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.
The True Easter Seal
61-0402 §92
And in Ohio just a few days ago, the same churches that sponsored me a year ago, because I attacked it and showed that it was wrong, there wasn't one of them (but one church, Brother Sullivan), would cooperate. I said, "I still have the same hands, I still have the same feet, I still have the same message, I'm still Brother Branham. What's the matter with me?" It's not me. The Holy Spirit still speaks, the Holy Spirit still does the same works, He still shows it. But they're forced! That's right, they are forced. T...
The anointed ones at the end time
65-0725M §41
The true vine and the false vine both had the same anointing. The water fell on both of them. No wonder He warned us it would deceive the very elected if it was possible. Notice. They looked the same; they're anointed the same. But notice, "By their fruit..." How do you know ... how do you know that isn't an orange? Because it's bearing a grapefruit. That vine's all right; it's living in the tree; but it's bearing a grapefruit. It isn't like the first one. And if a church says they believe Jesus Christ the same yes...
Experiences
52-0726 §15
...ing to go back to Africa, seventy something years old, about seventy-five years old, his heart burning to go back to Africa. He wants to go back. He said, "Oh, Brother Branham," said, "Americans are lovely, but them people wouldn't want God. Why preach it over and over and over, and they're all mixed up anyhow, and don't know what to believe, when them people down there hasn't heard it one time? Go take it to them." And that's my heart too, friends. And to you Christian people, coming in tonight, people setting aro...
If God be with us, then where is all the miracles?
61-1231E §47
If God be God, where is His miracles? If God is with us, where is His miracles? If God is with the Methodist church, why is all the women still wearing bobbed hair? If God is with the Baptist church, then why does the pastor still smoke cigarettes (many of them)? Why do they still deny the power of God to heal the sick and to raise the dead, and to speak in tongues and interpret tongues, and gifts of prophecy? Why do they still deny it, if the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament is still the s...
Perseverance
62-0218 §32
...cosmos, sees Me no more." That's the world order, "They see Me no more." Many church members, fine people going to church, living under that thought that they're all right. Why, you're not all right as a church member. You're a citizen. You might try to do right, but, friend, let me tell you, you must be borned again. You don't come into the church, you don't come in the church by shaking hands, you don't come in the church by church membership. You come into the church by birth. I've been in the Branham family fif...