The Doctrine of God’s Decree, & how most Confessional churches truncated this doctrine for a season

Over the last several years God has decreed many significant events to occur in America (and the world), and I believe they will increase. Whether they be mass causality incidents caused either by natural disasters or by man, God decreed them. But the two incidents that stand out the most, are the Corona Virus and the 2020 Presidential election.

All our Confessional churches, actually all churches, should have been steadfast pillars, salt of the earth, and light of the world. But too many missed that opportunity, seeming to truncate this portion of their confession. Rather than remain faithful to the LORD, they seemed faithless. One pastor even wrongfully told me, “It’s our responsibility to help flatten the curve!”🤔

Below is chapter 3 of the London Baptist Confession of Faith, on God’s Decree. We would do well to understand and demonstrate these Doctrines.

1. God hath a 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; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin b nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather c established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness d in accomplishing his decree.

(a Isa 46:10; Eph 1:11; Heb 6:17; Rom 9:15,18; b Jam 1:13; 1Jo 1:5; c Act 4:27-28; Joh 19:11; d Num 23:19; Eph 1:3-5)

2. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all e supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, f because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.

(e Act 15:18; f Rom 9:11,13,16,18)

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, g some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the h praise of his Confession of Faith of 1689 11 glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their i just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.

(g 1Ti 5:21; Mat 25:34; h Eph 1:5-6; i Rom 9:22-23; Jude 4)

4. These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their k number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.

( k 2Ti 2:19; Joh 13:18)

5. Those of mankind l 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, m without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.

(l Eph 1:4,9,11; Rom 8:30; 2Ti 1:9; 1Th 5:9; m Rom 9:13,16; Eph 2:5,12)

6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained n all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, o are redeemed by Christ, are effectually p called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith q unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect r only.

(n 1Pe 1:2; 2Th 2:13; o 1Th 5:9-10; p Rom 8:30; 2Th 2:13; q 1Pe 1:5; r Joh 10:26, 17:9, 6:64)

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 s eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter t of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and u of humility, diligence, and x abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.

(s 1Th 1:4-5; 2Pe 1:10; t Eph 1:6; Rom 11:33; u Rom 11:5-6,20; x Luk 10:20).