Modern 1689 Confession

Original

Reeves

Chapter 3

Of God's Decree

1._____ 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 comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; 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; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.

( Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5 )

2._____ Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.

( Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18 )

3._____ 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.

( 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5, 6; Romans 9:22, 23; Jude 4 )

4.______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.

( 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18 )

5._____ Those of mankind that are predestinated 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, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.

( Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12 )

6._____ 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; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.

( 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10; Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:5; John 10:26; John 17:9; John 6:64 )

7._____ The doctrine of the 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; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.

( 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5; 2 Peter 1:10; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33; Romans 11:5, 6, 20; Luke 10:20 )

Chapter 3

God's Decree

1. From all eternity God decreed everything that occurs, without reference to anything outside himself.¹ He did this by the perfectly 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 others in their sin;² 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.³ In this decree God’s wisdom is displayed in directing all things, and his power and faithfulness are demonstrated in accomplishing his decree.⁴

¹Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18. ²James 1:13; 1 John 1:5. ³Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11. ⁴Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5.

2. God knows everything that could happen under any given conditions.⁵ However, his decree of anything is not based on foreseeing it in the future or foreseeing that it would occur under such conditions.⁶

⁵Acts 15:18. ⁶Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18.

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,⁷ to the praise of his glorious grace.⁸ Others are left to live in their sin, leading to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.⁹

⁷1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34. ⁸Ephesians 1:5, 6. ⁹Romans 9:22, 23; Jude 4.

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.¹⁰

¹⁰2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18.

5. Those people who are predestinated 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,¹¹ without anything else about them serving as a condition or cause moving him to do so.¹²

¹¹Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9. ¹²Romans 9:13, 16; Ephesians 2:5, 12.

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.¹³ Therefore, those who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ¹⁴ and effectually called to faith in Christ by his Spirit working at the appropriate time. They are justified, adopted, sanctified,¹⁵ and kept by his power through faith to salvation.¹⁶ No one but the elect are redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved.¹⁷

¹³1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. ¹⁴1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10. ¹⁵Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. ¹⁶1 Peter 1:5. ¹⁷John 10:26; 17:9; 6:64.

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.¹⁸ In this way this doctrine will give reasons for praise,¹⁹ reverence, and admiration of God, as well as humility,²⁰ diligence and rich comfort to all who sincerely obey the gospel.²¹

¹⁸1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5; 2 Peter 1:10. ¹⁹Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33. ²⁰Romans 11:5, 6, 20. ²¹Luke 10:20.