According to Calvinism: is it possible to believe in predestination, yet reject Christ?

Question

This question is different from:

Do Calvanists believe that it is possible to be saved without believing the doctrine of predestination?

one asks "Does A => B?" the other asks "Does B => A" ?

Given

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

I'm very hesistant to argue about salvation apart from "believing in Jesus"

Now, intuitively, it seems to me that it's very hard to believe in the doctrine of election without beliving in Jesus. However,

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

In this sense, even demons intellectually believe in the doctrine of predestination, yet it does them no good -- thus perhaps there is the possibility that humans can intellectually believe in the doctrine of predestination, yet somehow not believe in Christ.

Anyway -- these are my conflicted thoughts. Insights?

Answer 1

It is a bit unclear in the question, but I believe what you are asking is essentially, "Can a person be so theologically informed as to believe in predestination, and yet not be truly saved?"

The answer to this is absolutely, yes. Academic assent to God's existence or to various doctrines does not imply an authentic salvation. Authentic salvation is characterized by a commitment and surrender of one's life to Christ as Lord and Saviour. It is quite possible to subscribe to something academically, and not commit one's life to Christ. The passage you quoted from James illustrates this, as does this passage:

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
²¹  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

When someone commits his life to Christ, he is sealed by the Holy Spirit, and the evidence of this is a changed life.