Ephesians
1:11-12 In
him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the
purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so
that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his
glory.
From all eternity and by the completely wise and
holy purpose of his own will, God has freely and unchangeably ordained whatever
happens. This ordainment does not mean, however, that God is the author of sin
(he is not), that he represses the will of his created beings, or that he takes
away the freedom or contingency of secondary causes. Rather, the will of
created beings and the freedom and contingency of secondary causes are
established by him.
Although God knows whatever may or can happen under
all possible circumstances, he has not ordered anything because he foresaw it
in the future as something which would happen under such circumstances.
In order to manifest his glory God has ordered that
some men and angels should be predestined to everlasting life and that others
should be foreordained to everlasting death.
Before the creation of the world, according to his
eternal, unchangeable plan and the hidden purpose and good pleasure of his
will, God has chosen in Christ those of mankind who are predestined to life and
to everlasting glory. He has done this solely out of his own mercy and
love
and completely to the praise of his wonderful grace. This choice was completely
independent of his foreknowledge of how his created beings would be or act.
Neither their faith nor good works nor perseverance had any part in influencing
his selection.
The Westminster Confession of Faith
