This document discusses the theology of the Westminster Confession regarding God's eternal decrees. It explains that God ordained all things that come to pass according to His wise and holy plan from all eternity. Some key points are that God predestined some people and angels to eternal life and others to eternal judgment solely by His grace and mercy. While a mystery, this doctrine glorifies God by showing His sovereignty and justice. The elect are called and kept saved through faith in Christ alone.
The slides for the fourth teaching in the "Growing Deep in the Gospel" series. In this study we answer the question "What is the Plan of Salvation?" by focusing on Jesus and answering three other questions: Why do we need Jesus?, What did Jesus do for us? and How do we receive salvation through Jesus?.
The slides for the fourth teaching in the "Growing Deep in the Gospel" series. In this study we answer the question "What is the Plan of Salvation?" by focusing on Jesus and answering three other questions: Why do we need Jesus?, What did Jesus do for us? and How do we receive salvation through Jesus?.
Self-examination of walking GOD’s way/ growth of confidence The word of the B...franktsao4
When we walk the spiritual path, the first thing is to be sanctified, that is, to be separated from the world. This does not mean that we have to leave this world immediately, but that although we are in the world, everything we do, what we say, is representing God. And we can always remain unbiased in God’s truth, and at the same time continue to thrive. This chapter will discuss this topic
Tit 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
A short sermon on who God is and His characteristic. We touch on the 3 Omnis, God in (mercy & grace, love,worthy)
And finally we end with a discussion on how do we respond to God.
Christian's purpose in life Glorify God, enjoy God, Please God, live with God franktsao4
As we had mentioned before that what God wants us to do is what we can do, but we live in a world controlled by the devil, so we will be brainwashed and like to do things that we can’t do. Then, we will be trapped in a desperate mood, because these things are generally undefined, or humans can’t do it at all, but our energy is spent on whether we achieve it, and we don’t calm down and think about what God has said. And exactly what God wants us to do, this is the focus of this chapter
Scriptural examples of falling from grace
Looking at the classic "proof" text for the "once in grace always in grace" crowd: 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
The Scriptures clearly tell us that the time will come when some Christians in the body of Christ will not endure sound doctrine. All of us ought to separate the precious from the vile, the truth from the error and sound doctrine from fables. We cannot delegate this responsibility to anybody else. To this end we have been freely given the written word of God that by the grace of God through faith in his name we might be lead into all truth through the Holy Spirit.
I hope this series of meditations will help the word of God renew your mind and that you will be ready for the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
HANUMAN STORIES: TIMELESS TEACHINGS FOR TODAY’S WORLDLearnyoga
Hanuman Stories: Timeless Teachings for Today’s World" delves into the inspiring tales of Hanuman, highlighting lessons of devotion, strength, and selfless service that resonate in modern life. These stories illustrate how Hanuman's unwavering faith and courage can guide us through challenges and foster resilience. Through these timeless narratives, readers can find profound wisdom to apply in their daily lives.
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
3. An eternal, wise and holy plan
• God ordained, or ordered, “whatever comes to
pass”
• Settled from all eternity – before time and the
rest of creation began
• He did this by the most wise and holy counsel
of His own will
• Most wise and holy – reflecting God’s character (see
Chapter 2!)
• “Counsel” – He did this out a deep consideration of
all things, knowing how to set things up so that all
will achieve the end He designed
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The Decrees of God
4. An eternal, wise and holy plan
• This should put to rest any idea that God, who
orders all things, would act in a capricious or
unjust manner.
• Two conditions that God “imposes on Himself”
• He is not the author of sin – He does not cause
anyone to sin; He does not tempt anyone to sin.
• He does not do violence to the will of the creature –
He does not make anyone (man or angel) do
something against their will
• Instead, He changes the heart, so that the will in now
informed and drawn to Christ
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5. An eternal, wise and holy plan
• God is the “first cause” of all events – that is,
He initiates. He knows the beginning of the
thing, and He knows the end
• The chain of dominoes example
• But the middle is still important! This means
that God ordains the ends, and He ordains the
means to those ends
• Here we introduce “second causes”—those
events of consequence from the “first cause”
• God ordains that second causes will exist to carry out
His plan
• The example of prayer
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6. An eternal, wise and holy plan
• God ordains out of His freedom, and His
sovereignty
• He did NOT decree anything BECAUSE He saw in
the future that someone or something would
happen, and He “rubber stamped” the event
with his “decree”
• Rather, He freely, sovereignly chose to ordain
something, because it fits HIS plan
• This establishes His plan so that it is
unchangeable, and that all things WILL work
out the way He has planned them
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7. Destinies of life and death
• By the decree of God
• For the manifestation of His glory
• Some men and angels are predestined to eternal life
• Other men and angels are foreordained (means the same
thing) to eternal death
• They are particularly and unchangeably designed
• God knows our names
• The number of each are certain and fixed
• Because why would God need to change His mind, His
plan, if it is perfect?
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8. Destinies of life and death
• God chose those predestined to eternal life
• Before the foundations of the world was laid (that is,
before creation began)
• According to His eternal and immutable purpose
• And the secret council and good pleasure of His will
• He did this out of His free grace and love
• NOT because He saw any possibility of faith, or of
good works, or perseverance, or of any other
condition within the creature, as conditions that
would cause Him to chose us
• Example of Jacob and Esau
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9. Key verses
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ… 8
in all wisdom and insight, 9 making known to us the mystery of
his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10
as a plan for the fullness of time... 11 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.
Ephesians 1:3–5, 8-12
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10. Three things to keep in mind as we ponder why God
would chose some and not others:
1. We know we’re all sinners against a holy and
righteous God; we know there is no health in us. We
know we deserve judgment and not accolades.
2. The amazing thing is that God deigns to give grace
to any, and it seems that this is actually a large
number.
3. Remember, He is sovereign – He is God. He is the
potter, and we but clay.
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The Decrees of God
11. Appointed for glory
• Just as God has appointed an elect for glory, He has
also decided the means to that end
• That means is Christ!
• It is through Christ that the elect are:
• Effectually called to faith in Christ
• By His Spirit working in us, at just the right time
• Become justified
• Become adopted as sons
• Are being sanctified
• Kept by His power through faith for all of salvation
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12. A high mystery
• As a great mystery, even those whom God has
ordained to be destined to eternal judgment, is
done according to the unsearchable counsel of His
will
• This, too, glorifies God, for it shows His justice
• This doctrine of predestination is to be handled
with special care.
• It is not easy to understand, or even to teach.
• It can and does help the elect to understand their
eternal calling. It is for reverence and admiration
of God; and calls for humility, diligence and
consolation to all who sincerely believe the Gospel.
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13. Summary of key points
• God ordains all that comes to pass
• He has done this according to the secret
counsel of His will
• Some men and angels God ordained for eternal
life with Him in heaven
• Others are destined for eternal judgment
• All on the basis of God’s plan and selection,
without any regard to any ability on the part of
the creatures
• The doctrine of predestination is a high
mystery, and not to be taken lightly
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14. Going deeper
Books
• Sproul, R.C. Chosen By God. (Beginner)
• Calvin, John. Concerning the Eternal
Predestination of God. (Intermediate)
• Boettner, Loraine. The Reformed Doctrine of
Predestination. (Advanced)
Articles
• Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. The Eternal Decrees of God.
• Articles on the Decree of God at Monergism.com.
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