The NRBC School of Theology: Systematic Theology Course 2

20. OF GOD'S DECREE 3:2:
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

This course is based on the text, 'The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith,' with notes by Kevin Matthews. Please feel free to print these notes to allow you to study the text online/offline. This lesson may be used in other study situations if you like (eg. Groups, Bible Studies, etc).

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

a. Acts 15:18.
b. Rom 9:11,13,16,18.

In our studies on the Attributes of God, we have already considered the Knowledge of God, and how He knows everything (See Study 10), even those possibilities which have not happened, and will never happen for nothing is unknown to God (Acts 15:18). It is out of all this knowledge that God has formed His Decree.

However the idea that God looked into the future in order to determine His plan is unbiblical. The reason why the future will happen the way it will is because God has planned that future (Rom 9:11,13,16,18), by taking into consideration every possible event and path, and then forming His Decree out of His wise conclusions.

20.1 God’s Foreknowledge

The Biblical idea of foreknowledge has been corrupted in the history of the church. It has come to mean God looking into the future and seeing what man was going to do, and then adding that to His plan. God’s Decree is in no way conditioned by external circumstances, but is the product of the Divine mind alone.

God’s foreknowledge is based entirely upon His own Decree, for it is His Decree that has rendered all things certain (Is 46:10; Acts 3:18; 4:27,28; 13:48; 15:15-18). Because of this certainty He obviously knows exactly what all future events will be, knowing them beforehand precisely because He has determined them.

This also holds true also in the area of the salvation of man, for salvation is not determined by the choosing of Him in the future, but rather by the plan of God. For this is clearly what Scripture teaches (Acts 5:31; Eph 2:8-10; 1 Cor 4:7). If this were not so it would constitute work and merit, and render God not the Author of salvation but man.

NOTE: If you wish to email me regarding your answers to this first lesson, please copy and paste them into an email (Attachments will not be opened). I will then get back to you as soon as I can (expect a delay due to various committments).

Links to Online Texts

• 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
• 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

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