Are People Predestined to be Saved or Lost?

Before Jesus was born into the world, there were people who were in a right relationship with God.  

Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were to become the parents of John the Baptist, were described as being righteous before God (Luke 1:5,6).   

When Mary was approached by the angel Gabriel, she described herself as being the servant of the Lord (Luke 1:38).

In Matthew 1:19, Mary's future husband, Joseph, was described as being just.   

Simeon in Luke 2:15,16 was described as righteous and devout who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would physically see the Christ.  

Anna the prophetess in Luke 2:36-38 was described as worshiping God night and day immediately recognized Jesus as the Christ.

  

Jesus himself described his own disciples as having a relationship with God before He arrived.  

John 17:6  (ESV)

6 “I (Jesus) have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

The people who had a right relationship with God immediately recognize Jesus as being the Christ upon his arrival and surrendered to Him. Jesus said this.  

John 15:16  (ESV)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

When Jesus spoke these words to his apostles, He was not saying that He choose them to be saved, but choose them for a special mission of reaching the world for Him.  Jesus also said...

John 10 (ESV)

...The sheep hear his (Jesus's) voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them... 

14 I (Jesus) am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me...

What appears that some people were predestined  to be saved. Jesus was actually talking about the people who had a right relationship with God were predestined to recognize Jesus's voice and immediately follow him.  

Acts 18:10 (ESV)

10 for I (Jesus) am with you (Paul), and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city (Corinth) who are my people.”

This passage is describing the city of Corinth who had many people with a right relationship with God who had yet to hear about their Messiah.  God wanted them to know that their Messiah had arrived.  

God wants everybody to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9  (ESV)

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Matthew 18:14 (ESV)

14 So it is not the will of my (Jesus's) Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

There were people in the New Testament who were not right with God who got saved like the thief on the cross (Luke 23: 39-43).   Another example is Saul's (later called Paul's) conversion (Acts 9:1-19).

  

Romans 8:29 (ESV)

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Jesus's followers are not predestined to be saved, but to be conformed into the image of Jesus.  

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV)

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 

5 he predestined us[a]for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will...

  

In this passage, Paul does not say that God chose us to be in Him (Jesus), but he does say that people who are in Him (Jesus) God chose to be holy and blameless and to become children of God. 

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

M. H. Dennis