Question

Had God decided, before the foundation of the earth, that some people would be lost and others would be saved without people having a choice in this matter?

Answer

No, the Bible is clear that God gave man a choice, and that He wants everybody saved. This doctrine is not in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The following scriptures make this very plain:

“Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognise and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.”

1 Timothy 2:4

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”

John 3:16

Both the Old and the New Testaments continually teach us about this choice we have

“¹⁹ …choose life, that you and your descendants may live ²⁰and may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Ezekiel 18:23-32 has a similar message. I have highlighted several verses from this passage:

“²³Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his evil way and return [to his God] and live? ²⁴But if the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die…. ³⁰Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin and so shall they not be a stumbling block to you. ³¹Cast away from you all your transgressions by which you have transgressed against Me, and make you a new mind and heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O house of Israel? ³²For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore turn (be converted) and live!”

Ezekiel 18:23-24, 30-32

God is love, and He is just

1 John 4:7-19 also speaks about these characteristics of God. I emphasise the following verses from this scripture: 

“¹⁰In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. ¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. ¹⁹We love Him, because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:10, 16 and 19

Jesus portrays God’s love and character. It is a perfect love that invites sinners to accept Him.

The doctrine of predestination is not in line with the father heart of God 

In Luke 15:11-32 we read about the parable of the lost son. Our focus is on the father so that we can better understand the father heart of God. Take special note of the following scripture verses:

“²⁰So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]….²²But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honour) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. ²³And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry.”

Luke 15:20, 22-23

Conclusion

God loved us first, and therefore it is possible for us to love Him back. Choose today to accept Jesus and to love Him.

All scripture references are from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition unless otherwise stated