God's Choice

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:10-13 NASB95)

Consider this, why does God choose Jacob over Esau, Judah over Joseph and David over Saul? Using our normal human common sense, morality, karma and justice, we would do it the other way.

Jacob and Esau
Why does God choose the one who cheat over the one who was cheated to be the ancestor of His chosen people Israel?

Judah and Joseph
Why does God choose the one who enslaved over the slave to be the ancestor of the tribe where the kings of Israel would come from? Wasn't Joseph exemplary his in conduct when he forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery? Why wasn't he chosen?

David and Saul
Why does God choose the one who committed adultery and murder over the one who did not to become the ancestor of the Messiah?

Me and many others better than me
While I was pondering over this, I remembered that God also choose me over many people who are probably a better person than me.

Meritocracy is not in the dictionary of God. Rather, God is merciful. In His mercy, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we can be saved, even though we do not have many good works or worse, none at all. Theologians called this salvation by grace.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 ESV)

Ordo Salutis

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 ESV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2 ESV)

Order of Salvation

1. Foreknowledge
2. Predestination / Election
3. Call
4. Justification
5. Glorification

I cannot find any Biblical basis for the Arminian order of salvation, which is 1) outward call 2) faith / election, 3) repentance, 4) regeneration, 5) justification, 6) perseverance, 7) glorification.

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33 ESV)

For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. (Ephesians 1:4 CSB)

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (John 17:9 ESV)

God And Fate

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." (Romans 9:10-12 ESV)

1. For Christians, all things, whether good or evil, will work for our good. We can the the hand of God in everything and we know how it will end. We are created to show God's mercy.
   We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 CSB)
2. For those who are outside the Kingdom of God, things happened without purpose. Or rather, things do not happen according to their beliefs. Good and bad things happened because of fate. They do not know that they exist to demonstrate God's justice.
   The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose - even the wicked for the day of disaster. (Proverbs 16:4 CSB)

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:21-24 ESV)

How Does God Predestinates?

God predestinates through

1. Personal intervention;
2. Prophets;
3. Spiritual beings such as angels and demons;
4. Nature (everything that can be scientifically explained);
5. Human free will;
6. Chance and luck.

To those who believe, all things work for their good. Our salvation is predestinated and assured. For the unbelievers, God is fate.

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 8:14 NIV)

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. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Belief And UnBelief Is Life And Death

For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for. (1 Peter 2:6-8 NIV)

The same Jesus, when you believe, is your precious saviour. But when you do not believe, He is your stumbling block.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. (1 John 5:1 NLT)

And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. (1 John 2:22 NLT)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2 ESV)

Election And Luck

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 ESV, NIV)

The same law of physics determine the casting of lots, whether it is for gambling or for the election of an apostle.

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26 NIV)

Jacob The Supplanter

Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?" (Genesis 27:36 ESV)

Has it ever occurred to you why did God allowed Jacob to cheat his brother Esau's birthright and blessing? Why didn't God just made Jacob the first born? Then Jacob would just inherit Isaac's birthright and blessings legitimately.

And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." (Romans 9:10-12 ESV)

God Predestines By Chance

So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:3 ESV)

Ruth happened to glean at Boaz's field by chance. If not, she would not have met Boaz and became the ancestor of David and Jesus. If there is no Jesus, we will not become Christians. We are so lucky that Ruth happened to glean at Boaz's field by chance.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29 ESV)

God's Grace vs Buddhist Universal Gateway 應化身

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

People always ask me, "Isn't it unfair for those who do not have a chance to hear about Jesus to go to hell?" But the Bible state very clearly, salvation is by the "grace of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

It turned out that other religions also have the same problem. An European living one thousand years ago in Europe would never heard of Buddhism. So the poor guy cannot achieve nirvana! But Buddhism has this unproven process of reincarnation and they also came up with another unproven method of how the Buddhist message is spread to other regions.

Below is a quote taken from "妙法蓮華經 觀世音菩薩普門品 The Universal Gateway Of Guanyin Bodhisattva":

