Absolute Predestination"In whom we also have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11) Zanchius (1516-1590) created his age-enduring classic in response to the challenges of those who persisted in charging God with being the Author of sin because He says in the Scriptures that He predestinated all things that come to pass. His answer is irrefutable. The first forty-two pages describes God as He is revealed in His holy Word. He is all-wise and all-powerful. He is perfect and unchangeable. He, being by Himself alone in eternity, determined to create a universe, and to people that universe with being of His own choice. He saw in His mind the entire course of events, and the persons who would act out these events, and having all things completely settled in His mind beforehand, He decreed all things that were to occur. The distinctions thus having been established in His own mind, He at one time, in one act of His will, predestinated all things "according to the counsel of His will." The author then takes up the subject of predestination. The word means to 'deliberate beforehand with ones' self how one shall act; and in consequence of such deliberation to constitute, fore-ordain, and predetermine where and when, how and by whom anything shall be done, and to what end it shall be done. Who else but God is able to both conceive and order all the happenings in time and eternity? This book is not only closely reasoned, but it is backed and proven by Scripture throughout. It is made abundantly clear that men may not absolve themselves of evil because of God=s eternal predestination of allthings. God leaves all men with a freedom to will, but in their total depravity all choose to will only what is evil in the eyes of God. For, "God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one. But each one is tempted by his own lusts, having been drawn out and havin |
Contents
10 | |
The Omnipotence of | 28 |
The Justice of | 37 |
10 | 68 |
THE DOCTRINE OF ABSOLUTE PREDESTINATION | 93 |
APPENDIX | 115 |
Common terms and phrases
ABSOLUTE PREDESTINATION according actions apostacy apostle appointed Arminians assert Augustine believe blessings Bucer called cause Chiavenna Christ Christian condemnation consequence considered counsel creatures death decree Deity delivered determinate Divine Divine grace DOCTRINE OF ABSOLUTE doctrine of predestination effect elect Esau everlasting evident evil faith fall fate Father favour foreknow foreknowledge free-will glory God's eternal Gospel grace gracious hand hath chosen heart heaven holy immutable infinite iniquity Jerome Zanchius Jesus John John iii John x justice justly likewise Lord Luther mankind Matt Maximian means mercy nature non-elect observes omnipotence pass Pelagians perish Peter pleased pleasure POSITION preached predes prescience preterition Psalm punishment purpose reason repentance reprobate respect of persons righteous salvation sanctification saved Scripture sense sinners sins sovereign Spirit Stoics Thess things Thou tion truth unchangeable unjust unto vessels of wrath viii whereby whole wicked wisdom word Zanchius
Popular passages
Page 13 - But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me; And many such things are with him.
References to this book
No Place for Sovereignty: What's Wrong with Freewill Theism R. K. McGregor Wright Limited preview - 1996 |