Predestination Without Excuses: Why Preaching, Faith, and Obedience Still Matter

In Ephesians 1, God predestines, but not in such a way that it eliminates human responsibility for the rejection or acceptance of the gospel. The gospel must still be preached. Faith must still be exercised. Obedience must still be realized. Predestination does not render preaching, faith, and obedience unnecessary. On the contrary, they are the means by which God accomplishes his predestination. Calvin also distinguishes between God’s foreknowledge and his predestination. Foreknowledge is merely knowledge. Predestination is purpose and determination. God does not merely know in advance who will be saved. He purposes and determines this. This is a stronger statement than mere foreknowledge. And it is here that Calvin distances himself from some of his contemporary theologians who prefer to speak only of foreknowledge. The paradox remains. It is true. How can God determine necessarily and man still be free? Calvin admits that this is a mystery that transcends finite human understanding. But for him, the solution is not to deny one of the truths in favour of the other, but to embrace both as revelations from God that should be held in theological tension.