No—predestination is not God arbitrarily deciding some are doomed; it is God foreknowing believers and predestining them to be made like His Son and to receive His inheritance.
In Romans 8:29-30, predestination concerns those God foreknew and what they are predestinated to: conformity to Christ's image, then calling, justification, and glorification. Les Feldick teaches this rests on God's foreknowledge of each person's free-will response, not on a fatalistic selection of individuals for heaven or hell.
Romans 8:29-30 — This is the key passage where predestination is directly connected to being conformed to the image of the Son.
Ephesians 1:4-5, 11 — These verses show what believers are chosen and predestinated to: holiness, adoption, and an inheritance.
Romans 8:28-30 describes predestination in the context of God's purpose. It says all things work together for good 'to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.' The passage then explains that 'whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.' The same verse moves from predestination to calling, justification, and glorification. Ephesians 1:4-5, 11 shows God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame, and predestinated them unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:11 adds that believers 'have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.' 2 Timothy 1:9 ties this to grace given in Christ Jesus before the world began, and 1 Peter 1:2 speaks of being 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.'
Les teaches that predestination has nothing to do with God arbitrarily putting His finger on certain people and leaving others without a chance. Instead, God in His foreknowledge knew what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will, and on that basis chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world. The elect of Scripture are always the believer, so the word foreknowledge settles the controversy and frees us from the idea that salvation is automatic or fatalistic. Predestination, for Les, is not primarily a statement about who goes to heaven or hell; it is a statement about what God has prepared for believers. God already knew the believer and where they would be in the Body of Christ before anything was created, and He has already glorified believers and sees them as He sees Christ. Ephesians 1:11 shows believers being predestinated to obtain an inheritance according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. Finally, Les emphasizes that this calling is not based on human effort. 2 Timothy 1:9 shows that God called us according to His own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Les adds that we did not sweat and run and will our way into salvation; instead, God had us positioned in the Body of Christ before He ever created Adam. For the believer, even difficult experiences work together for good and bring us to the place God wants us.
No. Les teaches that God did not simply put His finger on certain ones and leave others without a chance. Instead, God in His foreknowledge knew what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will. The elect in Scripture are always believers, and the word foreknowledge settles the controversy about predestination.
Romans 8:29 says believers are predestinated to be conformed to the image of God's Son. Ephesians 1:5 says believers are predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Les adds that God knew before anything was created where each believer would be in the Body of Christ, and He has already glorified believers and sees them as He sees Christ.
Les explains that God's foreknowledge knew what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will. For this reason predestination is not an arbitrary selection. 1 Peter 1:2 says believers are elect according to the foreknowledge of God. Les says this frees us from thinking salvation is automatic regardless of response.
Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Les points out this promise is for the believer, not the world. God may bring tough experiences, but they are for His purpose, to bring the believer to the place He wants them to be.
2 Timothy 1:9 says God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, given in Christ Jesus before the world began. Les says believers did not sweat and run and will themselves into salvation; God had them positioned in the Body of Christ before He created Adam.
All Things Work Together for Good
Les explains the promise of Romans 8:28 is for believers only, and tough experiences are part of God's purpose to bring believers to the place He wants them.
Predestinated to an Inheritance
Les shows Ephesians 1:11 ties predestination to God's purpose and to an inheritance, and underlines that everything comes together according to His design.
Foreknowledge and Free Will
Les clarifies God's foreknowledge knew what every individual would do through the exercise of their own free will, so predestination is not God arbitrarily selecting some people.
Believers Are Known From Before Creation
Les teaches God knew the believer and where they would be in the Body of Christ before anything was created, and now sees believers as He sees Christ.
Predestined According to God's Purpose
Les points to the word purpose in Ephesians 1:11 and takes the reader to 2 Timothy 1:9 to show the purpose is a holy calling.
God's Eternal Purpose
Les emphasizes God was never caught by surprise and that nothing happened outside His foreordination; it was all part of His eternal purpose.
Foreknowledge Settles the Controversy
Les shows election is according to the foreknowledge of God, and the elect are always believers, which removes the fatalistic reading of predestination.
Called According to God's Purpose and Grace
Les teaches our calling is not earned by our effort but flows from God's purpose and grace given us in Christ before the world began.
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Shows the promised working together of all things is for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Identifies what believers are predestinated to: conformity to the image of the Son.
Romans 8:30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Traces the sequence of predestination, calling, justification, and glorification.
Ephesians 1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame.
Ephesians 1:5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Believers are predestinated unto adoption of children by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Believers obtain an inheritance through predestination according to God's purpose.
2 Timothy 1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Salvation and calling are according to God's own purpose and grace, not our works, given before the world began.
1 Peter 1:2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Election is according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
According to Les, God did not arbitrarily decide that certain individuals would be saved and others lost. God's foreknowledge knew what every person would do with their free will, and on that basis He chose believers in Christ.
Foreknowledge is God knowing in advance what each person would do. Predestination is what God then purposed for those who believe: to be conformed to His Son, adopted as children, and given an inheritance.
No. Les points out the verse is qualified: it is for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose, meaning the believer. For believers, even difficult experiences can bring them to the place God wants them.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:24-29 — Does God Choose You or Do You Choose Him?