Chapter 3
Of God's Decree
-
God hath decreed in Himself, from all
eternity, by the most wise and holy
counsel of His own will, freely and
unchangeably, all things whatsoever
come to pass;1 yet so as
thereby is God neither the author of
sin, nor hath fellowship with any
therein,2 nor is
violence offered to the will of the
creature, nor yet is the liberty, or
contingency of second causes taken
away, but rather established,3 in which
appears His wisdom in disposing all
things, and power and faithfulness in
accomplishing His decree.4
- Although God knoweth whatsoever may,
or can come to pass, upon all supposed
conditions;
5 yet hath He not decreed anything,
because He foresaw it as future, or as
that which would come to pass upon such
conditions.6
- By the decree of God, for the
manifestation of His glory, some men and
angels are predestinated, or foreordained
to eternal life, through Jesus
Christ,7 to the praise
of His glorious grace;8 others being
left to act in their sin to their just
condemnation, to the praise of His
glorious justice.9
- These angels and men thus
predestinated and foreordained, are
particularly and unchangeably designed;
and their number so certain, and
definite, that it cannot be either
increased or diminished.10
- Those of mankind that are predestined
to life, God, before the foundation of
the world was laid, according to His
eternal and immutable purpose, and the
secret counsel and good pleasure of His
will, hath chosen in Christ unto
everlasting glory, out of His mere free
grace and love;11 without any
other thing in the creature as a
condition or cause moving Him
thereunto.
12
- As God hath appointed the elect unto
glory, so He hath by the eternal and most
free purpose of His will, foreordained
all the means thereunto,13 wherefore
they who are elected, being fallen in
Adam, are redeemed by Christ,14 are
effectually called unto faith in Christ,
by His Spirit working in due season, are
justified, adopted, sanctified,15 and kept by
His power through faith unto
salvation;
16 neither are any other redeemed
by Christ, or effectually called,
justified, adopted, sanctified, and
saved, but the elect only.17
- The doctrine of this high mystery of
predestination, is to be handled with
special prudence and care; that men
attending the will of God revealed in His
Word, and yielding obedience thereunto,
may, from the certainty of their
effectual vocation, be assured of their
eternal election;18 so shall
this doctrine afford matter of
praise,19 reverence,
and admiration of God, and of
humility,
20 diligence, and abundant
consolation to all that sincerely obey
the gospel.21
Footnotes:
1. Isa 46:10;
Eph 1:11; Heb 6:17; Ro 9:15,18.
2. Jas 1:13;
1Jn 1:5.
3. Ac 4:27-28;
Jn 19:11.
4. Nu. 23:19;
Eph. 1:3-5.
5. Ac
15:18.
6. Ro
9:11,13,16,18.
7. 1Ti 5:21;
Mt 25:34.
8. Eph
1:5-6.
9. Ro 9:22-23;
Jude 4.
10. 2Ti
2:19; Jn 13:18.
11. Eph
1:4,9,11; Ro 8:30; 2Ti 1:9; 1Th 5:9.
12. Ro
9:13,16; Eph 2:5,12.
13. 1Pe 1:2;
2Th 2:13.
14. 1Th
5:9-10.
15. Ro 8:30;
2Th 2:13.
16. 1Pe
1:5.
17. Jn
10:26; 17:9; 6:64.
18. 1Th
1:4-5; 2Pe 1:10.
19. Eph 1:6;
Ro 11:33.
20. Ro.
11:5-6,20.
21. Lk
10:20.
©1998 Limerick Free
Baptist Church
|
Free Baptist Church of Limerick