A reading from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 comes again from Chapter 3 of God's Decree, paragraph 7. Special prudence and care that men attending the will of God revealed in His Word and yielding obedience thereunto may from the certainty of their effectual vocation or calling be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reference, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel. This is the seventh and last week in our chapter of God's Decree. Previously in chapters three through six, the focus was on God's decree of salvation.

In the Westminster Confession and the Savoy Declaration, they both include an additional paragraph in this chapter on the doctrine of reprobation. And we touched briefly on this in paragraph three. I'm not sure why the authors of the LBC decided they should remove this. And I say it in this way because this paragraph was in the documents that they started with that they tried to demonstrate some sort of kinship to. A universalist would take the position that all are saved which implies no reprobates and which is not the position of the LBC.

If election is not universal, then there must be some sort of doctrine of reprobation. And it seems that it should be included in our confession, but it's not. We agree that not everyone is saved, that there is a hell and some go there, that God gives grace to some and leaves the others alone in their fallen state. In our chapter we have focused on God's decree. We've confessed that God has decreed all things.

This being the case, then God would have decreed those who were redeemed, those who would go to heaven, and God would have decreed those who would go to hell. But today our focus is on our attitude towards our response to God's decree. As it says, the high mystery of predestination. So what is meant by high mystery here? There's a lot of confusion and controversy regarding predestination, regarding election, and regarding free will.

This partly is because we're not able to fully comprehend this doctrine. God has revealed clearly in Scripture what He wants us to know about predestination. There are many passages tied to this doctrine, yet these verses do not always fully explain it to us. Paul tells us, oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments in his ways past finding out. Romans 11 33.

And Moses tells us the secret things of God belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, Deuteronomy 29 29. There are some things we will not be able to fully grasp or understand. And because we're unable to fully comprehend this doctrine, we must use, as it says, use it with special prudence and care. We need to ensure that we are searching what Scripture says about predestination, not just what Calvin, Luther, or others teach about it. It's helpful to have those commentaries, but the final authority must always be Scripture.

We must let God's Word teach us. We know God before the foundation of the world was laid chose those who He would call, those who were ordained to eternal life, those elected. For us, knowing those who are elected is problematic. We can look for evidence, but we cannot know with certainty what's in the heart. Only God can know fully.

We read from 1 Samuel 16, 7, For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. However, we can be assured of our election and we take great comfort in that. The Confession states men attending the will of God and yielding obedience thereunto may be assured of their eternal election. What does it mean here? To attend.

No Webster comments to listen, to regard with attention, to regard with observation and correspondent practice. We attend the will of God revealed in His word. We listen to the word. We hear it preached. We read it.

We memorize it. We study it. In these ways we attend to the will of God. Yet it is not just attending. There is more.

We must yield obedience thereunto. We are called to this by Paul in Philippians 4, 9. These things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do, and the God of peace shall be with you." Paul says, just do it. We must live it out. We must obey God's commands.

We must do His will. If we are doing these things, we may be assured of our eternal election. Paul tells us that, knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God, for our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." 1st Thessalonians 1, 4, and 5. Peter tells us, Therefore brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. 2nd Peter 1, 10.

It is for us to do. It is for us to act in a way to make certain ourselves that we have been chosen, truly called into the kingdom of God. If you haven't been called, it is unlikely you will care about the things of God, nor yield obedience to His commands. This confession adds that the men may be assured from the certainty of their effectual calling, or they use the word vocation, effectual calling. So how do we respond?

To this assurance of eternal election. Our confession breaks this out into two directions, a response to God and a response from all that sincerely obey the gospel. Confession states, so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God. The focus is first on our response to God as it should be. How should we respond to His gift of grace?

We respond with praising God for what He has done. We should praise the glory of His grace wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved Ephesians 1 6. We respond with reverence to God for what He has done. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe." Hebrews 12, 28. And we respond with admiration of God for what He has done.

Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart. For consider how great things He had done for you." 1 Samuel 12 24. Secondly, the confession calls us to a response to those who sincerely obey the gospel. The confession states, so shall this doctrine afford matter of humility, diligence, abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel. We respond with humility.

Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians, put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and long-suffering. Colossians 3.12. We respond with diligence as Peter writes in his general epistle, "'Wherefore, the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you shall never fall, ' 2 Peter 1.10. And finally, we respond with abundant consolation.

What is meant here by consolation? Noah Webster defines it as comfort or a refreshing of the mind or spirit. We have abundant comfort. Our spirits are abundantly refreshed. Paul writes, blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, So our consolation also aboundeth by Christ and whether we be afflicted It is for your consolation and salvation Which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer Or whether we be comforted it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye also be of the consolation." 2 Corinthians 1, 3-7. This was our last paragraph on chapter 3 of God's decree. As a reminder, we could summarize chapter 3 with God hath decreed in himself from all eternity by the most wise and holy counsel of His will, His own will, freely and unchangeably all things whatsoever comes to pass. Circumstances don't determine what He ordains.

What He foresaw in the future does not dictate or influence what He will do. God freely by Himself without any condition predetermines all that happens. God knows all that will come to pass and God ordains all that will happen. He is sovereign over all, all that was, all that is, and all that will be. He's completely sovereign.

He is perfectly sovereign. And He does this, it is good pleasure. And He does this for His glory. So what do we say to all this? Are you attending to the will of God?

Are you reading, listening, studying His Word? Are you yielding obedience to the will of God? Are you walking the talk? If not, are you just too busy? Do you have the wrong priorities in your life or are idols interfering with your focus on God?

If so, I would encourage you to confess and repent and turn back to Christ. Do you have assurance? Is your election sure? How can you know? Ask yourself, are you praising God to Him and others?

Are you showing God proper reverence in your actions, in your speak, in your dress? Do you find comfort in turning to God? To where, to whom do you turn in trials and tribulations if not God? And finally, are you refreshed by spending time with God and His people? Or is it a burden to you to spend time in this word?

The answers to these kind of questions will give you some indication and perhaps will strengthen the assurance you have in your own faith. Would encourage You you