The sermon, delivered by Eric Bechler, focuses on the doctrine of predestination as outlined in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession, specifically chapter 3, paragraph 4. It explains that God's decree regarding those predestinated to eternal life or condemnation is unchangeable and definite. Bechler contrasts three theological views: Socinianism, which denies individual predestination, Armenianism, which bases God's election on foreseen faith, and Calvinism, which emphasizes unconditional election by God's sovereign will. Scriptural proofs from Ephesians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Romans, Isaiah, and John are provided to support the Calvinist view of particular and unchangeable predestination. The sermon emphasizes that God's decisions are based on His will and glory, cautioning against spiritual pride by reminding believers that their election is due to Christ's righteousness, not their own merit. It calls for humility and gratitude in light of God's sovereign choice.

Okay, last week Mr. Long discussed that some men and angels are foreordained or predestinated to eternal life or to condemnation. This week elaborates on that with respect to the number of those predestinated to eternal life or condemnation. This seems somewhat obvious in that God's decree is unchangeable, thus the number would also be unchangeable, neither increasing nor diminishing. We'll be relatively short today.

We'll first discuss why this is here and needs to be stated in the confession, and then we'll go through the scripture proofs to validate the statement is supported by God's Word. So why is this here? The confession in these paragraphs of chapter 3 break down piece by piece the elements of God's decree and what this encompasses. Could you take it all at once and be done with it? Sure, but this is not what they've done.

So let's take a moment to go back in time to this era, the late 1600s, when the confession was written and try to understand the controversies or the different viewpoints that were being held and discussed at that time. There were at least three different camps, I think there's probably more, but we'll touch on three today. At that point regarding this topic, There was a group called the Socinians, the Armenians, and the Calvinists. I suppose the authors of the confession wanted to make sure and to make clear the differences of their position and the other prevalent viewpoints at that time. Her Wikipedia, Socinianism, is a non-trinitarian belief system developed in the 16th and 17th centuries and they were deemed heretical by both the Catholic Church and the other Christian churches.

They believed that if God knew every possible future, human free will was impossible and as such rejected the hard view of omniscience. According to the Sosinians, God predestinated to eternal life not any particular individual of mankind but a certain sword or description of men, not persons but characters. According to the Armenians, also coming from the 16th and 17th centuries, God only chooses those whom he knows will choose to believe. No one is predetermined for either heaven or hell. God's decree, respecting the salvation of men, is founded upon their foreseen faith and good works.

According to Calvinism, before the foundation of the world, God unconditionally chose or elected some to be saved. Election has nothing to do with man's future response. The elect are chosen by God and by God alone. Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God. The other two viewpoints place conditions on God's sovereignty, which we have a problem with.

Our paragraphs in this chapter help us to clarify our position on God's decree and predestination step by step. Now let's take a look at our scripture proofs for this paragraph. This morning, I'll read it once again, these angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed in their number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished. We'll look first at predestinated and foreordained. When we went through our first paragraph of this chapter, we laid out that God ordained all things from all eternity by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will freely and unchangeably.

Paul validates this in a number of his letters. We look at Ephesians 1, 4, and 5. According as he hath chosen us and him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will. From 2nd Thessalonians 2 13, but we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. And from 2nd Timothy 1 9, who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." When we look at the phrase, particularly and unchangeably designed, by stating particularly, this contradicts the position of the Sosinians, who don't believe in particular believers being predestinated, but rather a general group or description of men.

We read in Paul's letter to the Romans, God reserving 7, 000 men. This is very specific and very particular as to who God has kept from bending the knee to Baal. Romans 11, 4-7, But what sayeth the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so, then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works. Otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace. Otherwise work is no more work. What then?

Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Regarding unchangeably designed or purposed, we read in Isaiah phrases, I have purpose so shall it stand and in Paul's letter to the Hebrews touches on immutability or unchanging from Isaiah 14 24 The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass. And as I have purposed, so shall it stand. In Hebrews 6-17, wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the errors of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath. So we see here God having particularly and unchangeably designed these numbers.

The next phrase, their number so certain and definite. We turn to John 13, 18. I speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen. Very clear there. Second Timothy 2, 19.

Nevertheless the foundation of God stand is sure having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his, and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." In Philippians 4.3, and I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers whose name are in the book of life. Very certain, very definite. And finally, that it cannot be either increased nor diminished. We turn to the gospel of John to see that Jesus would lose none, nothing of all given to him.

None shall pluck them out of his hand. From John 6 37 through 40. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me and this is the Father's will which has sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day." We go to John 10, 28 and 29.

We read, "'And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." So in summary, God knows all that will come to pass. God ordains all that will happen. God, He is sovereign over all that was, all that is, all that will be.

What he's foresaw in the future does not dictate what he will do. God freely and by himself without any fluences predetermines all that happens. He does this at his good pleasure. He does this for his glory. Those who he has predestinated are particular individuals.

There is a specific number and that number is unchangeable. Not one can be plucked from his hand. None are lost. Well this should bring, like the last several weeks, the whole idea of God's decree. This should bring us great comfort.

However, we must be cautious of spiritual pride. It's easy to think as Christians that we're better than others. It's easy to think that we've done something special or we're more obedient, we're more holy. Those called really are no better than those destined for hell. We all sin, we all fall short of the glory of God.

We are seen as filthy rags. It is only by God's pleasure he has chosen one over any other, by the counsel of his will and before the world began. It is Christ's righteousness that is imputed to us that makes the difference. It's not anything from us but only of Christ. I Pray that God would help us repent of our pride and grow in us a spirit of humility and a spirit of gratefulness.

This should be included as Mr. Hopkins Talked about the basics of knowing God every day you're reading your Bible every day You're praying part of that every day of your praying I do include Lord help us be more humble help us see and be more grateful for all that you've done for us Amen.