#god's decree

[reformedontheweb]

"As one sees the apparent defeat of the right, and the triumphing of might and the wrong … it seems as though Satan were getting the better of the conflict. But as one looks above, instead of around, there is plainly visible to the eye of faith a Throne … This then is our confidence: God is on the Throne."

Arthur W. Pink

[timdcook4]

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“What we celebrate at Christmas is... - Creeds & Confessions

“What we celebrate at Christmas is not so much the birth of a baby, but the incarnation of God Himself.” – R.C. Sproul #RCSproul #gospel #

[reformedontheweb]

Unconditional Election

Joh 15:16 KJV Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Yesterday I explained the doctrine of 'total depravity,' which states that men are born sinners and therefore are bound to their sin nature. They have no freedom to come to Christ because they do not desire Christ. No one chooses anything that they do not desire.

Today we will look at 'Unconditional Election.' Since no one will and no one can come to Christ, left to themselves, then God takes the initiative and saves some, while passing over others.

God does not choose anyone based upon what he foresees sinful creatures will do. In other words, he did not look into the future and choose you, based upon seeing you choosing him because left to yourself, you would have never chosen him.

God is not dependent, in his actions, on what sinful men do or do not do, but chooses according to the good pleasure of what he wills or it could be said that he chooses According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Here is some proof of this doctrine:

"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, to the praise of His glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice.

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."

The 1677/89 London Baptist Confession of Faith- Chapter 3- Sections 3-4

Joh 17:9 KJV I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Joh 17:20 KJV Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

2Ti 1:9 KJV Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Eph 1:4-6 KJV 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

[reformedontheweb]

Believers have “received the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, Abba, Father”: they have received that unspeakable Gift which attests and makes known to them their adoption by God. Before the foundation of the world God predestined them “unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself’ (Eph. 1:5). But more-the elect were not only predestined UNTO the adoption of children-to actually and openly enjoy this inestimable favor in time-but this blessing was itself provided and bestowed upon them in the Everlasting Covenant of grace, in which they not only had promise of this relationship, but were given in that Covenant to Christ under that very character. Therefore does the Lord Jesus say, “Behold I and the children which God hath given Me” (Heb. 2:13).

Arthur W. Pink

[reformedontheweb]

"Predestination is the decree of God, by which (according to the counsel of His own will) He foreordained some of mankind to eternal life, and refused or passed by others; for the praise of His glorious mercy and justice. Some are vessels of mercy, others are vessels of wrath. "Hath not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; And that he might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory" (Rom. 9:21-23)."

Christopher Ness- An Antidote Against Arminianism or A Treatise to Enervate and Confute All the Five Points of It

[reformedontheweb]

Concerning the governing of sparrows

"God's all-wise providence hath before appointed what bough it shall perch upon; what grains it shall pick up; where it shall lodge and where it shall build; on what it shall live and where it shall die."

Augustus Toplady- Preface to Zachius' Predestination, p. 14

[reformedontheweb]

CHAP. III.- Of Gods Decree 6. As God hath appointed the Elect unto glory, so he hath by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, fore-ordained 64all the means thereunto, wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, 65are redeemed by Christ, are effectually 66called unto faith in Christ, by his spirit working in due season, are justifyed, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith 67unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the Elect 68only.

The 1677/89 London Baptist Confession of Faith

[thelovablelions]

Our Summer