No Praise for Predestination

My wife recently said something that got my attention...

She noted that the Biblical doctrine of Predestination doesn't often invoke praise from the mouths of modern churchmen. Instead of embracing this truth and giving God praise for their unconditional election unto Salvation, the modern Christian will question God's goodness or even worse. I've even read a where a few very misguided individuals have even blasphemed their Creator by saying that such a doctrine, if correct, would make God "worse than the devil."

Thankfully, Paul takes no such view of God's sovereignty in election:

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4. even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5. he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6. to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Eph 1:3-6 ESV) italics added

In light of the inspired writing of Paul, the Calvinist can affirm that God's sovereignty in salvation is a glorious doctrine. Indeed, I wouldn't even be a Christian were it not for God's sovereign Grace! Were it not for God first choosing me, I would've remained steadfast in my sinful obstinacy! I cannot boast in anything whatsoever because I did nothing to merit God's favor.

The truth is, no sinner who's ever came to Christ has done so unless God set His affection upon him/her before the foundation of the world. None of us can boast in any part of our salvation in light of this doctrine. And perhaps that's why so many refuse to praise God for predestination.

Head over to Galyon's Place...

...and have a look at his article on J.L. Dagg's teaching on Election.

(Especially if you're in the SBC and a non-Calvinist!)

J.C. Thibodaux on Election

A very interesting article indeed. I highly recommend that the Mafia read it!

It's always interesting to me when people will teach that God does indeed choose people to be saved (even if by mere prescience) and yet teach that the person can lose the Salvation that they were chosen to receive... I mean, don't they think God saw that coming too? Why did He choose them to be saved if He already knew they would eventually fall away? By this scheme, did those who forfeit salvation ever really receive the gift of "eternal life"?

Somebody help me out here...

Soli Deo Gloria!

I'd guess the majority of Reformed Christians are familiar with the Latin phrase "Soli Deo Gloria." Which in English we might phrase "to God alone be the glory." I really believe this phrase is at the very heart of Reformation Theology. The men who signed the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith also seemed to understand the concept very well.

In section three, of the third chapter, of the 1689 Baptist Confession we find the following statement:

"By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice."

There's something I would like you to notice about the confession above. These Baptist forefathers saw predestination as a manifestation of God's glory! They understood that God should be praised for His grace in Salvation, as well as for His justice in the condemnation of the wicked. They saw both as being "glorious!"

Sadly, this is not the case with many leaders within the Baptist movement today. Today, truth such as is expressed above is met with outright hostility and disgust. It is usually denounced as being dishonoring to God instead of glorious and worthy of our praise.

Unlike some, I refuse to raise my voice against my Creator to judge and question Him and His decrees. I cannot define what brings glory to God based upon my flawed human sensibilities. God's ways are not my ways. Furthermore, I believe that I have no right to question God at all about any of these things! The Apostle Paul addressed this fact very well in Romans 9: 19-24.

Friends, I'll just have to disagree with some of our modern Baptist brothers, because I fully affirm this confession made by our forefathers in the 1689 Confession. Whatever God does: it is for His glory! Whatever God decrees: it is right! Whomever God has chosen to save: it is to the praise of His glorious Grace! Whomever God has chosen to leave in their sins: their condemnation is just, and it is to the praise of His glorious Justice!

No matter what: Soli Deo Gloria!