Soteriology, Scripture, Predestination, and Interpretation.

For such a extreme doctrine that touches upon Soteriology, God's character, and the Church, simply providing 1 or 2, 3 or 4, 5 or even 6, proof texts that do not say "God predestines people to hell" but rather people interpret them that way will not do. As a non-Calvinist "Provisionist" here is my encouragement and thoughts about the title of this article.

       What we would need is just one text, interpreted thoroughly, within it's historical context, along with the whole context of the book it is being quoted out of, then down to the chapter and verse, then the Hebrew or Greek, and what did those words used meant to whom it was written too. What kind of text is it? is it narrative? is it poetic?,is it song? is it biographical?, Is it prophetic? is it Apocalyptic?, is it didactic? is it idiom? is it hyperbally? Is an enemy of God saying this? has it already been fulfilled? So many interpretive understandings need to be addressed. It is not as simple as quoting a verse to prove you theology.

        We need to know how to read the Bible, before we go on quoting texts, then interpreting them to mean something they do not say. Quote Scripture yes, there's simple truths in Scripture that are easily understood without going to deep into interpretation. But when it comes to what is called: "Double predestination, or the Decree of Reprobation, or Equal Ultimacy" This Reformed doctrine, John Calvin even called a "dreadful decree", which he could not comprehend, and made John Piper cry for months, you need to be well taught how to read and interpret Scripture before you quote verses saying that they teach such things.Many many cult leaders knew their Bible really well, and quoted it often. 

        Also, if Scripture indicates 1 certain event was predestined, like the crucifixion (Acts 2:23) that does not necessitate therefore everything is predestined, that would be going vastly beyond Scripture. God planning to send His Son to redeem men from sin does not equate that God predestined all the sins that His Son died for. That would make the cross meaningless. The actual practice of Sola Scriptura, not the creed, but actually adhereing to it in practice (though Sola Scriptura is a Creed itself) necessitates that when God has predestined 1 or 2 heck 5 or 6 events, that you should say God predestined those event's. 

       After reading a passage that says God has predestined one thing, you say, therefore; He predestined everything, that is going way beyond Scripture and telling folks God has predestined playboy, incest, murder, war everything. Nope, you can't do that. You need a passage of Scripture that actually undeniably says or teaches "God predestined all things before the foundation of the world" And it needs to actually say "before the foundation of the world" was when it was predestined, There are 1 or 2 passages that use use "before the foundation of the world" but they don't say "God predestined everything *before the foundation of the world" because somethings God makes a decision, in time, not before the foundation of the world, and predestines a event from that period in time. Critical reading brethren.

By: Kevin Henderson.