predestination

More About Predestination

More About Predestination

Whether we agree with predestination or not, it is the Bible’s teaching. Whether we react in a positive or negative way emotionally to this teaching, it is the truth of God’s Word. When God’s Word offends our sensibilities—and it often will because we are sinners—we must learn to submit to its teaching.

But before we react emotionally, we need to make sure that we understand the teaching. Often, we react emotionally to a misunderstanding.

First, predestination means God's determination beforehand (pre) of the eternal destiny (destination) of His rational and moral creatures. Since God is God, He has the right to do this. Paul reminds us of our place before God: “Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay? (Romans 9:20-21). How absurd it would be for a creature to complain to the Creator!

Second, God’s predestinating choice is unconditional. We know what a conditional choice means—we make conditional choices every day. Why do you choose one breakfast cereal over another, or why do you choose eggs or toast (or whatever) for breakfast? Because of some quality in the food—that choice is conditional. An unconditional choice is one where the choice is not determined by any quality in the thing chosen. It is almost impossible for a human being to make such an unconditional choice. Things always influence us. God chooses His people unconditionally—He finds no attractive quality in them; they are not better, greater or nicer than anyone else. God does not even choose them because He foresees that there will be some good quality in them. God explains this to Moses: “The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you [for such and such a reason], but because the LORD loved you” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). The verdict—God loved His people simply because He loved them! There is no reason in us! 

Third, God’s choice of His people is eternal and therefore unchangeable. God did not wait and see how history and His people would turn out before He made His choice. It was before the foundation of the world, or, as Paul writes, “the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that purpose of God according to election might stand” (Romans 9:11).

That is humbling—salvation is not our choice; it is the Lord’s. 

But where better place for salvation to be than in the wise hands of the almighty, always good God! 

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 18 (“The Covenant of Grace")

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine is a systematic doctrine class aimed at older teenagers, but adapted in Ireland for adults who want to learn all the doctrines of Christianity.

Lesson 18 is "The Covenant of Grace"

The main subjects covered in this Lesson are:

Part 1: Salvation as God's covenant; the meaning of God's covenant as friendship.

Part 2: The covenant made with believers and their children; the covenant made with Christ the Head of the covenant and with the elect in HIm; the development of the covenant in history.

 

The LRF runs an adult reformed doctrine class in which we work through the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine catechism booklet published by the PRCA. Below you will find the lesson outlines based on Lesson 18.

Each lesson outline comes as a handy PDF formatted to be printed as a single double-sided page with narrow margins.

Lesson 18

Lesson 18 Outline 1

Lesson 18 Outline 2

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 7 (“God's Work in Eternity")

Essentials of Reformed Doctrine is a systematic doctrine class aimed at older teenagers, but adapted in Ireland for adults who want to learn all the doctrines of Christianity.

Lesson 7 is "God's Work in Eternity."

The main subjects covered in this Lesson are:

Part 1: God's eternal counsel and God's decrees concerning sin.

Part 2: Predestination, election and reprobation proved and defended.

The LRF runs an adult reformed doctrine class in which we work through the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine catechism booklet published by the PRCA. Below you will find the lesson outlines based on Lesson 7.

Each lesson outline comes as a handy PDF formatted to be printed as a single double-sided page with narrow margins.

Lesson 7

Lesson 7 Outline 1

Lesson 7 Outline 2