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The Historic Faith
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Question 1
David Bercot says the early Christians “consistently teach that God knows all things in advance” and that God “knows beforehand who will believe, and who will faithfully bear fruit”; how does that picture of God’s knowledge and purposes differ from a God who decides destinies without regard to what humans will actually do?
Another way to ask: How is it different to say God knows ahead of time what people will choose than to say God decides everyone’s destiny no matter what they do?

Direct Answer Based on David Bercot’s teaching, the early Christian view is that God predestines in line with what He foreknows people will freely choose—faith, obedience, and fruit—rather than deciding salvation or condemnation arbitrarily without regard to human response.

Support from Transcript:

  • Bercot says early Christians taught God “knows who will ultimately be saved, for he knows beforehand who will believe, and who will faithfully bear fruit.”
  • He summarizes: “our destiny is already predetermined according to God’s foreknowledge…however, this in no way conflicts with our free will.”
  • He stresses human responsibility: “we are ultimately the ones who choose to believe and who choose to obey.”
  • Origen’s point is highlighted: “Notice that the foreknowledge comes before the predestining.”
  • In contrast, Bercot says Augustine taught predestination is “not based on His foreknowledge…God foreknows everything, because He has arbitrarily predestined everything,” including faith and good works.
Discussion Follow-ups If God’s knowing doesn’t force our choices, what does that say about how we should talk about personal responsibility and repentance?

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