What Do You Believe?

Last Wednesday night (2-1-12) was our weekly meeting for Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) .  The theme for that night was one of the more popular controversies within the Christian church to believe; Predestination vs. Free-will. I will stick to the main points from the message that was delivered.

Songs for worship:

• Alive Again - Matt Maher
• From the Inside Out - Hillsong United
• Better is One Day - Matt Redman
• Your Grace is Enough - Chris Tomlin
• Hallelujah - Tenth Avenue North

Attendance: 41

The key text we used for this message was Romans 8:28-30, which says:

• "And we know that for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed by the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many. And those whom he predestined he also called, those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." 

The two categories of belief with our faith: non-negotiable (closed-handed) and negotiable (open- handed). The non-negotiable category includes beliefs that are the foundations of our belief.  Whereas with negotiable beliefs, are beliefs that don't change our status as Christians whether which way we believe.  

If you look at this scripture without any background of what is going on before this you would probably believe that predestination exists. The facts is that if you were to read the book of Romans altogether you would figure out the thing that God had 'predestined' wasn't who is going to become a follower of Christ, but rather, the actions of what His Son actually did. So therefore, God didn't predestine people, He predestined THE WAY!

The same author of the Romans text wrote Ephesians, Paul. In Ephesians 1 Paul writes about how God had made a plan which He was quite pleased with. God hadn't predestined people in general, but it was the plan for Christ! 

The place for predestination may not be what you think it is. God predetermined that way for us to be saved through His Son Jesus Christ. In 2 Peter 3, Peter says:

• "The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people may think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

No matter which way you look at it, in the end God is the one in charge and the one who saves. When Jesus' last words before He left this earth was:

• "I have been given the authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given to you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

This text doesn't single out any people or person in general. Jesus told us believers to go out into all nations to make disciples. It doesn't really matter where anyone falls on the issue of Predestination vs. Free-will because we were told (by Jesus) to go make disciples, not argue. 

Message by Patrick Willis (LHU-CSF Campus Minister)