Welcome
Help support this site:
Sermon List
Search
About
The following reading from the CONCORDIA edition of the Book of Concord is for the Ephesians 1:3-14 for the Pentecost 7, series B, July 12, 2015. It is from Solid Declaration, Article XI, pages 602-603. It is comforting to know that our faith and status as God's children has always been God's plan for us. Click here for the reading formatted for the back of a standard CPH bulletin. Pastor Doug May
The distinction between God's eternal foreknowledge and the eternal election of His children to eternal salvation is to be made carefully. Foreknowledge or prevision means that God sees and knows everything before it happens. God's foreknowledge extends over all creatures, good and bad. He foresees and foreknows everything that is happening or will happen, whether it is good or bad. For all things, whether they are past or future, are clear and present before God. This is written in Matthew 10:29: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. God's eternal election, or predestination, means God's preordaining to salvation only God's children, who were elected and ordained to eternal life before the world's foundation was laid. Paul says in Ephesians 1:4-5, "He chose us in Him…He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ." God's foreknowledge foresees what is evil, yet not in the sense that it is God's will that evil should happen. He limits how far it should go, how long it should last, and when and how He will hinder and punish it. God the Lord rules over all of this so that it must flow to the glory of the divine name and to the salvation of His elect. (paragraphs 4-6)
These are excerpts from the Book of Concord.
|
Unique Visitors: