A reading from the Second London Baptist Confession today comes from chapter 3 of God's Decree, paragraph 4. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly unchanged, unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished. So last week we discussed that some men and angels are foreordained or predestinated to eternal life or 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 will first discuss why this is here and needs to be stated even, then we'll go through Scripture proofs to validate that this 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, sure, but this is how they're presenting it. Let's take a moment to go back in time to this era in the late 1600s when the Confession was written and understand the controversies or different views held then. There were at least three different camps at that point regarding this topic. A group called the Sosinians, the Arminians, and the Calvinists. I suppose that the authors of the Confession wanted to make clear their position was different than the other viewpoints and why.

Socinianism is a non-trinitarian belief, a belief system developed in the 16th and 17th centuries and deemed heretical by the Catholic Church and 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 individuals of mankind but a certain sort of description of men, not persons but characters or groups. According to the Armenians also in the late 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. They also believe that they are able to submit to the work of God or to refuse it. 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. We would take issue with that. Our paragraphs in this chapter help us to clarify the Reformed position on God's decree and predestination step by step. So let's now take a look at our Scripture proofs for this paragraph.

Last week we looked at why angels and men were grouped together in our discussion. In 1st Timothy 521 it seems to indicate that there are elect angels and therefore elect angels as well as elect men. And then in our phrase here in the paragraph predestinated and foreordained, Our first paragraph of this chapter 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 from Ephesians 1, 4 through 5. According as he hath chosen us in 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 finally from 2nd Timothy 1, 9, Paul writes, 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 before the world began. And He has done this particularly and unchangeably. By starting particularly, this contradicts the position of the Socinians who don't believe that a particular believer is predestinated, but rather a general group or description of men are predestinated. We read in Paul's letter to the Romans of God's keeping 7, 000, not 6, 000, not 8, 000, but 7, 000 men faithful to Himself, 7, 000 men who have not bent the knee to Baal.

Let's read what Paul wrote in Romans 11, 4, and 5. But what sayeth the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself 7, 000 men whom 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. Paul is clear this is according to the election of grace which means these men were predestinated or foreordained, particularly by God.

Regarding unchangeably designed or purposed, we read in Isaiah 14 24, the Lord of hosts hath sworn saying surely as I have thought so shall it come to pass and as I have purposed so it shall stand. Paul also comments wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs a promise, the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath in Hebrews 6 17. As a consequence of this unchangeable design or immutability, their number so certain and definite that it cannot either be increased or diminished. Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy, nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his. Second Timothy 2 19.

Furthermore Jesus says in the Gospel of John, I speak not of you all, I know whom I have chosen. John 13, 19. Not all are chosen, only some and only those predestinated. And of those chosen none will be cast out or lost or even plucked out of his hand. Jesus tells us, is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but I 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 on the last day as John 6 37 through 40. Again Jesus speaking of those predestinated says 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 up out of my Father's hand." John 10 28 and 29. Although there are disagreements regarding irresistible grace or whether you can lose your salvation, the Bible is clear. If your name is in the Book of Life, you will be saved.

If your name is not in the Book of life, you will experience the just punishment of your sins. Ultimately, man cannot know these things 100%, but God can and does. God has chosen those who will be redeemed. God has, before the foundations of the earth were laid, chose or predestinated those particular individuals. God has written specific names in the book of life and there are no changes, there are no mistakes, there's no whiteout, and there's no erasures.

In summary, God knows all that will come to pass. God ordains all that will happen. He is sovereign over all that was, is, and will be. The circumstances don't determine what he ordains. What he foresaw in the future does not dictate what he will do.

God freely, by himself, without any influences, predetermines all that happens. And he does this at his good pleasure. He does this for his glory. And those who he has predestinated are particular individuals in a specific number that is unchangeable. None are lost.

Not one can be plucked from his hand. But if this is true, one might object to evangelism. They might say, why should we preach? If God has foreordained those to be saved, they'll be saved. For those who are not predestinated to be saved, they have no chance.

So why even bother? Why bother? Yesterday I received a survey by Ligonier. I'll put this on the table. I found it interesting, but a little survey that they sent out making six statements and getting responses from three groups of people.

They asked Americans, evangelicals, and Ligonier students. I'd like to share with you those statements and how they were answered. The Ligonier students disagreed almost 100% to all six statements and I hope you would also, but I'll only focus really on the answer today right now on the answers from the evangelicals. Okay, six statements. Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.

American evangelicals disagreed by 43%. Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God. Evangelicals disagreed by 31%. The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being. Evangelicals disagreed by 41%.

Jesus was a great teacher but he was not God. Evangelicals disagreed by 68%. I mean that means a third of the people who consider themselves Christian deny that Jesus is God. I don't know how you can do that and be a Christian. Number five, God accepts the worship of all religions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam.

Evangelicals disagreed by 45%. And finally, worshiping alone or with one's family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church. Evangelicals disagreed by 49%. This is shocking to me. This group, evangelicals, is a group who holds a high value or high view of the Bible.

And yet it seems clear to me that they really don't know what the Bible teaches. And yet a majority agrees with these statements with the exception regarding Jesus being God. The average American is even worse by 20 to 50%. By a large majority they agree with all of these statements, which really doesn't surprise me at all. I think this partly answers the question, why bother?

We must evangelize because God commands it. Furthermore, we need to preach not only to the unchurched, but apparently also to the churched, to everyone. And it appears we're not doing very well. It is through the preaching of the Word, the Gospel, that God brings his elect to salvation. And it's through discipleship that people grow in their knowledge and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some closing questions. Do you worry? Do you find yourself anxious? Do you find some nights you're too worked up to fall asleep and you just lay there staring at the ceiling? If you really and truly believe that God is sovereign and that He has decreed all things.

We shouldn't have to worry, but we do. Sometimes we just need to be reminded not only does God love us, but He is able to work all things out for our good, even when we don't really see how that is going to happen. Paul tells us, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8 28. I pray that God would help us repent of our pride and grow in us a spirit of humility and a spirit of gratefulness.

I pray that God would comfort us and encourage us knowing that we are part of God's unchanging plan and I pray that God would use us to disciple the nations, our churches, and our families. Amen. You Thank you.