Concise Bible Dictionary:
“To mark out beforehand, predetermine.” In Romans 8:29-30, it forms a link in the chain that connects the foreknowledge of God in the past with the glory in the future. Election is God’s choice of individuals; predestination is to a blessing, as in Ephesians 1:5, 11, believers are predestinated to the adoption of sons, according to the purpose of God. Predestination does not, as insisted on by some, imply reprobation of some to wrath. God “will have [or desires] all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4); but to ensure some being saved, He predestinated, called, justified, and glorified them in His sovereign purpose.
From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:
This has to do with God’s sovereignty in pre-arranging the destiny of those whom He has chosen for blessing (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:5 – “marked us out beforehand”). Election is closely connected with predestination, but they are not the same thing. The difference is:
• “Election” has to do with persons being selected (Romans 11:5, 7, 28; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Peter 1:10).
• “Predestinated” has to do with the place (the destiny) which has been selected for those persons (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5, 11).
The Bible teaches that God has predestinated the righteous to blessing, but there is no Scripture that states that He has predestinated people to a lost eternity. God loves all men, and He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4). Romans 9:22 speaks of men being “vessels of wrath fitted to destruction,” but God does not fit them as such; they fit themselves by their own unbelief.
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