Predestination in the bible does not mean God control individuals.
In biblical context, predestination means that:
Even before the foundation of the earth, God foreknew that He would predestine or pre-planned to offer redemption to the Jews and then the Gentiles, in order to unite both Jews and Gentiles in Christ Jesus.
This is explained in 70 verses in
Ephesians 1,2,3. I will just highlight the key words:
Chpter 1:11: In him we were also chosen, having been
predestined according to the plan of him ….
12 in order that
we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, ...
13 And
you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth ….
Chptr 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly
you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” … you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, … 13 But now in Christ Jesus
you… have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For
he ...has made the two groups one ...… His purpose was
to create ... one new humanity out of the two, … 16 and
in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross … .18 For through him
we both have access to the Father by one Spirit…
Chapter 3 … [6] This mystery is that through the gospel
the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel,
members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus ….
Note that the apostle used the word "BOTH people" and "BOTH Jews and Gentiles" three times; at no time did he ever refer to individual predestination.
Why did Paul said "before the foundation of the earth" (1:11) ? It was to answer the Jews who claimed that God suddenly decided to offer redemption to the Gentiles after Israel rejected Jesus; they were implying that the Gentiles were second class or less important in God's eyes. However, Paul emphasized that way back, as early you can think of -- even before the foundation of the earth -- God had planned to reach out to the Gentiles; that is how early God had predestined or pre-planned this. It did not mean that He decided whether to save Jack or Jane before the earth was made.
We will see that Paul went to great length to say that the Gentiles are receiving a great eternal inheritance and Holy Spirit from God. If one do not appreciate context, then Paul appeared to be saying something we already know. But his intent was really to emphasize that the Gentiles' redemption are no less than the Jews, hence he elaborated on the richness of their inheritance.
Indeed, there is a great difference between reading words and appreciating the significance of the words in context. Those who does not know context misinterpret all over the place, zooming in on words and create endless theories.
