"Absolute Predestination" -zanchius

sermonindex Nov 26, 2006

~~[b]~~"Absolute Predestination"[/b]

(Jerome Zanchius, 1516-1590)

Without a due sense of predestination, we shall lack the
surest and the most powerful inducement to patience,
resignation and dependence on God under every spiritual
and temporal affliction. How sweet must the following
considerations be to a distressed believer!

(1) There most certainly exists an almighty, all-wise
and infinitely gracious God.

(2) He has given me in times past, and is giving me
at present (if I had but eyes to see it), many and
signal intimations of His love to me--both in a way
of providence and grace.

(3) This love of His is immutable; He never repents
of it nor withdraws it.

(4) Whatever comes to pass in time, is the result
of His will from everlasting, consequently

(5) my afflictions were a part of His original plan,
and are all ordered in number, weight and measure.

(6) The very hairs of my head are (every one) counted
by Him, nor can a single hair fall to the ground but in
consequence of His determination. Hence

(7) my distresses are not the result of chance, accident
or a fortuitous combination of circumstances, but

(8) the providential accomplishment of God's purpose, and

(9) designed to answer some wise and gracious ends, nor

(10) shall my affliction continue a moment longer than
God sees fit.

(11) He who brought me to it, has promised to support
me under it, and to carry me through it.

(12) All shall, most assuredly, work together for His glory
and my good, therefore

(13) "The cup which my heavenly Father has given me to
drink, shall I not drink it?" Yes, I will, in the strength He
imparts, even rejoice in tribulation. I will commit myself
and the event to Him, whose purpose cannot be overthrown,
whose plan cannot be disconcerted; and who, whether I am
resigned or not, will still go on to work all things after the
counsel of His own will.

sermonindex Nov 26, 2006

"How sweet must the following considerations be to a distressed believer!

(4) Whatever comes to pass in time, is the result
of His will from everlasting, "

Man, this is tough for me - that God boldly HATES sin, yet secretly wills it. That the most awful of all crimes against humanity were by the pen of the Father. This does nothing to remove my distress - perhaps by my own lack of understanding.

K

kdbutton Nov 26, 2006

Without a due sense of predestination, we shall lack the most powerful inducement to patience, ~~[b]~~resignation[/b] and dependence on God under every spiritual and temporal affliction

When I first read this article immediately a question popped into my head, "If I should be ~~[b]~~resigned[/b], then why pray?" And believe me I am passionate about the need for prayer.

Predestinate* appears 4 times in scripture

Pray* Prayer* Praying* etc. appears over 500 times.

Cry (meaning prayer) appears over 150 times

Ask* Asked* (meaning prayer to God) appears over 100 times

I could go on.

I could not find ~~[b]~~resignation[/b] or any form of it in Scripture....and I am glad because that word wants to weaken my resolve that prayer changes things.

...yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2b

~~[b]~~Resignation[/b] defined is: acceptance of despair, Conceding defeat; the act of giving up (a claim or office or possession etc.)

Perhaps the author's true meaning was lost in the translation from Latin to English.

C

crsschk Nov 26, 2006

Man, this is tough for me - that God boldly HATES sin, yet secretly wills it. That the most awful of all crimes against humanity were by the pen of the Father. This does nothing to remove my distress - perhaps by my own lack of understanding.

K_DAY, something a bit skewered in this, perhaps a different choice of words? "~~[i]~~secretly wills it[/i]" gives off a troubled expression. That He knows all things and ~~[i]~~allows[/i] (another mangled expression) tentatively, is quite another matter. Reminded of;

Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: ~~[i]~~but from the beginning it was not so.[/i]

I.E. "Not intended".

Surely we have just as well;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1Pe 1:19,20

If I am following you it does get into that realm of mysterious complication and understanding. Knowing the end from the beginning, and believe we have gone through these motions elsewhere, how, if man had not disobeyed in the garden, sin made entrance and the appropriation thereby ... what then?

Not much of one for speculations and 'what if' scenarios, if I had any hunch at all and knowing just the fraction of human possibility in this 'freedom' of choosing (Deu 30:19) and self recognition, it would only have been a matter of time before human beings would revolt in some form or fashion and of course the Lord knew that ~~[i]~~end[/i] before it began ...

Rom 4:15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

Think the matter greatly resolves around intent, both God's and ours.