173 – Predestination and the Salvation of the Elect
PREDESTINATION AND THE SALVATION OF THE ELECT
§ 173. The entire work of leading those who shall constitute the Church triumphant from a state of sin and wrath and spiritual death, through a state of faith and grace and spiritual life, to a state of glory and eternal life, is the divine execution of that eternal decree 1 whereby God, before the foundation of the world, 2 and prompted only by His grace 3 in Christ Jesus, 4 purposed to call, 5 enlighten and sanctify, 6 keep and preserve, 7 by the means of grace, 8 according to the counsel of His will, 9 all those 10 whom, by eternal election of grace in Christ, 11 the Redeemer of the world, 12 He had chosen from fallen mankind 13 and predestinated to eternal glory. 14
1. The entire work of leading those who shall constitute the Church triumphant from a state of sin and wrath and spiritual death, through a state of faith and grace and spiritual life, to a state of glory and eternal life, is the divine execution of that eternal decree…
See § 51.
2. …whereby God, before the foundation of the world,
II Timothy 1:9 According to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. …and prompted only by His grace
II Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us… not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Romans 9:11 That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.
Ephesians 2:5 By grace ye are saved.
4. … in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us … according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Ephesians 1:3–4 Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him.
5. …purposed to call,
Romans 9:11 That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth.
II Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling … according to His own purpose and grace.
Romans 8:30 Whom He did predestinate, them He also called.
Romans 8:28 To them who are the called according to His purpose.
6. …enlighten and sanctify,
Acts 13:48 And as many as were ordained to everlasting life believed.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself. Cf. Galatians 3:26 Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:30 Whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified. C Cf. Romans 3:26 … the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
I Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him.
7. …keep and preserve,
II Thessalonians 2:13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.
Acts 13:48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Ephesians 1:11–12 Being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.
II Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Mark 13:22 False Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
8. …by the means of grace,
II Thessalonians 2:13–14 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect.
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.
9. …according to the counsel of His will,
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.
10. …all those
Matthew 20:16 Many be called, but few chosen. Cf. 22:14.
John 13:18 I know whom I have chosen.
I Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God.
Romans 8:29 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Acts 13:48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
11. …whom, by eternal election of grace in Christ,
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 9:11 That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works.
Ephesians 1:4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.
12. …the Redeemer of the world,
Cf. §§ 50 and 123.
13. …He had chosen from fallen mankind
John 15:19 Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
Ephesians 1:4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him.
Romans 9:23–24 That he might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.
Romans 11:7 The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
14. … and predestinated to eternal glory.
Romans 8:29–30 Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. — Cf. II Timothy 2:10 “with eternal glory.”
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