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.
God perfecting His Church
54-1204 §10
So, when God has anchored His love in the human heart, there is something... For a personal testimony. If I am condemned when I come up before the judgment seat of God at the end time, if it's planned that way, and I have to stand in His Presence, and He points His majestic finger at me and say, "Depart from Me." If I keep this same attitude that I have now, and I be in hell, I'll still love Him. See? And He's just. I've deserved to go there at the first place. And if I knew that I was going to be condemned, and kn...
Hear ye Him
57-0519A §37
Now, notice this father. He was so happy of his son. Then when that son became of age, that father took him out into the street, into a public place. And notice, the father put a royal robe on him. And he set that son up before the public. And he had a ceremony, and he adopted that same son that was born in his house into his family. Did you know that? Read the Old Test... Take Ephesians first chapter and fifth verse, and run your reference on that, and see if it don't go back to your adoption or placing of sons. G...
Why I'm against organized religion
62-1111E §22
You say, "Brother Branham, am I in?" I don't know. I'm hoping I am. We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Now, the church is predestinated to meet God without spot or wrinkle. Now, if we are in that church, we are predestinated with that church. Now examine yourself by the Word, then you can check up how far along we are. Now, now, organizational Christianity can never give that assurance. No. Some of them said, "You come up and confess that Jesus is the Christ and be baptized in the church." The d...
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...
Questions and Answers
59-0628E §65
The vessels... The tabernacle of the Old Testament, the altar sanctified the vessels, and they were set aside for service. When they were filled, they were in service. Now, there's where you dear, precious Nazarenes and so forth, left the mark, see. We all... Why are you failing? Why did Pentecost run off and leave you. Because you refused to walk in the light. That's exactly right, see. That's exactly. The first altar I ever knelt at was a precious, old Nazarene altar down here. God bless them, good, holy, clean c...