Dear Brethren and Friends: --Surely far too much has been imprudently said and written of late years on predestination. Indeed in some localities I fear it has become a partisan hobby, where it does seem that extreme and unscriptural statements have been made on the subject. So in view of this and my great imperfections, I feel with fear and prayer to avoid extremes, and to seek that prudence which comes from above.

This subject, as every other one of God's ways, is a vast mystery, which cannot be fully comprehended nor explained by mortals--because "past finding out." "O! the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Then let us not follow inference, nor try to find out and explain all about this comforting doctrine. But let us rejoice in the plainly revealed truth of God's sovereign predestination, seek the evidences of our special interest therein, be of the same mind and dwell together in unity.

Let us remember that the word predestinate means to predetermine or to determine results before hand; to decree, appoint or ordain beforehand; to forelimit, or to purpose future events.

The predestination of God is abundantly taught in the scriptures of truth; and is often linked with His election or gracious and rightful choice of some men to salvation, as in Eph. i. 4, 5. I think we may safely conclude that predestination neither condemns nor injures men, but contributes to their good and to God's glory. Like election, it appears that this predestination, or purpose, is special, sovereign, eternal and unchangeable.

While God's predestination is thus special, extending only to the salvation of all His elect, yet in a general way it seems that His predestination, purpose or overruling providence extends to and sovereignly controls all things; so that our God is Supreme Ruler of the entire universe prompting or causing the good suffering, restraining or overruling the bad. The devils were subject to Jesus, and God restrains the wicked and suffered not satan to take Job's life. Job ii. 6. The Lord our God is so great that He has notice and control of things below our feeble sense, and also of those things above our highest comprehension. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isa. lv. 9. Oh! let us magnify the Lord, for great is our Lord, and of great power; His understanding is infinite. Psa. cxlvii. 5. He feedeth the ravens and hath "appointed the moon for seasons." Psa. civ. 19. "Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; who maketh the clouds His chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind." Ps. civ. 2, 3. Dear children of God, let us stand together upon these foundation scriptural principles and clasp hands as brethren beloved.

Proofs of predestination: "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain, salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thes, v. 9. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." Acts ii 23.  We are said to be "predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will;" Eph. i. 2. "Whom He did foreknow them He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son." Rom. viii. 29. Kind reader let us believe the Bible, and rejoice in this plainly revealed, God honoring and soul comforting truth. Praise the Lord! While God has predestinated that Jesus die for our sins; he has also predestinated that we be regenerated by the Holy Ghost's renewing work; and that we perform good works here, and finally dwell with our dear Saviour in our sweet home in heaven.

I feel thankful this morning that through the mercy of God we are spared to resume our imperfect meditations on this comforting truth.

"Let us therefore follow after the things wherewith one may edify another." Let us not confound God's predestination or purpose, as if the same. There are some Scriptures which speak of a purposed future event as though already accomplished, because of its certainty. For instance, in Revelations we read, "Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth." In the next verse we read of the "Holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven," These events are plainly yet to come. Again mention is made of the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," That is, God had determined by an unfailing purpose, that the man Christ Jesus should be slain--for He was delivered by God's determinate counsel. So God here speaks as though the Lamb were slain from the foundation of the world, to forcibly express what was future in the morning of time, but entirely certain by covenant agreement.

"God, moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform."

And long before our Saviour's advent into the world, the prophets spoke of His coming and death as though already accomplished, using the past form of the words, to express future time, as in Ps. xxii. 16: "They pierced my hands and my feet." "I have redeemed thee," etc. In Hosea xiii. 14, and other places, the future form is used, "I will redeem them."

Thus many centuries before Jesus died to redeem or save us, the prophets spoke as though He then had redeemed us--because already certain by a fixed plan.

In the New Testament we read the fulfillment of these prophecies; as they crucified Him and parted His garments casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, "They parted my garments and upon my vesture did cast lots." Matt. xxvii, 35, Here we see what the prophet had foretold was fulfilled; and also that he used the past form to express future time--they parted my garments and did cast lots. So in view of His unfailing purpose or covenant arrangement, our Lord by the prophet, here speaks of future events as though they were performed. Thus God often "speaks of things which be not, as though they were." Then let us be most careful always to observe the difference between God's determination or purpose in eternity, and its accomplishment in time.

Likewise before time began, God foreknew, loved and predestinated many persons to be saved; since time began, He saves them according to that purpose. And praise the Lord, when there was no part of them--when "there was none of them," their number, and their spiritual and personal existence, were as definitely foreknown and predestinated before time as if they had been there present with God.

Holy and beloved, let us with all humility of mind "be reconciled to God"--be content with the plain teachings of His word. Let us watch and pray, and try to avoid hobbies, and their results-extreme views. Oh, let us take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine, for our dear Redeemer's sake.

Moreover, let us not hold with Arminians that we are able to fully discharge our many obligations of God. This would appear that we think more highly of ourselves or of our ability than we ought to think. And let us never claim that God's general predestination, or permission, and overruling providence is such as to excuse crime, and destroy our accountability to God. For it seems this would encourage sin and oppose the law of God, which would be antinomianism Let us never entertain such extremes. No never! But oh, let us trust in God and do good, and rejoice that our Lord does enable and lead loving believers to walk in obedience to His commands.

Dear brethren, as we love Jesus, let us love the church and one another, and walk worthy, O turn your hearts from the world and let us look upon the cross and be filled with sympathy for our bleeding Saviour; and then with emotions of love, let us be crucified to the world and seek to imitate our loving obedient Lord. Thus we shall suffer and sup with Jesus, and encourage or edify one another in love.

Results Of Predestination: Just as sure as some "were ordained unto eternal life," or predestinated, just that sure all the foreknown and predestinated ones either, have been, or shall be born again, be sanctified, believe in Christ, and walk in good works.  They walk in the paths of righteousness, though imperfectly performed. "For we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. ii. 10. "He that keepeth the commandments dwelleth in God." "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God."

"But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death." Rev. xxi. 8. And these evil doers shall have their part in the lake of fire, not as a result of predestination, but because of their own sins. Such as say, by word or deed, the Lord hath delivered us to do all these evils, surely are serving satan and their own lusts, and not our Lord Jesus Christ.

"By their fruits ye shall know them."

Courteous reader, the imputed obedience of Jesus is the only way of reconciliation between an offended God and sinful men. I trust you have been predestinated to be thus "reconciled to God by the death of his Son;" and that your right doing may prove you have the imputed righteousness of Christ.

With love to all, I am your unworthy brother in hope of having been predestinated and sanctified to walk in works, and finally, by God's free and sovereign grace, to have an humble seat at the feet of  Jesus, the sinner's friend. Praise the Lord!

God bless you all,

Bowie, Tex. M.D. DENMAN