How do you help people who struggle with the doctrine of predestination?

An important way to help those struggling with predestination is to study the Scriptures with them.

I’ve been studying Romans 8, which is a great passage that we all know. Romans 8 was written to help Christians in their struggles: “The suffering of this present time is not to be compared to the glory that will be revealed” (Rom. 8:18).

Part of the way Paul encouraged Christians in their struggles was to tell them: “Those whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son. And those whom He predestined, He called, and those whom He called, He justified, and those whom He justified, He glorified” (Rom. 8:29–30). Paul wanted people to see that predestination is the answer, not the question, and that it is the comfort, not the doubt or worry. The doctrine of predestination says, “God has taken hold of you, and He’ll never let go.” The real requirement, then, is to help people see how comforting it is.

This transcript is from a live Ask Ligonier event with W. Robert Godfrey and has been lightly edited for readability. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.