If I Am Predestinated, Why Must I Still Strive?
1) Direct Answer
Yes, you must strive. Predestination is not a license to drift; it is God’s purpose that you be holy, overcome, and walk in obedience. The very proof of predestination is that you press on.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible says we were “chosen…that we should be holy” (Ephesians 1:4) and “predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). That calls for a life, not laziness.
- “Make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). If election were a reason to coast, the Scripture would not tell you to confirm it by diligence.
- “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you” (Philippians 2:12-13). His work in you makes you work it out.
- Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). The predestinated sheep are marked by following.
- “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke 13:24). The narrow way is not careless—it’s earnest.
- “Follow peace… and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
- Grace “teaches us… to deny ungodliness” and to live soberly and godly (Titus 2:11-12).
- “Shall we continue in sin…? God forbid” (Romans 6:1-2). Real grace never excuses sin.
- The overcomer promises are to those who overcome, not to the indifferent (Revelation 2–3).
- The Bride is shown as those who came through and overcame—washed, faithful, serving, reigning (Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 20:4). That is a life of victory, not apathy.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Predestination sets the end, and God also ordains the means to that end. He ordained repentance, faith, obedience, holiness, prayer, suffering, correction, and perseverance as the pathway of the elect. The same God who wrote your name also writes your walk.
- You don’t strive to become the elect; you strive because the elect Seed is in you. Life presses. A lamb nature follows the Shepherd; a holy calling produces a holy living.
- If someone says, “If I’m predestinated, I can live as I please,” ask: Where is the fear of God? Where is the chastening that God gives sons? (Hebrews 12:6-8). Where is the following of the Voice? (John 10:27). The foundation of God stands sure—“Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).
- Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Works don’t save, but they show the life that does.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Election gives assurance, not apathy. The Bride is ordained to overcome; therefore she strives. The Seed in you makes you walk, war, and win.
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.
Christ is revealed in His own Word
65-0822M §118
And be His subjects we must walk close to the Author to understand it, for it to reveal. "Oh Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? If I must go to the fields and preach the Gospel, or must I stay at home? No matter what it is. If I must be a good housewife, if I must be a good mother, if I must do this, that, or the other, whatever it is, if I must be a farmer, if I... Whatever it is, Lord, what would you have me do?" Wasn't that what Saul cried out down there, "Lord, what would You have me do?" He was down on his ro...
Seals 9: Questions and Answers on the Seals
63-0324M §146
Now, remember Jesus came to be a witness, as a Saviour of the world. Is that right? Why, there was just people after people, after people, after races, after people, that never even knowed nothing about it, went right on just like the world knew nothing about it. But all the time, that was going on in the world. See? Why didn't He let them know? He came, and the ones that was predestinated to eternal life was the ones that received Him. It would be no good to say anything to the rest of them, because He could not h...
Proving His Word
65-0426 §97
Now don't you know that that same God that did all those things is right here, tonight? To me, I think we should be the most happiest people in all the world. Just think of this! I hope that I haven't impressed my audience to believe that it's something that I do myself. You know better than that. I am your brother, see. And, I am just your brother. But I do know, I do know this: that God is here, and I know that He has given something to us that we cannot explain it, only by ... the Word of God claims that it shou...
Wisdom versus Faith
62-0401 §210
Now, what did the dynamo said? "Ask the Father anything in My name, I'll do it." Now, what do you do? Plug in. Amen! Is that right? Just plug in. That's all you have to do, and the current comes flowing right down the line. What happens? The Word starts growing. "And he shall be like a tree that's planted by the rivers of water. His leaves shall not wither; whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly is not so, the ungodly is not so." Now, don't say the sinner now, the ungodly, see. That's the one who claims to...
Adoption, part 2: Manifested sons of God
60-0518 §112
...got to come again." "Oh, but we've been baptized by a great holy man, John. He baptized Jesus." "This is the gospel. This is the Spirit of God that's been revealed to me. I am an apostle of the Lord, and if an angel from heaven comes and preaches anything else..." Let me read that. The Bible said, "If an..." Paul said, "If an angel from heaven said anything else [bishop, archbishop, pope, overseer, whatever he may be], if he preaches anything else besides this that I've preached unto you, let him be accursed. There...