#754 1689 Confession God's Decree Part 3

3:6 Just as God has appointed the elect to glory, so He has by the eternal and completely free purpose of His will foreordained all the means. Therefore, those who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ and effectually called to faith in Christ by His Spirit working at the appropriate time. They are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power through faith to salvation. None but the elect are redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved. 

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 chosen by the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,… 1 Peter 1: 1-3

12 in order that judgment will come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness. 13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth. 14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.… 2 Thessalonians 2: 12-14

…9 For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that,whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified; those He justified He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?… Romans 8: 29-31

4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are protected by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials… 1 Peter 1: 4-6

…25“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. 26 But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. 27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.…John 10: 25-27

…8 For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours. 10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified.… John 17: 8-10

…63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.) 65 Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”… John 6: 63-65

3:7 The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care so that those heeding the will of God revealed in His Word and obeying Him may be assured of their eternal election by the certainty of their effectual calling. In this way this doctrine will give reasons for praise, reverence, and admiration of God, as well as humility, diligence and rich comfort to all who sincerely obey the gospel. 

…9 But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.… 2 Peter 1: 9-11

For God has consigned all men to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all. 33 O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 34“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”… Romans 11: 32-34

…5 In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works.Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,… Romans 11: 5-7

…19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.… Romans 11: 19-21

…19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that time, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.… Luke 10: 19-21

Great video below, short clip on election from one of the best teachers of our age.

…7 And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”… Acts 16: 7-9

…13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.… Acts 16: 13-15

These are difficult doctrines, contrary to our natural, fallen, humanist minds. It goes against most of the evangelical churches teaching in our day. It is not the gospel my way or the gospel according to man. God does not change and neither does His gospel. When we look out across pews and see empty spaces, this has no bearing on what pastors are supposed to preach. When we share the gospel and people laugh, throw you in prison, or say all manner of evil against you, slander you, it is not a queue to change the message. Jesus presented difficult teachings to people He had performed miracles in front of, people he had given physical food to, but when He spoke of His body and blood, denying ourselves and taking up the cross, many turned away. God does not apologize for the gospel, but rather refers to it as His power unto salvation, and for that Paul says, I am not ashamed. 

The doctrines of grace should uphold God's sovereignty, but also encourage us to boldly proclaim God's salvation to a lost world. It is not on our own might or in our own power, but by God's Spirit. The Lord opened Lydia's heart to receive the message. 

which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse! 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you embraced, let him be under a curse!… Galatians 1: 7-9

…7 Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.…John 3: 7-9

When I was a child I came forward at the end of a sermon, it was a moving, emotional experience, and they played that great old hymn, "Just as I am." I said a repeat after me prayer, and then someone let me know that I now had Jesus in my heart, and they wrote it down on a registry, they recorded how many people came forward, how many people attended church, slam, bam, thank you, mam. They had it down to a science, people making decisions, joining the church, some referred to themselves as deal closers. I think what we call the church today has gone back to a Roman Catholic understanding of salvation, that has entertainers instead of priests, dynamic speakers instead of Popes, but just like Catholicism it has men providing assurance rather than the Holy Spirit and the fruit of a changed life. I hated the doctrine of election as a young man, or examining myself in comparison to Christ or His word. It was just easy to walk down the aisle, say a prayer, get a certificate, but whatever registry the church owned, it was not the Lamb's book of Life. I had no remorse over my sin, no desire to repent, yet the call to everyone was repent and be saved. I had sins that I did not want to call that, even though God called them that, and what I could hide from people I could not hide from a God that looked at my heart. I had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof. I was happy with someone from the church telling me I was born again, and I always reverted back to that for my comfort, but there was no change of heart, no continued conviction over sin, no mourning, no shame in that my actions betrayed the name of Christ. I didn't want to go to hell because I heard it was a bad place, but I didn't want to die to myself either. I wanted to go to heaven because I heard that was the better place, but when I thought of a Holy God, I didn't want Him to be there. I wanted salvation on my terms, but all along, the Scriptures maintain that Salvation is of the Lord. 

I love these doctrines now, not for the sake of debate, not for the lineage of great men who have preached them, but because it is what the Scriptures teach. I will be just as happy to call Wesley, George MacDonald, Ravi Zacharias, and C.S. Lewis brethren as I am to be numbered among reformers like Calvin, Spurgeon, MacArthur and R.C. Sproul. These are doctrines that divide, but let us discuss these things in love, not to my own honor, but that Christ be glorified.

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.… 1 Corinthians 2: 1-3

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#753 1689 Confession God's Decree Part 2

3:3 By God's decree, and for the demonstration of His glory, some human beings and angels are predestined ( or foreordained ) to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of His glorious grace. Others are left to live in their sin, leading to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice. 

20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality. 22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.… 1 Timothy 5: 20-22

…33 He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,… Matthew 25: 33-35

5 He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace… Ephesians 1: 5-7

22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction? 23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory— 24 including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?… Romans 9: 22-24

3:4 These predestined and foreordained angels and people are individually and unchangeably designated, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or decreased. 

