John Calvin, author of the book Institutes of the Christian Religion, and on whose teachings the Presbyterian Church was built upon, taught that God pre-ordained certain humans to be saved, leaving all others – billions and billions – to live and die cut off from Him and, hence, forever lost. He taught that those pre-ordained to be saved would eventually come to Christ and remain submitted to Christ and His teachings throughout their entire lives. (I do not know what Calvin’s thoughts on Demas defection might have been. See 2 Timothy 4:10)). This was his teaching on election and predestination. Both he, and the church founded on his beliefs, are in gross error regarding this subject.
Election and predestination has nothing to do with whether one will be saved or lost, whether they will go to heaven or hell. Election and predestination concerns WHEN one will have their minds opened to divine truth, whether this will occur in this lifetime or in the world to come. Paul and Silas were attempting to venture into Asia Minor to preach the gospel but “were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia (Minor).” They then endeavored “to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not.” (See Acts 16:6-7). No explanation is given as to how the Holy Spirit accomplished this. Was it due to the weather or some act of nature? We just do not know. Looking down through the corridor of time God saw the members of the human family who would live at a time and in a place that would be conducive to having their minds opened to divine truth and His reality. He then pre-ordained certain members of the human family, so living at a time and in a place conducive to their responding to His overtures, to hear the gospel and understand the mission of Jesus Christ. Still, in His great mercy, He declared that “whosoever will may come” to Christ and be saved. The elect, those elected and predestinated from the very beginning of time, will definitely come to Christ. All the rest of the human family will yet be given a full, free, expansive summons to join the great universe-ruling family of God after Christ returns to earth and sets up His eternal kingdom.
Following our Lord’s one thousand year rule over all the kingdoms and governments of the world, the masses of mankind will be resurrected from the dead to mortal, physical existence and granted a lengthy lifespan and then they, too, will be summoned to join the family of God. Human life spans will again be lengthened to several centuries as in the time when the first humans inhabited the earth, “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isaiah 65:20). No one will die in early childhood. Everyone will live to a great age, God giving them ample time to accept and walk in the truth. Those dying at the mere age of a hundred will be considered to have died in their childhood. Those still living sinful lives at a hundred years old will be cursed by God for God will have already granted them a hundred years to get it right.
Among the Jewish people only a small remnant have been chosen to hear and have their minds opened to receiving the gospel message in this present age. The vast majority of Jews have temporarily been cut off from God and the truth. (Read all of Acts chapter 11). “For God has concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy on all: (See Acts 11:32). When Jesus Christ returns and sets up His kingdom “In that day there shall be a fountain (of Christ’s shed blood) opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day there shall be one Lord, and His name one” (Zechariah 14:9). “They (the Jewish people) will be as though I had not cast them off” (See Zechariah 10:6). “And many nations (Saudi Arabia, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, etc.) shall be joined to the Lord (thus, converted and redeemed) in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in the midst of you…” (See Zechariah 2:11), Here salvation is being offered to the Jews and the Gentiles AFTER Jesus Christ’s second coming. This does NOT constitute a “second chance” as these people never had a first chance to be enlightened and saved! “And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said onto them, you are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God” (Romans 9:26). “According as it is written, God has given them (temporarily) the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day” (Romans 11:8). All humans who already have had their minds opened to the truth regarding Jesus Christ’s identity yet who rejected the Lord will have no “second chance” to be saved but will be counted among the spiritually lost and judged as such.
NONE born human will ever have just cause to stand before God and honestly declare, “I never had a chance at being saved and granted eternal life. I never heard the gospel or any divine truth.” No Aztec or Inca Indian will be able to raise that argument. No Egyptian slave, no Chinese peasant who lived a thousand years before Jesus’ birth – NO ONE! The goodness and mercy and love of God toward the human family – yes, toward each and every one of us without exception – is truly mind-boggling when rightly understood.
A gross misunderstanding of Romans 1 has convinced millions that all the people of the world have already been granted the opportunity to be saved and sanctified by the Lord. Romans 2:17 identifies who Paul was speaking of in Romans 1. God help you to understand is my prayer.
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),