God's Decree from the 1689 Baptist
Confession of Faith From all eternity, God decreed
all that would happen in time, and this He did freely and unalterably
consulting only His own wise and holy will. Yet in doing so,
He does not become in any sense the author of sin, nor does He
share responsibility for sin with sinners. In this decree,
God's wisdom is displayed in directing all things, and His
power and faithfulness are demonstrated in accomplishing His decree.
God's decree is not based upon His foreknowledge of the future,
but is independent of all such foreknowledge. By His decree,
and for the manifestation of His glory, God has predestined
or foreordained certain men and angels to eternal life through
Jesus Christ, thus revealing His grace. Others, whom He has
left to perish in their sins, manifest the terrors of His justice. These predestined and foreordained
angels and men are individually and unchangeably designated,
and their number is so certain and definite that it can neither
be increased nor decreased. Before the world was made, God's
eternal, immutable purpose, which originated in the secret counsel
and good pleasure of His will, moved Him to choose, or to elect,
in Christ, certain men to everlasting glory. Out of His mere free grace
and love, He predestined these chosen ones to life, although
there was nothing in them to cause Him to choose them. Not
only has God appointed the elect to glory in accordance with the
eternal and free purpose of His will, but He has also foreordained
the means by which His purpose will be effected. 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. 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, the doctrine
of predestination 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.