If I am to tell the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and that salvation that is in Him, I must preach predestination. Predestination is essential to knowing God as He really is and ascribing the glory to Him that He deserves. Predestination, which is simply God acting as God, shows us that God not only “can” but “has” worked all things after the counsel of His own will. The word itself means to “mark out before hand.” God has set the bounds of our habitation and before the world began determined all things, especially in the salvation of His elect. “For 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.” (Rom. 8:29) Conformity to Christ with all it involves comes surely to God’s people out of His fore-loving them and fore-determining all things necessary to bring it to pass. “in love… Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Eph 1:5) Without God’s predestination there is no Christ and no inheritance of grace: “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:” (Eph 1:11) Things are not determined by man’s so-called “free will” but by the sovereign, wise and gracious will of God. If this were not true, neither God’s prophecies or His promises could be believed and relied upon. But God’s predestination is most evident in the cross death of His Son! This is one of the first things the Spirit of God led Peter to preach to the people: “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” (Acts 2:23) Wicked men of all kinds, doing exactly what they wanted to do and what they’ll be held responsible for doing, did in all things what God had predestinated to be done: “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” (Ac 4:26-28) God’s people love predestination because they love the One who predestined. They love what God in grace predestined concerning them and their complete salvation by and in Christ! “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.”

Gary Shepard

“EVEN SO…”

“At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Even so, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (Matthew 11:25-26)

What! Is God glorified in the damnation of the wise and prudent? Yes, tremendous fact!

At the winding up of this world's drama, God will be glorified in the men that shut their eyes against his grace, as well as in the men whose eyes are opened to receive it.

The 'yells of hell' shall be but the deep bass of the everlasting music of which the 'songs in heaven' are the sweeter high notes. God, the terrible one, shall have praise from the wise and prudent when their folly shall be discovered, when their wisdom shall be dashed in pieces or torn to shreds.

God, the terrible avenger of his own gospel shall be glorified when those are cast out, who having heard the gospel were too wise to believe it, and having listened to it were too prudent to give their praise to it.

In either case God is glorified, and in either case Christ devoutly gives thanks.

C. H Spurgeon

Election and Predestination

"Election and Predestination are but the exercise of God's sovereignty in the affairs of salvation, and all that we know about them is what has been revealed to us in the Scriptures of Truth. The only reason why anyone believes in Election is because he finds it clearly taught in God's Word. No man, or number of men, ever originated this doctrine.

Like the teaching of eternal Punishment, it conflicts with the dictates of the carnal mind and is repugnant to the sentiments of the unregenerate heart. And like the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the miraculous birth of our Savior, the truth of Election must be received with simple, unquestioning faith."

Arthur Pink

"My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10

Nothing is so calming and comforting to the Christian pilgrim, as the assurance of Divine Guidance in every, even the most minute circumstances which befall him. Without this perception of his heavenly Father's care, a thousand intricacies must beset his path. He must be staggered at almost every step. But when he beholds, by faith—the unerring hand of infinite wisdom, wielding the stupendous machine of human events—causing everything to promote the spiritual good of His people—then he quiets himself as a little child, and can say with cheerful resignation, "Father, not my will, but yours be done."

In such a world of change and trial, how inestimable is a calm reliance on the wisdom, power, and love of God. It fully compensates for the lack of temporal ease and wealth. If, without our heavenly Father, not even a sparrow can fall to the ground; if the very hairs of our head are all numbered—how composed should we be.

The reins of universal nature are in the hands of Infinite Love! This vast complex machine is guided by Infinite Wisdom and Power! The Almighty Ruler of the sky cannot be taken by surprise. Nothing unforeseen can happen to cross His purposes or thwart His designs. All worlds are open to His view.

If this Great and Glorious Being is our Father and our Friend—then our privilege is to rejoice at all times, and in everything to give thanks. How consoling and encouraging is the assurance that the blessed Redeemer of my soul, is the Great Sovereign of the Universe! Without His permission nothing can happen in the vast dominion over which He sways His scepter! To His will every creature must bow—either in willing obedience, or in just and endless punishment!

"Lord, be pleased to impart unto me, your unworthy servant, this spirit of confidence in You. May I see Your hand in all the events of life—ordering the minor, as well as in the greater movements of Your Providence. This watching and waiting for the manifestations of Your guardian care—will fill me with thankfulness for all my mercies, and make me patient under all my trials."

"My times are in Your hands." Psalm 31:15

Thomas Reade

True happiness cannot possibly be found in any of those earthly things which so much occupy the time, and captivate the hearts of dying mortals. Pleasures may fascinate. Riches may dazzle. Honors may inflate. But what can these sources of supposed comfort yield in the hour of death and judgment? Unconverted men hug their chain, though they sigh under its weight. They cherish the viper, though it stings them to death!