other way. If this is so, then there should be verses supporting it. Right? There are:
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing & glorifying the Word of YHWH & as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. - Acts 13:38
As many as received HIM, to them HE gave the right to become children of YHWH, even to those who believe in HIS name, who weren't born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of YaHuWaH. - John 1:12-13
There's you a couple; not convinced yet?
How bout........
For whom HE foreknew, HE also predestined to become conformed to the image of HIS SON, that HE might be the firstborn among many brethren & whom HE predestined, these HE also called & whom HE called, these HE also justified & whom HE justified, these HE also glorified. - Romans 8:29-30
Almost convinced?
HE predestined us to adoption as sons through YAHUSHUA haMashiach to HIMSELF, according to the kind intention of HIS will. - Ephesians 1:5
OK, if I show you one more, will you believe HIS Word?
We've obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to
HIS purpose who works all things after the counsel of HIS will. - Ephesians 1:11
Noticed, they said nothing of our 'free-will,' it's about HIS will!
These Scriptures clearly show that YHWH's very active in salvation. HE didn't simply provide the means of salvation, but HE also ensured the application of the blood of MESSIAH through predestination.
Notice that it's YHWH who:
- draws people to Himself (John 6:44,65)
- creates a clean heart (Psalm 51:10)
- appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48)
- works faith in the believer (John 6:28-29)
- chooses who is to be holy & blameless (Ephesians 1:4)
- chooses us for salvation (2Thessalonians 2:13-14)
- grants the act of believing (Phillipians 1:29)
- grants repentance (2Timothy 2:24-26)
- calls according to HIS purpose (2Timothy 1:9)
- causes us to be born again (1Peter 1:3)
- predestines us to salvation (Romans 8:29-30)
- predestines us to adoption (Ephesians 1:5)
- predestines us according to His purpose (Ephesians 1:11)
- makes us born again not by our will but by His will (John 1:12-13)
It is man who:
- is deceitful & desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9)
- is full of evil (Mark 7:21-23)
- loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19)
- is unrighteous, doesn't understand, doesn't seek for YHWH (Romans 3:10-12)
- is helpless & unrighteous (Romans 5:6)
- is dead in his trespasses & sins (Ephesians 2:1)
- is by nature a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)
- can't understand spiritual things (1Corinthians 2:14)
- is a slave of sin (Romans 6:16-20)
How can it be any other way than YHWH's loving predestination to make our salvation not only possible, but also a reality? Left to man, salvation's impossible: When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished & asked, ‘Who then can be saved?' YAHUSHUA looked at them & said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with YHWH, all things are possible.' - Matthew 19:25-26
Jason Desmond
Ambassador of HIS Kingdom