QUOTE
4.無盡意菩薩白佛言。世尊。觀世音菩薩。云何遊此娑婆世界。云何而為眾生說法。方便之力。其事云何。
佛告無盡意菩薩。善男子。若有國土眾生。應以佛身得度者。觀世音菩薩。即現佛身而為說法。應以辟支佛身得度者。即現辟支佛身而為說法。應以聲聞身得度者。即現聲聞身而為說法。
應以梵王身得度者。即現梵王身而為說法。應以帝釋身得度者。即現帝釋身而為說法。應以自在天身得度者。即現自在天身而為說法。應以大自在天身得度者。即現大自在天身而為說法。
應以天大將軍身得度者。即現天大將軍身而為說法。應以毗沙門身得度者。即現毗沙門身而為說法。應以小王身得度者。即現小王身而為說法。應以長者身得度者。即現長者身而為說法。
5.應以居士身得度者。即現居士身而為說法。應以宰官身得度者。即現宰官身而為說法。應以婆羅門身得度者。即現婆羅門身而為說法。應以比丘。比丘尼。優婆塞。優婆夷身得度者。即現比丘。比丘尼。優婆塞。優婆夷身而為說法。
應以長者。居士。宰官。婆羅門。婦女身得度者。即現婦女身而為說法。應以童男。童女身得度者。即現童男。童女身而為說法。
應以天龍。夜叉。乾闥婆。阿修羅。迦樓羅。緊那羅。摩睺羅伽。人非人等身得度者。即皆現之而為說法。應以執金剛神得度者。即現執金剛神而為說法。
無盡意。是觀世音菩薩。成就如是功德。以種種形。遊諸國土。度脫眾生。是故汝等。應當一心供養觀世音菩薩。
4.Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, why does Guanyin Bodhisattva journey in this saha world? How does he preach the Dharma to sentient beings? How does he utilize expedient means?"
The Buddha said to Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva, "Good man, if there were living beings on this earth who would be liberated by a buddha, then Guanyin Bodhisattva would manifest as a buddha to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a pratyeka-buddha, he manifests as a pratyeka-buddha to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a sravaka, he appears as a sravaka to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by King Brahma, he appears as King Brahma to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by King Shakra, he appears as King Shakra to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by an isvara, he appears as an isvara to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a mahesvara, he appears as a mahesvara to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by a great heavenly general, he appears as a great heavenly general to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a vaisravana, he appears as a vaisravana to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a minor king, he appears as a minor king to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by an elder, he appears as an elder to preach the Dharma.
5."To those who would be saved by a householder, he appears as a householder to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a chief minister, he appears as a chief minister to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a Brahman, he appears as a Brahman to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a bhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka, or upasika, he appears as a bhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka, or upasika to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by the wife of an elder, chief minister, or Brahman, he appears as the wife of an elder, chief minister, or Brahman to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a boy or girl, he appears as a boy or girl to preach the Dharma.
"To those who would be saved by a heavenly being, dragon, yaksha, gandharva, asura, or garuda, he appears as a heavenly being, dragon, yaksha, gandharva, asura, or garuda to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a kimnara, mahoraga, human, or non-human, he appears as a kimnara, mahorage, human, or non-human to preach the Dharma. To those who would be saved by a vajrapani, he appears as a vajrapani to preach the Dharma. 
"Inexhaustible Intention, Guanyin Bodhisattva has succeeded in acquiring such merits and can use myriad forms to go about the world to save sentient beings. Because of this you should all wholeheartedly make offerings to Guanyin Bodhisattva.
UNQUOTE

This is the scripture in a YouTube cartoon "觀世音菩薩普門品--化身救渡".

The Lotus Sutra describes Avalokiteśvara as a bodhisattva who can take the form of any type of God. A total of 33 different manifestations of Avalokitasvara are described, including female manifestations, all to suit the minds of various beings (adapted from Wikipedia).

Is Avalokiteśvara a real historical person like the historical Buddha? No idea. With so many manifestations, it is really difficult to prove. Since no proof is needed, some Buddhists believed that Jesus is a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara for the Western people.

But the Bible does not pretend that all will be saved. Salvation is by the grace of God. Those who do not know Jesus will be judged justly by their works.

For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son. And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac. For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand - not from works but from the one who calls - she was told, The older will serve the younger. As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy. (Romans 9:9-16 CSB)

Does God Has Plan B?

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21 ESV)

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. (Ephesians 1:4a HCSB)

The Call of Abraham

Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV)

The first thing to note is that Abraham was called.
The second thing to note is he was told to leave.
The third thing to note is he was not told where to go.
The fourth thing to note is he was childless.

If  he obeyed, this was promised to him,

1. He will be given land;
2. He will be a great nation;
3. He will be blessed;
4. He shall be a blessing.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8 NASB)

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. (Hebrews 11:11 NIV)

Once Saved Always Saved - 1

Once saved always saved is a very complex doctrine and tied up with other aspects of Christianity:

1. Grace vs Works.
2. Predestination vs Free Will

I shall go through it slowly and see if I can make myself clear. I shall start with two parables in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Parable of the Sower
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:1-8 ESV)

The Parable of the Sower Explained
"Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23 ESV)

The Parable of the Weeds
He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:24-30 ESV)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:36-43 ESV)

In the parable of the sower, the seeds fell on four types of ground: the road, rocky ground, thorny ground and good soil. Except for those seeds which fell on the road, the seeds that fell on the other three types of soil initially produced something. Only in the good soil that they persist till the end.

In the parable of the weeds, both wheat and weeds looked the same in the field. It is only at harvest time that the wheat can be distinguished from the weeds.

