What Is Predestination?

What Is Predestination? offers a concise introduction to the biblical doctrine of predestination, examining what Scripture teaches about God’s sovereign choice in salvation and why this doctrine matters for every Christian.

Dr. R.C. Sproul guides readers through the key biblical texts that address predestination, beginning with the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 1 and Romans 8–9. He explores the meaning of the Greek word proorizo, the relationship between foreknowledge and election, and the “golden chain” of Romans 8, showing how God’s purposes in salvation unfold from eternity past to final glorification.

Sproul addresses common objections and misunderstandings with care, distinguishing predestination from fatalism and clarifying the relationship between divine justice, mercy, and grace. He examines the necessity of regeneration before faith, the sovereignty of grace, and the certainty of salvation grounded in God’s eternal purpose. The book also considers the relationship between predestination and evangelism, demonstrating from Scripture and church history that the doctrine of election, rightly understood, supports rather than undermines the church’s mission to proclaim the gospel.

Part of the Crucial Questions series, this booklet treats a frequently debated topic with both theological precision and pastoral sensitivity, helping readers engage the biblical teaching on predestination with greater clarity and confidence.

Key Themes

• The biblical foundation of predestination in Ephesians and Romans
• God’s sovereign purpose as the basis of election, not foreseen human merit
• The relationship between divine justice, mercy, and grace in salvation
• The necessity of regeneration as a prerequisite for faith
• The compatibility of predestination and faithful evangelism

Featured Quotes

“Every church and every Christian has some doctrine of predestination because the Bible has a doctrine of predestination.”

“It is just that Christ should receive an inheritance, and we are that inheritance. That we are the inheritance is grace for us and justice for Christ.”