Double Predestination, Part 9

Perhaps the most significant passage in all the New Testament that deals specifically with Double Predestination is found in Romans 9. 

He’s a sample of what is found in Romans 9:  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy (vv. 15-16). 

Some people receive mercy from God and others receive His justice. The decision for this is not in man, but with God.

This is illustrated by Paul by using two people – Esau and Jacob. These two men were twin brothers. They were carried in the same womb at the same time. One received the blessing of God and the other did not. One received a special portion of the love of God and the other was “hated” by God (v. 12). 

Note:  The divine hatred mentioned in verse 12 is not an expression of insidious malice, the kind we have toward those who cross us.  This is a “holy hatred” (See Psalm 139:22).  Divine or God’s hatred toward someone is not malicious.  It rather involves a withholding of a favor.

You see, God is for those whom He loves or sets His redemptive favor upon. He turns His face against those whom are evil and wicked and who do not become the object of His redemptive favor.  Now it is important to understand that all are wicked and evil. Even those whom God favors. Then why are some of those who are wicked and evil become the participants of His divine choosing and favor? Go back again to verses 15-16:  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Why would God choose Jacob over Esau?  Was it because God foresaw something in Jacob that He did not see in Esau?  Was it that God looked down through the course of time and saw Jacob doing the right things and saw Esau doing the wrong ones? 

Not at all. Too many Christians have been mistakenly taught the wrong concept of the “foreknowledge of God.” They have been taught that God looks into the future and sees who will do the right thing and who will not, and on that basis, God chooses or elects. This is erroneous.

Right from the outset, it should be noted that election is always “unconditional.”  That is, there is no human involvement whatsoever. Man does not do anything to favor the choosing of God. Election is all of God’s choice plus nothing.  Now, if one believes that election is conditional, that is, man had a part to play in God’s choosing him or her, then salvation would also be conditional. As Paul would say, if it is by works, then it is not longer of grace (Rom. 11:6).

So what does the foreknowledge of God have to play in God’s divine election?   We will explain in part 10.

End of Part 9