What has this got to do with "Once saved always saved"?

From the perspective of the world (and some Christians), true and false Christians look alike. Nobody can see their hearts and tell the difference. They grow and produce some fruits. But ultimately, only those who persist till the end are revealed to be true. For those who do not persist, they seem to be Christians who have "fallen away".

The clearest example is Judas Iscariot. Is he not among the twelve? Did he not perform all the miracles that the other apostles did? When Jesus told the twelve that one of them would betray Him, none of them suspected Judas Iscariot.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" (Matthew 26:20-22 ESV)

But the Bible tells us very clearly that Jesus had kept all that was given to Him by the Father.

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12 ESV)

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (John 10:28-29 ESV)

There are many Christians who thought that they are Christians, but are never truly saved. Like Judas Iscariot, they have joined Jesus with other motives. When they fall away, the world thought that salvation can be lost. But the Bible tells us that they are not of us from the beginning.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19 ESV)

Again, Judas Iscariot was the best example. Long even before the birth of Jesus, it has been prophesied in the Psalms that one who ate bread together with Jesus would betray Him.

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9 ESV)

But no one would have known until it happened. So did Judas Iscariot "fall away" or he was never among the chosen? But Jesus chose the twelve apostles, right?

Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil." (John 6:70 ESV)

But Jesus knew whom He had chosen and Judas Iscariot was not among them.

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' (John 13:18 ESV)

Once you can understand how Judas Iscariot was chosen and also not chosen, you will know how to interpret the Bible correctly and you will understand why a true Christian is "once saved always saved".

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

The Foreknowledge of God

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2 ESV)

We live one moment at a time. Have you ever try to comprehend how it would be like if you are able to live simultaneously yesterday, today and tomorrow? It is incomprehensible. We do not have the channels to accept and respond to such data.

Try explaining to a blind man what the rainbow it like. Try to explain to the deaf how beautiful a certain song is. They cannot understand you. They have to take what you told them by faith.
God, who can live simultaneously in the past, present and future, tell us in the Bible that everything happened according to the foreknowledge of God, but we have free will. Let us accept that by faith.

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV)

Could Pontius Pilate Have Released Jesus?

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him." (Luke 23:13-16 ESV)

Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream." (Matthew 27:19 ESV)

The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin." From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." (John 19:7-12 ESV)

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves." (Matthew 27:24 ESV)

Could Pontius Pilate have released Jesus? He had many reasons to do so.

• He did not find Jesus guilty of any of the Jew's charges against him (Luke 23:14).
• His wife told him to have nothing to do with Jesus, a righteous man, because she suffered bad dreams because of him (Matthew 27:19).
• He was superstitious and believed in the supernatural, such as sons of gods (John 19:7-8).

Finally, when he had to condemn Jesus, he washed his hands and declared himself innocent of Jesus's blood (Matthew 27:24).

While the Bible did not tell us why Pontius Pilate was afraid of the Jews, secular history gave a possible reason as given in this quotation taken from "Daily Life In The Time Of Jesus  Bible.org"
QUOTE
When Tiberius moved to Capri, he left the empire in the hands of Sejanus, who was terribly anti-Semitic. Pilate implemented Sejanus' anti-Jewish policies in 26 A.D. with a vengeance. We read how he massacred Jews and established pagan emblems and rituals in the temple. But, Tiberius heard of this and the ambition of Sejanus (probably through Caligula), and so he returned to Rome. Sejanus was executed October 18, 31 A.D. In 32 Tiberius ordered the governors not to offend the Jews. Pilate was now forced to ingratiate himself to the emperor--he feared an uprising of the Jews, and so to placate the leaders he asked what he should do with Jesus. Two years earlier he would have never done that. Pilate could not afford to get into trouble with Tiberius--he would not be a "friend of Caesar." And finally, his enemy Herod Antipas now became his friend. Rome wanted peace in the territories; and the client kings and governors had to comply.
UNQUOTE

From the predestination perspective, Pontius Pilate must crucify Jesus.

However, from our temporal perspective, Pontius Pilate went through a normal decision making process within his own understanding as any of us would. His mind was not suddenly possessed by some divine impulse, making him incapable of releasing Jesus, even if he had wanted to. He could release Jesus, if he had decided that justice was more important than his career. He could release Jesus, if he thought that Jesus was a divine being who could help him with his career. He could release Jesus, if he thought that offending Jesus would be worse than offending Tiberius Caesar. His mind is capable of making decisions, just as how our mind make decisions. But he looked at his own political situation, weighed it against the possibility of inflicting injustice against a likely supernatural being, decided that it was better to be politically expedient than to offer justice, even to one who might be divine. He did it out of his own free will, his selfish purpose and in doing so, he fulfilled God's will unknowingly.

