Predestination, God's Foreknowledge and His Mercy

To be sure, no one is predestined to be saved or to be lost.

However, God knows who are destined for either destiny.

If one is destined for destruction at the last day, does he or she has a chance to reverse the inevitable? Indeed, not! But no man knows his/her destiny until God shows him. And man can know in his/her lifetime. In practice, those that are lost are not sure of their fate. In contrast, the saved are assured by God through his Spirit, whom he sends to "make tent" in individual disciple.

The Spirit seals the truth of salvation in God's children.

If God knows beforehand and altogether everyone's destiny - saved or unsaved - is he unfair to the many who are not saved?

             "What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have
             mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' ”   
                   Romans 9:14,15, NIV

The key word is mercy - that of God. To whom does he give mercy? Those who have contrite or repentant hearts will receive God's mercy.

In contrast, the proud and the unrepentant will not have it. They will be given their wish: to be separated from God forever. From dust they came, to dust they will be, which is nothing in anyone's eyes and God.