Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - II - Chapters 3 & 4

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available free here).  Read Chapter 3 (God has a plan) and Chapter 4 (Sovereignty of God).

My summary
For Chapter Three Boettner teaches us that God has one definite plan that is being worked out with exact precision.  Boettner suggests that just as every person is a practical predestinarian in their own lives, so it makes sense that God would not bring the world into existence without a plan.  Moreover, to not have a plan would mean that 'He would at best govern only a general way'.

The divine planning of God naturally leads to a discussion of the absolute sovereignty of God in Chapter Four.  Everything comes under God's sovereign control, 'Even the sinful actions of men can occur only by His permission.'

What grabbed me
Last week we were given Biblical illiteracy as a reason for the rejection of God's sovereignty, this week man's pride is given as another reason: 'The present day tendency is to set aside the doctrines of Divine Sovereignty and Predestination in order to make room for the autocracy of the human will. The pride and presumption of man, on the one hand, and his ignorance and depravity on the other, lead him to exclude God and to exalt himself so far as he is able; and both of these tendencies combine to lead the great majority of mankind away from Calvinism.  The Arminian idea which assumes that the serious intentions of God may in some cases at least be defeated, and that man, who is not only a creature but a sinful creature, can exercise veto power over the plans of Almighty God, is in striking contrast with the Biblical idea of His immeasurable exaltation by which He is removed from all the weaknesses of humanity.'

Our pride just loves to elevate us to God's level.  We may relinquish many things to God's control, but we still want to hang onto control of at least some things. 

But God's sovereignty is absolute.  Even whether I wear white socks or black socks today - although God wants neither right now, I'm barefoot.

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (all short chapters).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.