BULLETIN 173

Predestination and Freewill in short order

Romans 3:25, 8:29ff.,  Proverbs 20:27

While at the superficial level, a person may simply react negatively as one of a rebel race, God knows the spirit of a person. Indeed, "the spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the hidden depths of the heart," as in Proverbs 20:27.

He knows past the generic spiritual pathology of our race (Ephesians 2), the preference of the heart (John 3:19, Matthew 23:37). Indeed, He foreknew it, future deeds apart (Romans 9:11). This was not a determination or compulsion, but an exposure or display, known and foreknown to Him, one which predestination applied (Romans 8:30ff.) and justification secured, paid for by the atoning cross of Christ - by His blood, through faith (Romans 3:25), "slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).

God knew these things in the profundity of His mind, before either man or his riot into sin came into existence (Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 4:13). It always remains true that He would have ALL reconciled to Himself, having made peace through the blood of the cross, whether in heaven or on earth; but love does not force (Colossians 1:19,  Ezekiel 33:11, Isaiah 48ff.).