“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:11
This verse makes the astonishing claim that God works ALL things according to His will; not some things, not only important things, but everything. Of course, there are many other verses that declare the same thing, such as Isaiah 46:9-11 and Hebrews 4:3. The Westminster Confession, in referencing Ephesians simply says that, “God has from all eternity…ordained whatever has come to pass” (Chapter 3 Of God’s Eternal Decree)
The doctrine of God’s Eternal Decree and the related doctrine of God’s Providence are challenging for us, to be sure. Man struggles mightily with the Scripture’s many declarations of the sovereignty of God over all things. But perhaps nowhere has this struggle been so readily seen in the church than in the debate concerning God’s sovereignty over man’s salvation.
Augustine vs. Pelagius, Luther vs. Erasmus, and Calvin vs. Arminius; separated by centuries, the debate between these men were essentially all the same. Augustine, Luther, and Calvin, heroes of the faith, all affirmed the sovereignty of God in salvation. Pelagius, Erasmus, and Arminius all wanted to assert man’s sovereignty over certain aspects of salvation. Even though these men’s doctrines were soundly refuted by Scripture in each case, Arminianism in particular has persisted and sadly has become the dominant view in the evangelical church today. A Semi-pelagian view dominates the Roman Catholic church.
Over the next several weeks we’ll look very closely at the rejection of Arminianism at the Synod of Dort in 1611 and the development of what has come to be known as the five points of Calvinism, which also refutes semi-pelagianism. We’ll see that Arminianism provides no assurance of salvation and ultimately espouses a God that is not the God of the Bible. We’ll see that God indeed works ALL things according to the counsel of His will, even our salvation. Until next week!
Fight the good fight!
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn