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Chart #67 Predestination:Ephesians 1:3-6; 1:11-12; Romans 8:29-30 The Doctrine: "God, from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass:" Presbyterian Confession of Faith, Ch. 3; Sec. 1. From the Larger Catechism - "God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men." (In answer to question 12). 1. If this doctrine is true, it does strange things to God and His word. 2. If it be true that God unchangeably ordained everything that
comes to pass then:
A. It would be impossible for man to err. See James 5:19-20
(1) Whatever man does is in keeping with and brought about
by God’s fore-ordination or decree, and therefore
cannot be wrong.
(2) If man does anything, it matters not what, whether
good or bad, if God has ordained everything, it
matters not what, whether good or bad, if God has
ordained everything, he has ordained that thing.
(3) Note some examples:
(a) If a man lies, God unchangeably ordained that he
should lie. Why then was Ananias and Sapphira put
to death? Acts 5:1-10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15
(b) If a man steals, God unchangeably ordained that he
should steal. Why then did God have Achan stoned
to death? Joshua 7:20-26
(c) If a man kills, God unchangeably ordained that he
do so. Why then did God put a curse on Cain for
killing Abel? Genesis 4:9-13
(4) According to this concept of Predestination, it was
not only in accordance with the most and holy counsel
of His Will, but He had freely and unchangeably
ordained that Ananias and Sapphira, Achan, and Cain
should do the very thing for which He had them put to
death and cursed.
Who can believe such about God??
B. Since God has plainly forbidden things which do some to
pass, it cannot be true that He has unchangeably ordained
them.
(1) Examples: Exodus 20:13-16
(a) God said, “Thou shalt not kill” – but many
Israelites did kill others.
(b) God said, “Thou shalt not commit Adultery” – but
many Israelites did commit adultery.
(c) God said, “Thou shalt not steal” – but many
Israelites did steal.
(d) God said, “Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbor” – but many Israelites did
bear false witness against their neighbor.
(2) That God should unchangeably ordain that a certain
thing should come to pass, and at the same time
positively forbid that same thing, is an inconsistency
entirely incompatible with His divine nature and
character.
(a) Especially when we add that He threatens the
guilty with eternal punishment.
C. If God unchangeably ordained that a certain man, on a
certain day, should do a certain thing, then there is no
power left to man not to do the thing; for were he to
avoid doing it, he would have to changed God’s
unchangeable decree, and therefore had more power to
change than God had to enforce. Is anyone prepared to
assume such a position??
(1) Surely some ordinances or decrees of God are broken
every day.
(a) He has ordained:
1. That man shall not kill – yet they do kill.
2. That man shall not steal – yet they do steal.
3. That man shall not bear false witness – yet
they swear falsely everyday.
(2) Hence, God compels no man to keep His ordinances, but
He will visit upon him merited punishment if he does
not keep them.
D. Romans 13:1-3 – “Let every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that
be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the
power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
(1) But how can anyone successfully resist that which God
unchangeably ordained?
E. God said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be
overthrown.” Jonah 3:4
(1) Here is a positive decree or ordinance of God that did
not come to pass, for “God saw their works, that they
turned from their evil way; and God repented of the
evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and
he did it not.”
(2) This surely was a changeable decree. Hence, this
concept of Predestination cannot be true.
F. Hezekiah – 2 Kings 20:1, 5-6
(1) Here was a decree concerning Hezekiah’s death, which
was changed, and his life prolonged fifteen years, and
the change was induced by his prayers and tears.
(2) Hence, this concept of Predestination cannot be true.
G. David at Keilah – 1 Samuel 23:10-13
(1) God said:
(a) Saul “will come down” to Keilah.
(b) The people “will deliver thee up.”
(2) But:
(a) David and his men escaped.
(b) Saul did not go down to Keilah.
(3) It is evident that circumstance and not immutable
decrees, controlled this event, even as they do most
others.
(4) Therefore, this concept of Predestination cannot be
true.
H. The basis upon which God deals with men and nations. Ezekiel 18:20-24 Ezekiel 3:18-21 Jeremiah 18:7-10 (See Chart #34) (1) Again it is obvious that circumstances have always
varied God’s dealings with men.
(2) Hence, this concept of Predestination cannot be true.
I. Genesis 6:5-6 – “And God saw that the wickedness of man
was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it
repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and
it grieved him at his heart.”
(1) Now if the Lord fore-ordained everything that comes to
pass, He fore-ordained everything the Antediluvians
did: why, then, he grieve over their wickedness, when
every act was but the consummation of his own
immutable and eternal decree??
(2) Would not this amount to God grieving over His own
folly.
(3) Surely it should be evident that this concept of
Predestination cannot be true!!
J. Jeremiah 7:31 – “And they have built the high places of
Tophat, which is in the valley of Hinnom, to burn their
sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded
them not, neither came it into my heart.”
Jeremiah 19:5 – “They have built also the high places of
Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings
unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither
came it into my mind.”
(1) If God fore-ordained everything, He fore-ordained
these things, for they came to pass.
(2) Yet He says He did not command them, nor speak them,
neither came they into His mind.
(3) How did God fore-ordain things which never entered his
mind?
(4) Thus, this concept of Predestination cannot be true!!
K. Jeremiah 23:21 – “I have not sent these prophets, yet they
ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.”
(1) It is obvious that their conduct was not the result of
God’s predestinated, fore-ordained, immutable decree.
L. Jeremiah 14:14 - Notice:
(1) “They prophesy lies in my name”
(2) “They prophesy unto you a false vision and divination
and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.”
(3) God said:
(a) “I sent them not,”
(b) “Neither have I commanded them,”
(c) “Neither spake unto them.”
(4) Thus, the Calvinistic concept of Predestination cannot
be true.
M. My opponent would have us to believe that God gave man a
“Command that He had unchangeably fore-ordained to be
broken, so that He might subject him to ‘death, with all
miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal’, then tells us
that He ‘so loved the world that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life’, (John 3:16), and at the same
time restrict the benefits of His death to a few select
ones, and allow the devil to have the many, and thus be
glorified by their destruction—it being no fault of
theirs.” Brents – The Gospel Plan of Salvation, Pages 112,
113. Who can believe it??
Conclusion: 1. If the Predestinarian doctrine of Unchangeable decree be true, then the whole Bible doctrine of sin, accountability, rewards, and punishments, in harmony with Justice and Mercy, is utterly incomprehensible and inconsistent. 2. That which God predestined was that men should be saved through His Son, Jesus Christ!! 3. Man’s conduct determines his standing.
a. “His servants ye are to whom ye obey.” Romans 6:16
b. “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John
8:34
c. “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15
d. If wicked man doeth right he shall live; if righteous man
doeth iniquity he shall die.” Ezekiel 18:21-22; 33:17-19
e. Done good – to resurrection of life.
Done evil – to resurrection of damnation. John 5:28-29
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