Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 10
Of the Predestination of God and the Election of the Saints
GOD HAS ELECTED US OUT OF GRACE
From eternity God has freely, and of his mere grace, without any respect to men, predestinated or elected the saints whom he wills to save in Christ, according to the saying of the apostle, "God chose us in him before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4). And again: "Who saved us and called an with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 1:9 f.).
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Ephesians 1:44For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
2 Timothy 1:9-189He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
10And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
11to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
13Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
14Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
17Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
18May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
WE ARE ELECTED OR PREDESTINATED IN CHRIST
Therefore, although not on account of any merit of ours, God has elected us, not directly, but in Christ, and on account of Christ, in order that those who are now engrafted into Christ by faith might also be elected. But those who were outside Christ were rejected, according to the word of the apostle, "xamine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"(II Cor. 13:5).
Scripture references for paragraph 2
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
2 Corinthians 13:55Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
WE ARE ELECTED FOR A DEFINITE PURPOSE
Finally, the saints are chosen in Christ by God for a definite purpose, which the apostle himself explains when he says, "e chose us in him for adoption that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption to be his sons through Jesus Christ that they should be to the praise of the glory of his grace"(Eph. 1:4 ff.).
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Ephesians 1:4-234For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
18I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
20which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
WE ARE TO HAVE A GOOD HOPE FOR ALL
And although God knows who are his, and here and there mention is made of the small number of elect, yet we must hope well of all, and not rashly judge any man to be a reprobate. For Paul says to the Philippians, " thank my God for you all"(now he speaks of the whole Church in Phillippi), "ecause of your fellowship in the Gospel, being persuaded that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is also right that I have this opinion of you all"(Phil. 1:3 ff.).
Scripture references for paragraph 4
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Philippians 1:3-303I thank my God every time I remember you.
4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.
23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
24But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
27Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
30since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
WHETHER FEW ARE ELECT
And when the Lord was asked whether there were few that should be saved, he does not answer and tell them that few or many should be saved or damned, but rather he exhorts every man to "trive to enter by the narrow door"(Luke 13:24): as if he should say, It is not for you curiously to inquire about these matters, but rather to endeavor that you may enter into heaven by the straight way.
Scripture references for paragraph 5
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Luke 13:2424“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
WHAT IN THIS MATTER IS TO BE CONDEMNED
Therefore we do not approve of the impious speeches of some who say, "ew are chosen, and since I do not know whether I am among the number of the few, I will enjoy myself."Others say, "f I am predestinated and elected by God, nothing can hinder me from salvation, which is already certainly appointed for me, no matter what I do. But if I am in the number of the reprobate, no faith or repentance will help me, since the decree of God cannot be changed. Therefore all doctrines and admonitions are useless." Now the saying of the apostle contradicts these men: "The Lord's servant must be ready to teach, instructing those who oppose him, so that if God should grant that they repent to know the truth, they may recover from the snare of the devil, after being held captive by him to do his will" (II Tim. 2:23 ff.).
Scripture references for paragraph 6
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
2 Timothy 2:23-2623But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
24And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
25He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
26Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
ADMONITIONS ARE NOT IN VAIN BECAUSE SALVATION PROCEEDS FROM ELECTION
Augustine also shows that both the grace of free election and the predestination, and also salutary admonitions and doctrines, are to be preached (Lib. de Dono Perseverantiae, cap. 14 ff.).
WHETHER WE ARE ELECTED
We therefore find fault with those who outside of Christ ask whether they are elected. [Ed. 1568 reads: "whether they are elected from eternity?"] And what has God decreed concerning them before all eternity? For the preaching of the Gospel is to be heard, and it is to be believed; and it is to be held as beyond doubt that if you believe and are in Christ, you are elected. For the Father has revealed unto us in Christ the eternal purpose of his predestination, as I have just now shown from the apostle in II Tim. 1:9-10. This is therefore above all to be taught and considered, what great love of the Father toward us is revealed to us in Christ. We must hear what the Lord himself daily preaches to us in the Gospel, how he calls and says: "Come to me all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Also, "It is not the will of my Father that one of these little ones should perish" (Matt. 18:14). Let Christ, therefore be the looking glass, in whom we may contemplate our predestination. We shall have a sufficiently clear and sure testimony that we are inscribed in the Book of Life if we have fellowship with Christ, and he is ours and we are his in true faith.
Scripture references for paragraph 8
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
2 Timothy 1:9-109He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
10And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
Matthew 11:2828Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
John 3:1616For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Matthew 18:1414In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
TEMPTATION IN REGARD TO PREDESTINATION
In the temptation in regard to predestination, than which there is scarcely any other more dangerous, we are confronted by the fact that God's promises apply to all the faithful, for he says: "Ask, and everyone who seeks, shall receive" (Luke 11:9 f.) This finally we pray, with the whole Church of God, "Our Father who art in heaven" (Matt. 6:9), both because by baptism we are ingrafted into the body of Christ, and we are often fed in his Church with his flesh and blood unto life eternal. Thereby, being strengthened, we are commanded to work out our salvation with fear trembling, according to the precept of Paul.
Scripture references for paragraph 9
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Luke 11:9-549So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
14One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
15but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
16And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
17Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
19And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.
23He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
24When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
25On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”
28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
29As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
32The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
33No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.
35Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
36So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”
37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.
38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
41But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.
42Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
43Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
45One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”
46“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.
47Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
48So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
49Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
50As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
52Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
53As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
54waiting to catch Him in something He might say.
Matthew 6:99So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
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