Does God Predestine People to Hell?

[hobie]

Now this idea causes a unseen problem if one looks, as Gods Word does not teach that individuals are predestined to hell. Now some try to teach that God predestines only to heaven or salvation, but like two sides of the coin, you cannot have some predestine to eternal life and the others predestined to nothing, as scripture gives us there is only one other choice, perdition.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

So you can see how if God predestines who is saved, then He would also predestine who perishes and that would show a God that is unjust and unrighteous and we know who came up with that lie since the beginning. So if this idea that a person is predestined to one place and is not taught in the Bible otherwise it would undermine our confidence in the goodness and the justice of God, then one has to look and discern how one can be predestined to the opposite place. Either both are true, or neither are, and I dont think any true Christian would declare or tell someone they have no choice but to burn in hellfire, to say nothing of believing that God would predestine one to damnation.

God desires all to be saved and works for this purpose and ask believer to do the same as we see:
1 Timothy 2:1-6
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

[Frankj]

The Bible says we are judged by our works, that doesn't seem to mean a predestination to hell.

Ref: In the words of Jesus, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 12:36–37, Matthew 25:31–46, John 5:28–29

 

[jswauto]

a unseen problem

The Gospel Must be Preached​

The Bible certainly teaches predestination. The question is not whether predestination exists, but what God says is predestined and to what end.
Paul writes:

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...”
Romans 8:29

And:

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself...”
Ephesians 1:5

Again:

“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.”
Ephesians 1:11

Notice the language.
We are predestined to conformity to Christ, to adoption, and to the inheritance God has purposed for those who are in Christ.
That is considerably different from saying that Scripture teaches God created certain individuals for the purpose of making sure they could never believe and therefore must go to hell.

God genuinely calls sinners to repentance​

This is where the passages quoted become very important.
2 Peter 3:9 says the Lord is:

“not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

And 1 Timothy 2:3-4 speaks of God our Savior:

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

We should also consider God's own declaration:

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live...”
Ezekiel 33:11

Jesus likewise lamented over Jerusalem:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together... and ye would not!”
Matthew 23:37

That last statement is particularly significant.
Christ says, in essence, I would, but you would not.
There is God's gracious desire on one side and man's stubborn resistance on the other.

And Scripture repeatedly places responsibility upon the sinner​

Jesus said:

“And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
John 5:40

He does not say, “You cannot come because God predestined you to hell.”
He says:
“Ye will not come.”
Likewise:

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already...”
John 3:18

And only a few verses later:

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light...”
John 3:19

Why condemnation?
Because God arbitrarily assigned these people to hell before they existed?
That is not the reason given in the passage.
They loved darkness rather than light.
That preserves something extremely important throughout Scripture:

God's judgment is righteous.​

No sinner will someday stand before God able to say:
“I wanted Christ. I wanted salvation. I wanted to repent and believe, but You wouldn't let me because You created me for hell.”
That picture is very difficult to reconcile with the invitations of Scripture:

“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:17

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Acts 16:31

The gospel invitation is not presented as a cruel illusion.
It is proclaimed to sinners as a genuine command and promise.