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
Ask a Follow-up Question
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.
Led by the Spirit
59-0407 §51
Now, I want each one of us who's not in the line to be reverent, praying quietly. The next few minutes, something will take place. I'm sure that it will. And if He will, if He will come here to the platform and in this audience, and do the same things that He did when He was here on earth, making... proving with the Messiahic sign that He is still the Messiah, then how many will believe it with all their heart? Just raise your hands to Him, say, "Lord, I will. I will believe." Only believe, only believe, All things...
Thirsting for Life
57-0728 §73
A man told me not long ago, he said, "Mr. Branham, I don't care what you would do or say, I don't believe it." I said, "It wasn't given to unbelievers. It was only given to them that believe." It's not for unbelievers. They will perish. I don't know... Of course, all of you know this, that I'm strictly a Calvinist. I believe that men are ordained to eternal life, and some are ordained to condemnation, according to God's Word. The Bible said men of old was predestinated to this condemnation, turning the grace of God...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 7:E-92
Now let us go another step, but before we do let us review our case thus far. First of all we know most assuredly that the purpose of God stands in election. It was purposed in Himself. It was God's purpose to bring forth a people like unto Himself that would be a Word Bride. She was chosen before the foundation of the world IN HIM. She was fore-known and beloved before she was ever brought forth during the ages upon the earth. She was redeemed by His blood and can NEVER come into condemnation. She can never be in...
You must be born again
61-1231M §89
Someone said not long ago (I believe I quoted it here before, I don't know), said, "Why in the world don't you leave them women and men alone," to me. Said, "The people believe you to be a prophet." I said, "I am not." "But the people believe you to be. Why don't you teach them how to receive visions, how to do the works of God like that?" I said, "How can I teach them algebra when they don't know their ABC's?" How can you take a child out of kindergarten and give him a college education today, teach him square-roo...
Church Ages, part 4: The Smyrnaean Church Age
60-1206 §64
Now, now there... Now you're going to ... be many disagree with this, but I want you to think real hard before you make your decision, see. I'm going to say something now. That's the reason I don't believe that there is an eternal hell. There cannot be an eternal hell, 'cause if there ever was an eternal hell, there always was an eternal hell, 'cause eternal... There's only one form of eternal life, and that's what we're all striving for. And if you're going to burn forever, and for eternity, then you'll have to ha...