Predestination: Eternal Election | John Calvin

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - Eternal Election, by Which God Has Predestined Some to Salvation, Others to DestructionGod's eternal decree, also referred to as predestination, is His unchangeable plan for every individual's ultimate destiny. This means eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others, a design He compacted with Himself for each person. This profound truth must be sought exclusively in the Word of God, Scripture, which serves as the sole guide and light for understanding His will. Any inquiry that exceeds these divinely revealed bounds is considered foolish, dangerous, and akin to wandering in darkness.God's grace is considered free because it originates solely from His sovereign will and mercy, utterly disregarding any human merit or works. It is not earned or deserved, as explicitly stated that God "pays no reward, since he can owe none." The very "inequality" of His grace, where He gives to some what He denies to others, further proves its freeness and unmerited nature. This freeness ensures that salvation flows from God's mere generosity, giving Him all the glory and fostering profound humility in humanity.The doctrine of predestination is vital for the church and believers. Its song, for instance, proclaims that God’s blessings are because He "didst delight in them," emphasizing His unmerited favor. Understanding predestination cultivates true humility, provides firmness and confidence to believers by assuring their security in Christ, and helps to recognize the church itself, which is otherwise hidden. However, this doctrine faces two dangers: excessive curiosity, which attempts to unravel God's hidden secrets, leading to confusion; and anxious suppression, which seeks to bury the doctrine, thereby unjustly withholding God's revealed truth from believers and indirectly accusing Him of unwise revelation. The proper approach is to embrace what God has disclosed in Scripture with reverent sobriety and to refrain from speculating on what remains hidden.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730