Thursday, March 18, 2010
Reymond’s “Systematic Theology, ” the eternal plan of salvation, TBN, Arminians, Emergents, Liberals, 461-480
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1. Reymond’s “Systematic Theology, ” the eternal plan of salvation, TBN, Arminians, Emergents, liberal and others. Some afterthoughts. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1998), 461-480.
2. TBN, Pentecostalists, Emergents, Liberals, Arminians, Church Growthers, and Contemporary Evangelicals.
3. Wesstminster Confession of Faith, Chapter Three:
I. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet has He not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
IV. 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.
V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto 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, has chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
VI. As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so has He, 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, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extends or withholds mercy, as He pleases, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.
VIII. The doctrine of this 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.
4. God’s “eternal purpose.” Eph.3.11: Paul speaks of God’s “eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ, Jesus our Lord.” The Greek word means plan, purpose, or resolve. The texts could be multiplied, Eph.1.11, Rom. 9-11. We commend our readers to many good works on this.
5. Some advocate suppression of the doctrine. Erasmus did that with Luther. We hear the same today. Here’s Calvin:
“Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so that nothing is taught but what is expedient to know. Therefore we must guard against depriving believers of anything disclosed about predestination in Scripture, lest we either wickedly defraud them of the blessing of their God or to accuse and scoff at the Holy Spirit for having published what it is in any way profitable to suppress…But for those who are so cautious or fearful that they desire to bury predestination in order not to disturb weak souls--with what color will they cloak their arrogance when they accuse God indirectly of stupid thoughtlessness as if he had not foreseen the peril that they feel they have wisely met? Whoever, then, whoever heaps odium upon the doctrine of election reproaches God, as if he had unadvisedly let slip something hurtful to the Church.” Institutes, III.xxi.3, 4.
6. Christ’s Cross Work according “to God’s plan.” Lk.22.22: “…the Son of Man is going [to the Cross] in accordance with the [divine] decree.” Acts 2.23: “…This One, by the determining purpose and foreknowledge of God was handed over, and you with wicked hands put him to death by nailing Him to the cross.” Acts 4.24-28: “…what your hand and your will predestined should happen.” Other texts could be multiplied also. Luke was a thorough-going predestinarian.
7. God’s Foreknowledge and Predestination of the Elect in the Plan of Redemption.
Rom 8.29. Foreknowledge and Predestination. Foreknowledge means “set one’s affections on” and “have special regarding love.” Rom.9 is clear that election is unconditional and not based upon foreseen human qualities such as faith and repentance. Eph.1.4-5: Election and Predestination to Holiness. 2 Thes.2.13: Election to Sanctification. No honest and humble servant of Christ can deny these teachings, including TBN, Pentecostalists, Emergents, Liberals (Protestant mainline), Arminians, Church Growthers, and Contemporary Evangelicals.
8. With Calvin, we say the above groups reproach and scoff at the God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Apostles. Rebellion, insolence, impudence, indolence, and ignorance.
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