Scripture: Predestination and the Sovereignty of God

Scriptures on the Sovereignty of God / Predestination

with some notes (in italics)

Matt 11: 27 – All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal him.

(There is no “accepting Jesus.” God gives us faith in the Son, who leads us to the Father.)

Matt 13: 11-14 – He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matt 13:16 – But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Matt 13: 18-23 – Parable of the sewer

Matt 13: 24-30 – Parable of the tares in the field

Matt 20: 1-16 – Parable of the workers in the vineyard

Mk 4:11-12 – And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Lk 13: 23-30 – Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And behold, there are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last.

John 3:14-21 – And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

“Whosoever believes” are those to whom faith is given from God – those who He reserves from himself from among every nation. See next 2 scriptures:

John 3:27 – John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

John 6:65 – And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

John 8:47 – He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye there fore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John Chapter 8 – Abraham’s true descendants (verses 37-47):

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

John 10: 25-30 – Jesus answered then, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

John 15: 16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 17: 1-2 – These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come: glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 17:6 – I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

(The Father gave some of the world to Jesus, not all, as people like to use John 3:16 to portray.)

John 17: 9-12 – I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but theses are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be as one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

(Same as above.)

John 17: 24 – Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.

John 18: 9 – That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none.

Acts 2:39 – For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that area far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Acts 2:47 – Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 10: 34-35 – Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

(Of all nations of the world, showing the meaning of “all,” yet again. And how does one fear him and work righteousness, as seen earlier, it is by the calling and determination of God, not our choice.)

Acts 15: 16-18 – After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which in fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Romans 5:14-15 – Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similtude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For in through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abound unto many.

(Many. Not every person. When the bible tells of all or the world, it means all kinds from all nations. Such as was in the days of Noah.)

Romans 8: 28-30 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 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 justified, them he also glorified.

Romans 9 – Whole chapter. Summary: Just as God chose Isaac, who he loved, and refused Esau, who he hated, God has power over his creation. He chooses some to mercy, others to destruction. No one has resisted his will. Those created for destruction say, “why have you made me thus?” What right does the created being have to reply against God? He is the creator and has power over the creation. Who he will he shows mercy, and who he will he hardens against the truth that can save them, which is faith, not works done under the law. Not every man has faith in Christ. Most can perform law to some degree. Faith is a gift of God to his chosen, both of the remnant seed of Isaac, and the gentiles by adoption.

Romans 11: 2-10 – God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine alters; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) Unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.

This is talking about how God blinded some of Israel so that the promise could extend to the gentiles specifically. Same for Chapters 9-10. But, God does not change. If He blinded the original Israel, how much more will he blind those who were grafted in? He does indeed blind people today, so that through the mercy of the gentiles, the Jews can be restored. But, there will come a day when we all confess that Jesus is Lord. See the next scripture below:

Romans 11:25-32 – For I would not, brethren, that ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Romans 11: 33-36 – O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

2 Cor 2:15-16 – For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

2 Cor 4: 3-4 – But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Gal 1:15 – But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace…

Ephes 1: 4-5 – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Ephes 1: 11-12 – In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Philip 2:13 – For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Col 1:16-17 – For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

2 Thes 10-14 – And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not a love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thes 3:2 – And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

Tim 2:4-6 – who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Tim 4:10 – For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of these that believe.

Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

These verses give the impression that salvation is given to all – or every single person ever alive. But when taken in the context of the other scriptures that instead say things like “many” or “of all nations” we see that the reason the word “all” was used so frequently is because Jesus brought salvation to the gentiles – so instead of the Jews being God’s chosen people, “all” peoples would be brought in.

Heb 2:8 – Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Heb 3:4 – For every house is builded by some man; but he that build all things is God.

(Same idea as Proverbs 16:33)

Heb 3:7-11 – Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, to day is ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, they do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.

Heb 4:3 – For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished form the foundation of the world.

Heb 9:15 – And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgression that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

1 Peter 2:6-9 – Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people; who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

2 Peter 1:10 – Wherefore the rather, bretheren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.