GRACE AND PEACE, BRETHREN. (also see video below)
Leighton Flowers acknowledges that the Bible indeed speaks in regards to predestination. .However, he absolutely has a misunderstanding of what predestination actually teaches. He emphatically denies that the Scriptures teaches that God has chose and predestined a particular group of people unto Himself before the foundation of the world for salvation. But is Leighton correct in his assertion? The Scriptures mentions predestination approximately six times (Acts 4, verse 28, Romans 8, verse 29, Roman 7, verse 30, 1 corinthians 2, verse 7, ephesians 1,verse 5, and Ephesians 1, verse 11).It is the Greek word 'proorizo'. It literally means to predetermine or foreordain. Also, in some instances, it can mean "marked out beforehand" .Out of the six instances where the Greek word proorizo is used, only five usage of the word is associated with God's elect. However, all six usage of this Greek word that's found in Scripture is in reference to an action by God that transpired before the foundation of the world. God has predestined essentially in each instance of the word 'proorizo' {before the foundation of the world}. Leighton states that "I know that I'm going to heaven because God has predestined for believers to go to heaven". Technically, that's not true .Nowhere in Scripture is the Greek word 'proorizo' used as describing God having predetermining believers for heaven .Just the opposite. God has predetermined those whom he foreknew will be conformed to the bodily image of His Son (Romans 8, verse 29).It would be unbiblical to equate those whom God foreknew as believers and no other text of Scripture implies as such. The text plainly states that God predestined those whom he foreknew. In other words, God foreknowing of a particular people preceded his predestining .Furthermore, God's predestining of a people likewise precedes his 'call' of the very same people to Himself by means of the Gospel message .If God has predestined a people prior to the call of the very same people by way of the Gospel, then those whom he foreknew were not believers, but unbelievers -having not heard, as to have been called as of yet by means of the Gospel. God foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and then glorified His elect (the order of salvation). In addition, when the apostle Paul states that God predestined "us" for adoption to Himself as sons; God was not predestining 'believers' for adoption as sons. God had predestined those of the Ephesian Church who had 'not yet existed' as a people for adoption before the foundation of the world. Seeing that God elected the very same "us" before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless as well -when no one had been born as of yet. Mind you, God's predestining precedes his call of a people through the Gospel. As we saw in Romans 8. God 'marked us out" beforehand for adoption as sons prior to his call. In fact, this 'marking out' beforehand or predestining was before the foundation of the world in the same manner as God having chose "us". The question remains, who are these particular people whom God foreknew? Well, the preceding verse tells us; those whom God foreknew are those for whom 'all things work together, who now love God'(Romans 8 verse 28).Paul is speaking about those believers who groan inwardly ,having the first fruits of the Spirit, waiting eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of their bodies having been saved based upon this hope (Romans 8, verses 23 to 24).Paul speaks of this hope in the midst of the Ephesian believers sufferings (Romans 8, verse 18).Paul encourages these believers in light of their inward groanings, informing them that the Spirit intercedes on their behalf according to the will of God. It is because of this fact that this is how the Ephesian believers, or all believers for that matter, can know and rest assured that all things will work together for their good in the midst of suffering - thanks to the Spirit, who intercedes on our behalf in our weaknesses. However, when Paul speaks of God foreknowing these particular believers, this foreknowing is not only in reference to God knowing them prior to his call of them as believers by way of the Gospel, but God ultimately foreknew them before the foundation of the world .Do you recall when I earlier made the claim that God has predestined in each instance of the Greek word proorizo {before the foundation of the world}? Well, when Paul speaks of God having chose 'us' in Christ before the foundation of the world, we can altogether agree, however, that no man existed prior to the foundation of the world. Although God, who is not bound by time, knew or rather foreknew those whom he chose in Christ even before they existed. This is why Paul could go on to say that God predestined to sonship the very same ones he likewise chose before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1, verses 4 to 5).So when Paul states that for those whom God foreknew, he predestined (in Romans), and God having predestined the same group of people He chose before the foundation of the world,(in Ephesians), this predestining is always in reference to before creation, even though it may not be directly stated in every instance where the word appears. God has indeed predestined a people prior to the call of the gospel, but ultimately he has predestined beforetime began or before the foundation of the world, in each instance of the word (1.Corinthians 2, verse 7).
Lastly, Leighton makes an erroneous claim that somehow, if God has, according to his sovereign prerogative, chose a particular people before the foundation of the world to believe unto salvation, then such a decree by God would deem to be done so arbitrarily, as in God's will, would be considered arbitrary to the neglect of those who were not chose, leading ultimately to their damnation. Leighton contributes such a 'will' by God as irrational and God unjustly, having shown partiality to some at the expense of others. It's true, God does not show partiality. But what does this actually mean? Well, God does not show partiality or favor for merely one group of people, (the Jews) but he has determined to extend the same saving grace towards other groups of people, (the Gentiles or the nations) as well. However, this is not to say that God is restricted in showing favor to certain individuals among both groups; for this is what the Scriptures consistently teach. When God saves, he calls out from among both groups; Jew and Gentile, not "every" Jew and Gentile without exception, as some falsely claim. Leighton has misunderstood this teaching. In my opinion, Leighton likes to use the word arbitrary against those who teach unconditional election because he negatively associates the term with an evil dictator or a capricious judge - but wrongly so, when it comes to Scripture. He thinks those who teach unconditional election that their God is simply irrational, unjust, and not found in Scripture. It is apparent that Leighton has become extremely frustrated with the doctrine of predestination, accurately taught and understood, because God has not entirely revealed to Him or us why he chose beforehand one person over another for salvation, other than to reveal that he has predestined a particular people unto Himself as sons - in love and for his own glory. God has eternally loved those he has predestined. But it is also apparent Leighton is not the least satisfied with what God has graciously chosen to reveal or not reveal; according to his word .Leighton is seemingly demanding of God more than what God has determined, as if God owes Leighton or any other sinful man for that matter, a detailed explanation of His actions (romans 9, verse 20).The apostle Paul states that God chose a particular people before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, (ephesians 1, verse 4), and predestined them to sonship (ephesians 1, verse five).However, notice who God DID NOT choose, nor neither predestined, but essentially passed over for salvation - the "rest of mankind". So, did God really predestined a particular people to himself, as sons to the neglect of the rest or the rest of humanity, as Scripture states (ephesians 2:3)? It, seems as though the Apostle Paul has taught the very same thing as those of us who also teach unconditional election. Leighton Flowers, is so wrong on predestination. And unfortunately, he is leading many people astray according to his misunderstanding. I pray the Lord will open his eyes to know the truth of Scripture.
by Aaron Fisher
