Doctrine: The Decrees of God

Order of Service

• Sermon

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Sermon Title: The Decrees of God

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-11

I. Review of the Doctrine of Election

A. Definition from the Canons of Dort, First Head of Doctrine, Article 7

1. Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, choosing a definite number of persons to redemption before the foundation of the world
2. The choice is out of mere grace, not based on anything foreseen in the elect

B. Election is grounded in man's fallen condition

1. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
2. No one seeks God on their own; salvation must be entirely God's work

C. Election seen throughout Scripture

1. God's choice of Abraham — a pagan worshipper chosen sovereignly
2. God's choice of Israel in Deuteronomy — not because of their worthiness but by grace
3. Paul's declaration in Ephesians 1:3-11 — chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestined for adoption

II. What Flows Downstream from Election — Humility

A. A common charge against election is that it produces pride

1. The doctrine actually eliminates grounds for boasting — God's choice is based on nothing in the elect
2. Westminster Confession of Faith 3.8: predestination affords matter of praise and humility

B. Scripture witnesses to the need for humility before God

1. Job in Job 7: "What is man that you make so much of him?"
2. David in Psalm 144:3: "O Lord, what is man that you regard him?"
3. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10: "I am the least of the apostles… by the grace of God I am what I am"

III. What Flows Downstream from Election — Assurance

A. The Reformation recovered assurance as a genuine possibility for believers

1. Rome denies assurance because salvation depends on continued human effort
2. The Reformed view ties assurance to God's unchangeable decree to save

B. Westminster Confession of Faith on assurance

1. WCF 3.8: effectual vocation gives certainty of eternal election; doctrine affords abundant consolation
2. WCF 8: Christ certainly and effectually applies redemption to all for whom He purchased it
3. WCF 17: perseverance rests on the immutability of the decree of election and the free and unchangeable love of God the Father
4. WCF 18: assurance is not a conjectural persuasion but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the divine truth of the promises of salvation

C. Assurance is possible but not automatically experienced by every believer

1. A true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before attaining assurance
2. Assurance is attained through the ordinary means of grace — Word, sacraments, corporate worship
3. 1 John (especially chapters 2, 3, and 5) is the preeminent biblical letter on assurance

IV. What Flows Downstream from Election — Missions and Gospel Preaching

A. God decrees not only the ends but also the means to those ends

1. The preaching of the gospel is the chief means by which God calls His elect to faith
2. Romans 10:14-15: How will they hear without someone preaching? How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news

B. Believers do not know who the elect are, therefore must preach broadly

1. Obedience to Christ's commission is the primary motivation
2. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14: God chose through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, calling through the gospel

V. What Flows Downstream from Election — Prayer

A. "Everyone is a Calvinist when they pray" — prayer assumes God's sovereignty

1. God ordains both ends and means, and prayer is among those means
2. Praying for the lost assumes that God alone can change a heart

B. Prayer expresses humility and dependence on the sovereign God

1. We pray because we have limited knowledge and power
2. We pray to the One who knows all things and has ordained all things from beginning to end

C. Closing doxology from Romans 11:33-36

1. "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!"
2. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."
3. Doctrine is unto doxology