If as Many as Were Ordained to Eternal Life Believed, Is It Not Also Correct to Say as Many as Were Not Ordained to Eternal Life Did Not Believe?
1) Direct Answer
No. Scripture never says God ordains anyone to unbelief. It says those ordained to life believe. Those who do not believe “judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life” by rejecting the Light. Their unbelief proves they are not His sheep, but their condemnation is for their refusal—not because God blocked them.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Acts 13:48 states the positive: “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Just two verses earlier, Acts 13:46 says the rejecters “put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life.” That’s the cause Scripture gives.
- John 5:40: “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Willful refusal.
- John 3:19: “Light is come… and men loved darkness rather than light.” Love of darkness, not lack of access.
- John 6:37: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” No seeker is barred.
- John 10:26–27: “Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep… My sheep hear my voice.” The sheep-believing connection stands; unbelief exposes who they are, it doesn’t make God the author of their unbelief.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12: they “received not the love of the truth… that they all might be damned who believed not the truth.” God gives them over after they refuse.
- Romans 1:20–21: they are “without excuse” for suppressing the truth.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- From God’s side: all He ordained to life will certainly believe (Acts 13:48; John 6:37).
- From man’s side: the lost perish because they reject the light they had (Acts 13:46; John 3:19).
- Therefore, while it is descriptively true that those not ordained to life remain in unbelief, it is wrong to infer that God ordained them to unbelief. Their unbelief is their own choice; God’s judgment confirms what they chose.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, if God were barring willing seekers, why does Jesus promise to receive any who come? He saves by sovereign grace, and He judges for willful unbelief. That’s the mystery—no contradiction in God at all.
Existing Follow-Up Answers
- Is It God That Caused or Made the Believer to Choose to Believe?
1) Direct Answer Yes—God is the author of the believer’s faith. He draws, reveals, and quickens the heart so that the believer willingly chooses
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
61-0516A §5
...ing adultery, using profanity, that isn't sin. That's the attributes of unbelief. Jesus said, "He that believeth not is condemned already." In the days of our Lord He found many men who lived holy lives---clean, respectable gentlemen. And they were scholars, masterpieces of scholarship. And yet He said to them, "You are of your father the devil," because they did not believe Him. The message, they did not believe. That made them unbelievers. He could not help them. In his own country there was many He could not hel...
God is identified by His characteristics
64-0311 §63
How many believes with all your heart, say, "I truly do believe with all my heart"? If thou canst believe! You believe He heals diabetes and makes people well, with sugar diabetes, and heals them? You believe it? Just keep on walking, say, "Lord, I thank You for it." Believe with all your heart, and you shall be healed. How many believes out there now, with all your heart? See, you're moving around, you're disturbing it, friends. I'll tell you, how many believes? Just raise up your hand, say, "I believe with all my...
Have not I sent thee?
62-0124 §64
...ve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe I received the Holy Ghost when I believed." That's not what the Bible said. No, sir. It isn't. You can believe is right, unto eternal life; but then you have to have God to seal it with the Holy Ghost. "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" Not when you believe, but after you believe you receive the Holy Ghost. After you believed then you were sealed with the Holy Ghost of promise, says the Scripture. After you believe, that's right. But first you ha...
Conferences
61-0410 §5
So, that's right. So the judge dismissed the case. There could be no more about it. That's exactly. See, he was. As long as he was walking he was all right; but when he begin to doubt, down he went. And that's just how long divine healing lasts---as long as you believe it. And that's how long salvation lasts---just as long as you believe it. Someone said to me some time ago, said, "Brother Branham, I don't care what you would produce, what you would say, or anyone else, that... You might raise up ten dead people, a...
Unbelief does not hinder God
62-0128M §25
In Romans, the 3rd chapter, verse 3, I read these words: For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without an effect? I'm going to speak this morning on ... for just a few minutes on "Unbelief Does Not Hinder God." Some might think it does, but it does not. God has a program and his program... As John said, "He's able of these stones to rise children to Abraham." That's right. His program will go on just the same.