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God's Decree 1.
FROM all eternity God decreed all that should happen in time, and
this He did freely and unalterably, consulting only His own wise and holy
will. Yet in so doing He does not become in any sense the author of
sin, nor does He share responsibility for sin with sinners. Neither,
by reason of His decree, is the will of any creature whom He has made
violated; nor is the free working of second causes put aside; rather is it
established. In all these matters the divine wisdom appears, as also
does God's power and faithfulness in effecting that which He has purposed. 2.
God's decree is not based upon His foreknowledge that, under
certain conditions, certain happenings will take place, but is independent
of all such foreknowledge. 3.
By His decree, and for the manifestation of His glory, God has
predestinated (or foreordained) certain men and angels to eternal life
through Jesus Christ, thus revealing His grace.
Others, whom He has left to perish in their sins, show the terrors
of His justice. 4.
The angels and men who are the subjects of God's predestination are
clearly and irreversibly designated, and their number is unalterably
fixed. 5.
Before the world was made, God's eternal, immutable purpose, which
originated in the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, moved Him
to choose (or to elect), in Christ, certain of mankind to everlasting
glory. Out of His mere free grace and love He predestinated these
chosen ones to life, although there was nothing in them to cause Him to
choose them. 6.
Not only has God appointed the elect to glory in accordance with
the eternal and free purpose of His will, but He has also foreordained the
means by which His purpose will be effected. Since His elect are children
of Adam and therefore among those ruined by Adam's fall into sin, He
willed that they should be redeemed by Christ, and effectually called to
faith in Christ. Furthermore, by the working of His Spirit in due season
they are justified, adopted, sanctified, and 'kept by His power through
faith unto salvation'. None but the elect partake of any of these
great benefits. 7.
The high mystery of predestination needs to be handled with special
prudence and caution, so that men, being directed to the will of God
revealed in His Word and obeying the same, may become assured of their
eternal election through the certainty of their effectual calling.
By this means predestination will promote the praise of God, and
reverential awe and wonder. It will encourage humility and
diligence, and bring much comfort to all who sincerely obey the gospel. [Previous Chapter] [Next Chapter]
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