19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.” 20 A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. 21 So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.… 2 Timothy 2: 19-21

17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 18 I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.… John 13: 17-19

3:5 Those people who are predestined to life were chosen by God before the foundation of the world, according to His eternal and unchangeable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will. He chose them in Christ for eternal glory, purely as a result of His free grace and love, without anything else about them serving as a condition or cause moving Him to do so. 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5 He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,… Ephesians 1: 3-5

9 And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. 11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,… Ephesians 1: 9-11

29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified; those He justified He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?… Romans 8: 29-31

8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal. 10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,… 2 Timothy 1: 8-10

…12 not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!…
15 For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”… Romans 9: 12-17

…4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,… Ephesians 2: 4-6

11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.… Ephesians 2: 11-13

These are rich doctrines that magnify God above all else. They fly in the face of human merit, ego and all religious endeavors that would magnify men, worldly traditions or the desire to be loved by the culture. There are two more paragraphs of God's decree, so I will leave this here for now and finish with part 3.

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#752 1689 Confession God's Decree Part 1

9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. 10 I distinguish the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come, saying: ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’ 11 I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will surely do it.… Isaiah 46: 9-11

He plans, declares His plan, and executes it.

3:1 From all eternity God decreed everything that occurs, without reference to anything outside Himself. He did this by the wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably. Yet God did this in such a way that He is neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any in their sin. This decree does not violate the will of the creature or take away the free working or contingency of second causes. On the contrary, these are established by God's decree. In this decree God's wisdom is displayed in directing all things, and His power and faithfulness are demonstrated in accomplishing His decree. 

10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. 11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.… Ephesians 1: 10-12

16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. 17So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. 18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.… Hebrews 6: 16-18

God is unchanging, His word is unchanging. He swears by Himself, for there is nothing greater. 

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! 15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.… Romans 9: 14-16

God has made it clear through the law and now even more through Christ, that all have sinned and the wages of sin is death. Romans 3:23. We all come out of that same lump of clay, children of Adam, fair would be that God judge sin, that all men receive justice. As MacArthur points out "you don't want fair, you want mercy." 

17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy , and He hardens whom He wants to harden . 19One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”… Romans 9: 17-19

The hardening of the heart is the turning over of man to what he already is, the hardening is God judgement against sin. Pharaoh believed in himself, thought of himself as a god, God turning him over to his own reprobate mind would reveal the pride and delusion to which all men subscribe in their sin. Believing that God exists did not change Pharaoh's heart, Satan and those stars that fell with him from heaven, they are not atheist either, the demons believe and tremble at the thought of God. In the same way, the law reveals that we are sinners, but the Pharisees thought themselves justified by some legal measure. "Abraham is our father", the rich young ruler thought he had kept the law perfectly from a child, yet he did not love God with all his heart, the truth was that he loved worldly riches. Christ reveals in Matthew 5: 27-28 that the thoughts of man are as speech before the Lord. These are difficult, but humbling doctrines, and to come away with anything other than humility is miss the heart of these teachings. 

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. 13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.… James 1:12-14

4We write these things so that our joy may be complete. 5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.… 1 John 1: 4-6

27In fact, in this very city Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28They carried out what Your hand and purpose had decided beforehand would happen. 29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,… Acts 4: 27-29

God was Sovereign in the death of His Son, Christ was despised and rejected just like the prophet Isaiah said He would be. For God to be infinitely Holy and just, then Christ has to die in order for God to save anyone, yet still be consistent with His unchanging attributes. At the same time, we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. If given the same opportunity to nail God to a tree, we would do it over and over a million times. We are all culpable in the unjust death of a just Savior. There is none righteous, not even one.

10So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” 11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”… John 19: 10-12

As one commentator puts it: "Jesus acknowledges that the sovereign plan of God includes even the wickedness of His accusers and the cowardice of Pilate."

18Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor. 19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? 20 I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.… Numbers 23: 18-20

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,…Ephesians 1: 3-5

3:2 God knows everything that could happen under any given conditions. However, His decree of anything is not based on foreseeing it in the future or foreseeing that it would occur under such conditions. 

17so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear My name, says the Lord who does these things 18 that have been known for ages.’  Acts 15: 17-18

Men cannot move God, and God is not thwarted by the moves of men. The picture is clear even in the old testament. God picks Abraham from all the people living in the world at that time. He tells him to follow Him to a land that He will give his descendants, and that through Abraham all the nations of the earth will be blessed. God's covenant with him was a unilateral covenant, independent of earthly reason, and standing even against Abraham's own logic. God promised Isaac, but this was more than improbable, a stumbling block to both Abraham and his wife. Abraham even attempted to help God fulfill his promise by having Ishmael, but this did not change God's mind. Sarah was passed the age of child bearing, she had never had children, and she had long stopped menstruating. God has pushed the envelope of faith passed the ability of man to conceive. Abraham doubts and Sarah laughs, because she knows from her science that, "God, regardless of what You said, that is not how these things work," the things He created. "My womb has a proven track record of producing nothing, and the time of hope is gone, it is as good as dead." If I hold in my heart an idea of salvation that is anything less than miraculous, what did I believe? Who did I believe in?

…11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12 not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”… Romans 9: 11-13

God's grace is not dependent upon my foreseen actions, a faith that I muster up, or any other foreseen merit in me. It is not free if it depends upon my works, faith itself is a gift from God. The Scriptures make clear that our righteousness is as filthy rags, that I have nothing to offer but my sin. It is not of him who wills nor of him who runs but of God that shows mercy.

16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.… Romans 9: 16-18

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