什么是预定论?神预定了谁得救吗?
What is predestination? Did God predetermine who would be saved?
简答 Short Answer
预定论是圣经的教导:上帝在创世之前,按照自己旨意的美意,拣选了一些人得救。这不是基于神预见到他们会信,而是出于神主权的恩典。
Predestination is the biblical teaching that God, before creation, chose certain people for salvation according to His good pleasure — not based on foreseen faith, but out of His sovereign grace.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
预定论是基督教中最具争议也最深刻的教义之一,但它不是人的发明,而是圣经清楚的教导。
1.【圣经的经文】以弗所书1:4-5说「神从创立世界以前,在基督里拣选了我们……又因爱我们,就按着自己旨意所喜悦的,预定我们借着耶稣基督得儿子的名分。」罗马书9:11说在雅各和以扫还没有出生、还没有行善或作恶之前,神就拣选了雅各。
2.【为什么需要预定?】因为人在罪中是灵性上死的(弗2:1),无力自救。如果得救完全取决于人的选择,那么没有人会选择神——因为「没有义人,连一个也没有。没有寻求神的」(罗3:10-11)。预定是上帝的恩典主动临到那些本来不会寻求祂的人。
3.【这公平吗?】罗马书9:14-21直接处理这个问题。保罗的回答不是给出人觉得满意的哲学答案,而是指出:上帝有主权按自己的旨意行事,「窑匠难道没有权柄从一团泥里拿一块做成贵重的器皿,又拿一块做成卑贱的器皿吗?」所有人都是罪人,没有人配得救恩;上帝拣选任何人都是超乎寻常的恩典。
4.【预定与人的责任】预定论并不否定人的责任。圣经同时肯定两个真理:上帝主权地拣选,人也被真实地呼召来信靠基督。这两者如何调和是奥秘,但都是圣经清楚教导的。
5.【预定带来的安慰】预定论给信徒的安慰是:我的得救不依赖于我的信心是否足够坚强,而是依赖于上帝在永恒中的决定。即使我软弱,上帝的拣选不会改变。
Predestination is one of Christianity's most debated yet profound doctrines — not a human invention but clear biblical teaching.
1. **Scripture**: Ephesians 1:4-5 says God 'chose us in him before the foundation of the world... he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ.' Romans 9:11 says before Jacob and Esau were born or had done anything good or evil, God chose Jacob.
2. **Why predestination?** Because humans are spiritually dead in sin (Eph 2:1), unable to save themselves. If salvation depended entirely on human choice, no one would choose God — 'None is righteous, no, not one... no one seeks for God' (Rom 3:10-11). Predestination is God's grace actively reaching those who would never seek Him.
3. **Is it fair?** Romans 9:14-21 addresses this directly. Paul doesn't offer a satisfying philosophical answer but points out God's sovereign right: 'Has the potter no right over the clay?' All are sinners; no one deserves salvation. God choosing anyone is extraordinary grace.
4. **Predestination and human responsibility**: Predestination doesn't negate human responsibility. Scripture affirms both: God sovereignly chooses, and people are genuinely called to trust Christ. How these harmonize is mysterious, but both are clearly taught.
5. **Comfort of predestination**: For believers, predestination means salvation doesn't depend on whether my faith is strong enough, but on God's eternal decision. Even when I'm weak, God's choice doesn't change.
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •Chosen by God (R.C. Sproul)
- •The Potter's Freedom (James White)
- •Institutes of the Christian Religion III.21-24 (John Calvin)