I have had an ongoing internal struggle come to a head recently and was wondering if anyone else has had to deal with this. I am Catholic but have been attending a Reformed Baptist church for several years. I find the style of preaching more to my needs because my pastor teaches from the Word instead of just reading it. I have a hunger to learn but I guess the old adage “careful what you ask for…” applies here. We have just started covering the doctrine of the RBC, “predestination”. I have always had my own views on the subject but none of these were founded in the Word, I just believed. Now I have to decide what to believe or stand the chance that I am not really saved as I have believed. I always thought I had a choice in my salvation but I am learning that may not be the case at all.
If the doctrine of predestination is true then how do I know if I am one of the chosen?
Why the need for the Crucifixion?
If God has preordained everything with no free will involved did Christ need to die on the cross?
Why would God create a people he knew would let him down?
Why would God need to be heart broken?
Are we really created in his own image?
I have many more questions. My pastor is very good and I believe he will be heaven before I ever could be, I am filled with sin, but these are questions I had relegated to be answered somewhere down the road and now is that somewhere.
Is it free will or predestination?????????????