Sunday, January 30, 2022

Editing a Book to Explicate Reformed Theology Concerning God's Decree

In chapter 3 paragraph 1 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, we read that

 

God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass

 

Elsewhere, in paragraph 2 we read that

 

Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.

 

With that in mind, let us make some appropriate edits to comments found in Jeremy Howard, You’re the Husband: A Blueprint For Leading in Marriage (Greenville, S.C.: Ambassador International, 2017)

 

Page 21:

 

Despite mankind’s fallen condition, wired into the hearts and minds of every human being is the ability to live out “common grace”—God’s way of keeping everyone form killing each other. Men who are civil and do the right thing when it’s expected or needed are not extraordinary—they’re simply human. But God has not called men to be mere humans. God created all men as humans, yet He calls them to be exceptional, extraordinary, and exemplary. Unfortunately, this concept is completely lost on a huge population of young men in our modern society. Because God, in his secret will, decreed infallibly that such would come to pass

 

Page 23:

 

David was sinful, he did sinful things, and he tried to hide his sin. Though he had great status and rank in the eyes of men, in the eyes of God he was being very childish and selfish Because God, in his secret will, decreed infallibly that such would come to pass

 

Page 42:

 

Mankind has always existed in a helpless state. Because of the sin that exists in every individual and the evil that is propagated by the world as a whole, men (and women) are unable to help themselves to be better. Because God, in his secret will, decreed infallibly that such would come to pass

 

Page 54:

 

Eve’s gullibility in the Garden was the proof for the points Paul made in his letters that were written thousands of years later. As God’s first-designed humans, men are called to be responsible spiritual leaders and women are their help-mates. This is what the Lord wanted from the very beginning (cf. Gen. 2:20); however both Adam and Eve failed to fulfill their spiritual duties in Genesis 3. Adam was not behaving as a passionate spiritual teacher in his union with Eve, as was evidenced by the ease with which Satan deceived her. Because God, in his secret will, decreed infallibly that such would come to pass

 

Page 60

 

Adam’s issues were traced back to his heart and his eyes. Because God, in his secret will, decreed infallibly that such would come to pass

 

Further Reading


An Examination and Critique of the Theological Presuppositions Underlying Reformed Theology