"Predestination is a Beautiful Doctrine."
"Predestination is a Beautiful Doctrine. Its beauty lies in the fact that a Holy God has Revealed it to us in His Word. And, as Calvin and Boettner, among others, point out, it has significant practical applications. Predestination is not merely a topic for discussion and debate among curious seminary students. It tells us much about the character of God:
- "God is Meticulously Writing the story of history according to His Own Script. Though we speak of “accidents,” really, there are no accidents. Nothing will take place today that hasn’t been carefully Planned before in Eternity Past by an All-Powerful and Good Creator.
- "God Loves sinners. We should never get over the stunning reality of this statement. Though we have rebelled against Him, yet God Sent His Only Son to die in the Place of sinful men and women to Rescue them from sin and death (Rom. 5:8). Christ, who was not guilty, Laid Down His Life for the guilty (1 Pet. 3:18). He Bore the Wrath we deserve.
- "God uses Means to Achieve His Ends. Our Lord selects weak clay pots and Sends them to the Ends of the Earth to preach the good news of His Rescue Mission in Christ (Rom. 10:14-15). He Gives fallen men the unconscionable privilege of proclaiming his sin-slaying, death-defeating Gospel.
- "God’s Glory is Ultimate, not man’s. The outset of the Shorter Catechism famously marks out the chief end of man—to Glorify God and enjoy Him Forever. God Made us for His Glory (Isa. 42:8). Every pursuit in life is to be done with an eye to the spread of His Fame.
"Predestination also says something important about us: apart from a Unilateral Work of Grace, we cannot please God. We are dead in our sins, and dead men can do nothing (Eph. 2:1). Therefore, we ignore Predestination to our own Spiritual malnourishment."
True saints rejoice in this truth as Paul offered great praise to God In Eph1;3-14 for starters. he goes on to reveal that this is part of His Eternal purpose that is revealed to the Church.
Eph3:
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The church has always loved this doctrine and does even now. Sadly many oppose themselves and miss out on the great blessing and benefit it offers to us.
