The NRBC School of Theology: Systematic Theology Course 2

24. OF GOD'S DECREE 3:7:
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).

‘The question, which of these systems is true is not to be decided by ascertaining which is the more agreeable to our feelings or the more plausible to our understanding, but which is consistent with the doctrines of the Bible, and the facts of experience.’

‘It is the duty of every theologian to subordinate his theories to the Bible, and teach not what seems to him to be true or reasonable, but simply what the Bible teaches.’

Charles Hodge

7. 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 (a); so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise (b), reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility (c), diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel (d).

a. 1 Thess 1:4,5; 2 Pet 1:10.
b. Eph 1:6; Rom 11:33.
c. Rom 11:5,6.
d. Lk 10:20.

24.1. The Assurance of Salvation

‘Those who have fled to Jesus for refuge have a firm foundation upon which to build. Though floods of error deluge the land, though Satan raise all the powers of earth and all the iniquities of their own hearts against them, they shall never fail; but persevering to the end, they shall inherit those mansions which have been prepared for them from the foundation of the world. The saints in heaven are happier but no more secure than are true believers here in this world. Since faith and repentance are gifts of God, the bestowing of these gifts is a revelation of God’s purpose to save those to whom they are given. It is an evidence that God has predestinated the recipients of these gifts to be conformed to the image of His Son, i.e., to be like Him in character, destiny, and glory, and that He will infallibly carry out His purpose. No one can pluck them out of His hands.’

L. Boettner

It is absolutely essential that as Calvinists (of which are Reformed Baptists), we declare the whole truth as contained in the Scriptures, even when such doctrines seem difficult to understand and impossible to fathom. One must remember that God’s logic is not man’s, and simply because man cannot understand the purpose of God in its totality, this does not prove void the doctrine of predestination - what it does prove is the need for man to exercise faith in God, as Abraham did, when he doesn’t fully understand the workings of God.

It is certainly hard for us here to accept that many of our family and friends are predestined to a Christless eternity, yet eternity will abound with sufficient evidence to prove this quite fair and just, and that our sympathy for them is oftentimes misplaced, for it is indeed true that these loved ones are in fact the wicked enemies of God.

Yet in this life we cannot ascertain just who the non-elect are, and so we have no right to withhold the Gospel from any, for this is the means that God uses to call out His elect from this fallen world (Rom 10:14-17). Indeed, all men are commanded to exercise faith in Christ, and to repent from their sins, being promised that if they do so they will live. And this is no empty promise, for all who believe will be saved (Rom 10:11).

The simple fact is that only the elect will believe (Acts 13:48), so none outside the elect will ever desire to believe, let alone actually believe. Therefore, if you believe in Christ, this is sure proof that you are of the elect (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:1,10-13).

But to be certain that you do not deceive yourself concerning the exercise of faith, good works are the fruit of election and faith, whereby we know for sure that we are of the elect (2 Cor 13:5; 2 Pet 1:10; 1 Jn 2:29;3:9,14). After all, holiness is the purpose for which we have been saved (Eph 1:4).

24.2 The Chief Purpose of Predestination

With the salvation of the elect in predestination, God brings glory to Himself through the display of His various attributes, including His love, mercy, power, and sovereignty (Pr 16:4; Rom 9:22,23).

Associated with this display of God’s attributes is the teaching of man the need for gratitude toward God, for even the elect could quite easily and justly have been passed over except for God’s Sovereign purpose.

As with Predestination unto salvation, reprobation also has its purpose the glory of God, for it demonstrates to all creation God’s hatred of sin, and the manifestation of God’s nature in a way that would not otherwise be known. This includes the areas of God’s justice and wrath (Rom 9:22,23).

24.3 Humility

The doctrine of predestination should in no way lead any man to boast, or to think highly of himself. No person who is saved has any reason to boast. We have been saved by grace, and all the glory therefore is rightly to be given to God alone. Indeed, but by the grace of God, we may well be among the greatest of sinners. The only people who may boast of their eternal destiny are the unsaved, for they have merited this for themselves, yet this is no destiny to boast of.

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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