Predestination

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term for predestination (yejeong, 豫定) means "to determine beforehand." Predestination is the teaching that God determined the salvation of human beings from all eternity. In its narrow sense, it refers to election, God's choosing of those who will be saved. In its broad sense, it also includes providence (攝理), the belief that God ordains and governs all things in the world. The view that God's decree includes not only the choosing of those who will be saved but also the passing over of the rest, known as reprobation (遺棄), is called double predestination.

Biblical and Historical Background

Those who emphasize predestination frequently cite Romans 8:29–30, Ephesians 1:4–5, and Romans 9. Those who emphasize the human response frequently cite 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9, which state that God desires the salvation of all people.

In the fifth century, Augustine opposed Pelagianism, which held that human beings could attain salvation by their own will, and stressed election by grace. During the Reformation, John Calvin systematized this teaching, and the tradition that followed him is called Calvinism.

In the early seventeenth century in the Netherlands, the followers of Arminius advocated conditional election, the view that God foreknew who would believe and chose them accordingly. The Synod of Dort (1618–1619) rejected this position, and through this controversy Arminianism became established as a distinct tradition. In the eighteenth century, John Wesley opposed unconditional election. He held that human beings are enabled to respond to God because of the grace God first extends to all people, known as prevenient grace (先行恩寵).

In Korean Churches

• Presbyterian: Because many Presbyterian denominations adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith as their doctrinal standard, they teach unconditional election and the perseverance of the saints (the doctrine that those who are truly elect will never fall away from salvation). The degree of emphasis, however, varies among denominations and congregations.
• Methodist and Holiness Church: Following Wesleyan theology, these churches emphasize prevenient grace and the free human response, and they distance themselves from unconditional predestination.
• Full Gospel (Assemblies of God): Generally regarded as holding a position close to Arminianism.
• Baptist: Both Calvinist and Arminian streams are present.

Among members of Korean churches, predestination is frequently discussed in connection with questions such as "Can salvation, once received, be lost?" and "If people are predestined, why evangelize?" as well as the issue of assurance of salvation. These points of debate are treated in detail in the article Predestination and Free Will.