Predestination is a profound and sometimes complex theological concept that deals with God’s foreknowledge and sovereign will in determining the destiny of individuals. The Bible addresses predestination in various contexts, emphasizing God’s sovereignty, grace, and purpose in salvation.
These verses provide insights into how God’s plan and foreknowledge work in harmony with human responsibility and faith. Here are 30 Bible verses about predestination, each accompanied by a brief commentary to provide deeper understanding and reflection.
1. Ephesians 1:4-5
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
Chosen before creation. This verse highlights that believers are chosen by God before the world was created and predestined to be adopted as His children, emphasizing God’s sovereign will and love.
2. Romans 8:29-30
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
God’s sovereign plan. These verses outline the sequence of God’s predestination, calling, justification, and glorification of believers, illustrating the comprehensive nature of His salvation plan.
3. Acts 13:48
“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Appointed to eternal life. This verse reveals that those who were appointed to eternal life by God believed in the Gospel, indicating divine election and predestination in salvation.
4. 2 Timothy 1:9
“Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
Grace before time began. This verse emphasizes that God’s purpose and grace were given to believers in Christ Jesus before time began, highlighting the eternal nature of God’s plan.
5. Romans 9:11
“(For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls).”
God’s purpose in election. This verse explains that God’s choice and election are based on His purpose and calling, not on human works or merit, underscoring divine sovereignty.
6. Ephesians 1:11
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”
Inheritance through predestination. This verse highlights that believers have obtained an inheritance in Christ through predestination, according to God’s purpose and will.
7. John 15:16
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
Chosen and appointed by Jesus. This verse emphasizes that Jesus chose and appointed His disciples to bear lasting fruit, indicating divine selection and purpose.
8. 1 Peter 1:2
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
Election by foreknowledge. This verse explains that believers are elect according to God’s foreknowledge, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and for obedience to Jesus Christ.
9. Isaiah 46:10
“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'”
God’s sovereign plan. This verse affirms that God declares the end from the beginning, ensuring that His counsel and pleasure will be accomplished, reflecting His sovereign control over history.
10. Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Known and ordained before birth. This verse reveals that God knew and ordained Jeremiah as a prophet before his birth, highlighting God’s foreknowledge and predestined purposes for individuals.
11. Revelation 13:8
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Book of Life from the foundation. This verse mentions that the names written in the Book of Life were determined from the foundation of the world, indicating predestination in God’s plan of salvation.
12. Romans 11:5
“Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
Remnant by grace. This verse speaks of a remnant chosen by the election of grace, highlighting God’s selective grace in preserving a faithful group.
13. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
Chosen for salvation. This verse emphasizes that believers were chosen by God from the beginning for salvation, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and faith in the truth.
14. Ephesians 2:10
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Prepared for good works. This verse reveals that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works that God prepared in advance for them to do, indicating a predestined purpose.
15. Psalm 139:16
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
Days ordained by God. This verse acknowledges that all the days of an individual’s life were written in God’s book before they came to be, reflecting God’s sovereign planning.
16. Romans 8:33
“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”
God’s protection of the elect. This verse reassures that no one can bring a charge against those whom God has chosen, as it is God who justifies and protects His elect.
17. John 6:44
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Drawn by the Father. This verse emphasizes that coming to Jesus is contingent on being drawn by the Father, highlighting the divine initiative in the process of salvation.
18. 1 Thessalonians 1:4
“Knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.”
Assurance of election. This verse expresses confidence in the believers’ election by God, providing assurance of their chosen status and divine calling.
19. Colossians 3:12
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”
Characteristics of the elect. This verse calls the elect of God to embody virtues such as mercy, kindness, humility, and patience, reflecting their holy and beloved status.
20. Isaiah 42:1
“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.”
God’s chosen Servant. This verse refers to Jesus as God’s chosen Servant, filled with the Spirit and destined to bring justice to the nations, emphasizing His predestined mission.
21. Matthew 22:14
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Few are chosen. This verse highlights the distinction between being called and being chosen, underscoring the selective nature of God’s predestination.
22. Romans 9:15-16
“For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
God’s sovereign mercy. These verses emphasize that God’s mercy and compassion are based on His sovereign will, not on human effort or desire, highlighting divine prerogative in predestination.
23. Deuteronomy 7:6
“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
Chosen as a special people. This verse speaks of Israel’s election as God’s holy and treasured people, chosen above all nations, reflecting divine selection and purpose.
24. 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Chosen generation. This verse describes believers as a chosen generation and royal priesthood, called to proclaim God’s praises, emphasizing their predestined identity and mission.
25. John 10:27-28
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Security of the chosen. This verse highlights the security of Jesus’ followers, who are known by Him and granted eternal life, ensuring that no one can snatch them from His hand.
26. Isaiah 49:1
“Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.”
Called from the womb. This verse speaks of being called by God from the womb, highlighting predestination and divine purpose even before birth.
27. Ephesians 1:13-14
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Sealed by the Holy Spirit. These verses emphasize that believers, having trusted in Christ, are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance, reflecting predestination and security in salvation.
28. Romans 9:23-24
“And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”
Prepared for glory. These verses speak of God preparing vessels of mercy beforehand for glory, highlighting divine predestination and the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles in His plan.
29. Galatians 1:15-16
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood.”
Called by grace. Paul speaks of being called by God’s grace from his mother’s womb to preach to the Gentiles, emphasizing predestination and divine purpose in his ministry.
30. John 17:6
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”
Given by the Father. Jesus speaks of His disciples as those given to Him by the Father out of the world, indicating divine selection and predestination in their calling.
These verses collectively highlight the biblical concept of predestination, emphasizing God’s sovereignty, grace, and purpose in salvation and the lives of believers. They encourage reflection on the divine plan and the assurance of being chosen and called according to God’s will.
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