God's Decree | ActsSeventeen

Chapter 3

OF GOD’S DECREE

Paragraph 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;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

¹ Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15,18

² James 1:13; 1 John 1:5

³ Acts 4:27-28; John 19:11

⁴ Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5

Paragraph 2. 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

⁵ Acts 15:18

⁶ Romans 9:11,18

*Paragraph 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,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

⁷ 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34

⁸ Ephesians 1:5-6

⁹ Romans 9:22-23; Jude 4

Paragraph 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.¹⁰

¹⁰ 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18

Paragraph 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,¹¹ without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.¹²

¹¹ Ephesians 1:4,11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9

¹² Romans 9:13,16; Ephesians 2:5,12

Paragraph 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;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

¹³ 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

¹⁴ 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

¹⁵ Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

¹⁶ 1 Peter 1:5

¹⁷ John 10:26, John 17:9, John 6:64

Paragraph 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;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

¹⁸ 1 Thessalonians 1:4,5; 2 Peter 1:10

¹⁹ Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33

²⁰ Romans 11:5,20

²¹ Luke 10:20

*Editor’s Notes:

Chapter 3 and paragraph 3 reads as follows:

“By the decree of God for the manifestation of his glory some men and angels, are predestinated, or fore-ordained 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.”

The only proof text for the mentioning of the angels is 1 Timothy 5:21.

I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

In Hebrews 2 we read about Christ’s becoming a MAN and being able to relate to mankind.

Read Hebrews 2:16-18

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (KJV)

or,

16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (NKJV)

Christ became a Man in order to save men. He did not become an angel. He did not die for the salvation of angels; His salvation is not for angels.

If this paragraph of the confession intended to state that angels are included in Christ’s redemptive work, in the same way as men, then it is wrong. If the intended meaning is that God fore-ordained and predestinated which of all the angels would be faithful (as with men) and that these angels would be sustained by Christ their Creator (as with men), then it should have been worded with less ambiguity.

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Isaiah 46:10

10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Ephesians 1:11

11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Hebrews 6:17

17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Romans 9:15,18

15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

James 1:13

13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

1 John 1:5

5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Acts 4:27-28

27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

John 19:11

11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Numbers 23:19

19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Ephesians 1:3-5

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4According 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:

5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Acts 15:18

18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Romans 9:11,18

11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

1 Timothy 5:21

21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Matthew 25:34

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Ephesians 1:5-6

5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Romans 9:22-23

22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

2 Timothy 2:19

19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

John 13:18

18I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Ephesians 1:4,11

4According 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:

11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Romans 8:30

30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

2 Timothy 1:9

9Who 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,

1 Thessalonians 5:9

9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 9:13,16

13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Ephesians 2:5,12

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

1 Peter 1:2

2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Romans 8:30

30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

1 Peter 1:5

5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 10:26

26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

John 17:9

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

John 6:64

64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

1 Thessalonians 1:4,5

4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

2 Peter 1:10

10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Ephesians 1:6

6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Romans 11:33

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Romans 11:5,20

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Luke 10:20

20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

1 Timothy 5:21

21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Hebrews 2:16-18

16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.