God's Will

Everything that happened, whether good or bad, is God's will.
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. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Yet God does have His own will, which may be thwarted by men's will.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

God's will is also found in His moral law.
"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. (Deuteronomy 28:1 ESV)
"But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. (Deuteronomy 28:15 ESV)

Men have a choice to obey or disobey God.
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. (Revelation 22:17 NASB)

Yet our salvation is by God's grace.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Charles Spurgeon On Doctrine Of Predestination

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:5-6 NASB)

QUOTE
John Newton used to tell a whimsical story, and laugh at it, too, of a good woman who said, in order to prove the doctrine of election, "Ah! sir, the Lord must have loved me before I was born, or else He would not have seen anything in me to love afterwards." I am sure it is true in my case; I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love. So I am forced to accept that great Biblical doctrine.
UNQUOTE
Charles Spurgeon

The Illusion of Free Will

We thought that we have free will. But our will is just one of the many factors affecting our decisions. Our will is not completely free and have limitations. There are many other factors that limit and affect us.

Body
Our body is the biggest limiting factor. We may want to fly, but we cannot. We may want to work, but we tires. Our body requires maintenance. We hunger, thirst and need sleep.

Knowledge
Our will is also limited by knowledge. Our knowledge of self, of other people, the world, the future and above all, the knowledge of God.

Time
We may will to do something, but we may not have to time to do it.

Sin
Our will is limited by our sinful nature, our bodily lust, our wrong desires.

Circumstances
We are also influenced and manipulated by our situation and experience. In times of extreme need, in presence of persuasive people, in situation of temptations.

God Predestines Through Free Will

So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech. (Ruth 2:3 NLT)

When Ruth was going out to glean, she just went to a field. The Bible tells us that she happened to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. This is chance, coincidence or luck. This is also predestination, for she was chosen to be the ancestor of the Messiah, so she had to glean in Boaz's field so that she can meet him and marry him.

For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. (Acts 4:27-28 NASB)

When Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel gathered together in Jerusalem to put Jesus to death, they were acting out of their own selfish interest. But yet everything they did was determined beforehand according to God's will.

However, Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, from the Lord’s presence. (Jonah 1:3 HCSB) Now the Lord had appointed a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17 HCSB)

But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; (Matthew 12:39 NASB).

When Jonah disobeyed God, he was doing it out of his dislike for the people of Nineveh. But his three days stay in the fish became a sign of Jesus's death and resurrection. It is predestined that Jonah had to disobey God; otherwise the sign of Jonah the prophet cannot be given. But he definitely did it out of his own rebellious will.

God's Will is usually acted out through agents in our temporal world. Everything that exists is an agent of God, out to accomplish His Will. Chance, coincidence, luck, Satan, demons, angels, the weather, planets, stars, galaxies, the unknown plant that grow quietly in some deep forest, the insects that live in the house, good and evil forces are all agents of God. On rare occasions, God intervened personally, appearing as the Angel of the Lord. He appeared to Moses in a burning bush. And He came into the world as Jesus to save us from our sins.

Our free wills are also agents of God, accomplishing His Will. We may plan without God, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." (James 4:13 NLT) or pray for God’s Will "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:15 ESV), God’s Will is done. When you obey God, God’s Will is done. When you disobey God, God’s Will is done. Every event on earth marches relentlessly to accomplish God's Will.

This article is written out of my own free will. Nobody put a gun to my head to force me to write it. No voice in my head dictate the words. The ideas and words came from me, based on my experience in my many years of walking with Christ. Some people may chance on this article while browsing the web and opinions may be formed and may be passed to others. Others may come across this post because they are looking for words like "predestination" or "God's Will" or even my name.

No. This article is predestined before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11) that it should come about through the agency of my hand, my thoughts and my experience, formed by the many years that He lead me. He has determined the exact number of people who will read this post, just as He has numbered the very hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:7). He will lead them by many means to this post. And they will generate more events, influence an exact number of people, for good or for bad, all of which are predetermined by God, and all will march relentlessly to the end of ages, when all of God's Will will be accomplished.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT)

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. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Don't be resigned to "fate" and said that God had determined everything, whatever I do is futile. The predestination of God is to give us assurance, not resignation.

God and Chance

By chance, I came across a book by an Arminian Methodist and he believed in luck.

Here are some verses supporting luck or chance.
So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:3 ESV)
But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." (1 Kings 22:34 ESV)
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV)
Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:31 ESV)

Here are the verses that ruled out luck.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29 KJV)
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. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Here is a verse that explain that chance is from God.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33 ESV, NIV)

Salvation of men, free will and predestination

To all the sinners who are lost and thirsty, the Holy Spirit bid us, "And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost (Revelation 22:17 NASB)." So, come, and partake of the salvation of God.

When we are saved from our sins, we can thank God that "he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4 KJV)."

So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy (Romans 9:16 NASB).