Baptist Confession of 1689: Of God's Decree

CHAPTER 3—OF GOD’S DECREE

Paragraph 1. God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass, (Isa 46:10; Eph 1:11; Hbr 6:17; Rom 9:15, 18); yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein, (Jam 1:13; 1Jo 1:5); nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established, (Act 4:27-28; Jhn 19:11); in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree, (Num 23:19; Eph 1:3-5).

Paragraph 2. Although God knowest whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, (Act 15:18); yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions, (Rom 9:11, 13, 16, 18).

Paragraph 3. 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, (1Ti 5:21; Mat 25:34); to the praise of His glorious grace, (Eph 1:5-6); others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice, (Rom 9:22-23; Jud 4).

Paragraph 4. These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished, (2Ti 2:19; Jhn 13:18).

Paragraph 5. Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, (Eph 1:4, 9, 11; Rom 8:30; 2Ti 1:9; 1Th 5:9); without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto, (Rom 9:13, 16; Eph 2:5, 12).

Paragraph 6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so He hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto, (1Pe 1:2; 2Th 2:13); wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, (1Th 5:9, 10); are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, (Rom 8:30; 2Th 2:13); and kept by His power through faith unto salvation, (1Pe 1:5); neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only, (Jhn 10:26; 17:9; 6:64).

Paragraph 7. The doctrine of the 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 there unto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election, (1Th 1:4-5; 2Pe 1:10); so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, (Eph 1:6; Rom 11:33); reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, (Rom 11:5-6, 20); diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel, (Luk 10:20).