--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is inconceivable that the God who…" description: "\"It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people ordained to evil and damnation. There can onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg" --- # It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His… ![“It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people ordained to evil and damnation. There can only be one predestination to salvation. In and through Jesus Christ all people are predestined to be saved. Our free choice is ruled out in this…” quote by Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg) > “It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people ordained to evil and damnation. There can only be one predestination to salvation. In and through Jesus Christ all people are predestined to be saved. Our free choice is ruled out in this regard. God wants free people, except in relation to this last and definitive decision. We are not free to decide and choose to be damned.” [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that divine salvation is predetermined for all, denying any human agency in damnation, and frames predestination as a universal, exclusive act of God. **In simple terms:** Universal predestination eliminates free will in salvation. Key Takeaway Salvation is a divine decree, not a choice. Themes theodicy predestination free will divine sovereignty salvation doctrine Mood solemn reflective serious Type theological doctrinal philosophical When to use this quote - theological debate - personal crisis of faith - sermon preparation - academic study of doctrine - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts predestination free will theodicy divine justice Practical Applications - pastoral counseling - systematic theology Questions to Reflect On - Does predestination diminish moral responsibility? - How does this view affect compassion for the condemned? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Damnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damnation/) [Damnation Predestination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damnation-predestination-1011254/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Free choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-choice/) [Free people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-people/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-christ/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Predestination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predestination/) [Predestination Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predestination-salvation-1011252/) [Predestined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predestined/) [Predestined Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predestined-saved-1011253/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Salvation Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation-jesus-1011255/) [Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“The terms for the medieval debate on predestination were set by Augustine. He had tried throughout his life to reconcile two conflicting ideas: first,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marenbon/the-terms-for-the-medieval-debate-on-predestination-were-set-by/) [John Marenbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marenbon/) > [No matter where you are in life right now, know this: God put you on this earth to fulfill the promise He has predestined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/no-matter-where-you-are-in-life-right-now-know-this-god-put-you-on/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [When I am told (by those who confuse predestination with God's providence) that God already knows who will be saved and who will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriele-amorth/when-i-am-told-by-those-who-confuse-predestination-with-god-s/) [Gabriele Amorth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriele-amorth/) > [“God wanted us to do something, and we went the bad way. Then he said "No!, I am not going to lose what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/god-wanted-us-to-do-something-and-we-went-the-bad-way-then-he-said-no/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“It takes your knowing to decide on your going. If you know where you are going, you will keep going because you have already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-takes-your-knowing-to-decide-on-your-going-if-you-know-where-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The mission of Jesus brought not a new teaching but a new event. It brought to people an actual foretaste of the eschatological salvation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eldon-ladd/the-mission-of-jesus-brought-not-a-new-teaching-but-a-new-event-it/) [George Eldon Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eldon-ladd/) > [“Christians need a new filling of the Holy Spirit to love those who disagree with them. And the greatest expression of love is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-andrew/christians-need-a-new-filling-of-the-holy-spirit-to-love-those-who/) [Brother Andrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-andrew/) > [When it comes to my salvation, all I need is Jesus; after my salvation, everything is Jesus plus the church... When people preach that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/when-it-comes-to-my-salvation-all-i-need-is-jesus-after-my-salvation-2/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [When it comes to my salvation, all I need is Jesus; after my salvation, everything is Jesus plus the church... When people preach that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/when-it-comes-to-my-salvation-all-i-need-is-jesus-after-my-salvation/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [ “The story of the passion, these few brief hours one afternoon in the history of the world, \[is\] the outworking of the eternal will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-webster/the-story-of-the-passion-these-few-brief-hours-one-afternoon-in-the/) [John Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-webster/) > [“Every time someone reaches out to you, even if it's to point out your sin and they seem to be judging you, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-b-spredemann/every-time-someone-reaches-out-to-you-even-if-it-s-to-point-out-your/) [J.E.B. Spredemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-b-spredemann/) > [Of course it should be pointed out that, though all salvation is through Jesus, we need not conclude that he cannot save those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/of-course-it-should-be-pointed-out-that-though-all-salvation-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There are many wells today, but they are dry. There are many hungry souls today that are empty. But let us come to Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-seymour/there-are-many-wells-today-but-they-are-dry-there-are-many-hungry/) [William J. Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-seymour/) > [Do we so appreciate the marvelous salvation of Jesus Christ that we are our utmost for His highest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/do-we-so-appreciate-the-marvelous-salvation-of-jesus-christ-that-we/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“WHEN THE ALMIGHTY HAS PREDESTINED YOU, THERE IS NOONE IN THIS PHYSICAL LIFE THAT CAN BLOCK YOUR BLESSINGS…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muffin/when-the-almighty-has-predestined-you-there-is-noone-in-this-physical/) [Muffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muffin/) ## More by Jacques Ellul > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Propaganda begins when dialogue ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/propaganda-begins-when-dialogue-ends/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/christians-were-never-meant-to-be-normal-we-ve-always-been-holy/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Technological society leads to increasing numbers of people who cannot adapt to the inhuman rhythm of modern life with its emphasis on specialization. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/technological-society-leads-to-increasing-numbers-of-people-who/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [It is the multiplication of men who are exluded from working which provokes war. We ought at least to bear this in mind when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-the-multiplication-of-men-who-are-exluded-from-working-which/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The orchestration of press, radio and television to create a continuous, lasting and total environment renders the influence of propaganda virtually unnoticed precisely because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-orchestration-of-press-radio-and-television-to-create-a/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“No society can last in conditions of anarchy. This is self-evident and I am in full agreement. But my aim is not the establishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/no-society-can-last-in-conditions-of-anarchy-this-is-self-evident-and/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The qualities which technique requires for its advance are precisely those characteristics of a technical order which do not represent indivisual intelligence...The individual, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-qualities-which-technique-requires-for-its-advance-are-precisely/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Education no longer has a humanist end or any value in itself; it has only one goal, to create technicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/education-no-longer-has-a-humanist-end-or-any-value-in-itself-it-has/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The goal of modern propaganda is no longer to transform opinion but to arouse an active and mythical belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-goal-of-modern-propaganda-is-no-longer-to-transform-opinion-but/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Freedom is completely without meaning unless it is related to necessity, unless it represents victory over necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/freedom-is-completely-without-meaning-unless-it-is-related-to/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [When there is propaganda, we are no longer able to evaluate certain questions, or even to discuss them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/when-there-is-propaganda-we-are-no-longer-able-to-evaluate-certain/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [True technique will know how to maintain the illusion of liberty, choice, and individuality; but these will have been carefully calculated so that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/true-technique-will-know-how-to-maintain-the-illusion-of-liberty/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been forgotten, the end has been left behind. Man has set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/no-one-knows-where-we-are-going-the-aim-of-life-has-been-forgotten/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“To the extent that propaganda is based on current news, it cannot permit time for thought or reflection. A man caught up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/to-the-extent-that-propaganda-is-based-on-current-news-it-cannot/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) [Explore all 106 Jacques Ellul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people ordained to evil and damnation. There can only be one predestination to salvation. In and through Jesus Christ all people are predestined to be saved. Our free choice is ruled out in this regard. God wants free people, except in relation to this last and definitive decision. We are not free to decide and choose to be damned.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacques Ellul" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-gives-himself-in-his-son-to-save/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-gives-himself-in-his-son-to-save/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/jacques-ellul-4407_choices_it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-giv_78778.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people…” — Jacques Ellul", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jacques Ellul", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is inconceivable that the God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-gives-himself-in-his-son-to-save/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-gives-himself-in-his-son-to-save/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```