Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - VI - Chapter 11 continued

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example).  Continue Chapter 11 by reading the fifth point (5. Reprobation).

My summary
Today we continue the chapter on unconditional election by looking at the doctrine of reprobation - those people who are not elected for salvation.  Boettner says that 'The doctrine of absolute Predestination of course logically holds that some are foreordained to death as truly as others are foreordained to life.'

Firstly, he shows that church history has not been afraid to declare the reprobation of the lost, particularly Calvin, Luther and Warfield.

Secondly, Boettner gives evidence from many Scriptural passages.

Thirdly, we see that if we understand the doctrine of original sin then no injustice is done to the non-elect.  God in his justice could condemn all to hell, but in his grace elects some to eternal life: 'He has taken it altogether upon Himself to provide the redemption through which His people are saved.  The atonement, therefore, is His own property and He certainly may, as He most assuredly will, do what He pleases with his own.'

Fourthly, the state of the heathens who never hear the gospel is discussed and an important point is made about degrees of punishment: 'We believe that from a common zero point there will be all degrees of reward and all degrees of punishment, and that a person's reward or punishment will, to a certain extent, be based on the opportunity that he has had in this world...So while the heathens are lost, they shall suffer relatively less than those who have heard and rejected the Gospel.'

Fifthly, the purpose and results of the decree of reprobation are outlined.

Sixthly, a discussion is given on  why Arminians focus on this doctrine when debating with Calvinists.

Seventhly, Boettner finishes with a statement that although this doctrine is indeed unpleasant, matters of doctrine are not about what we think, but about what Scripture reveals.

What grabbed me
Loved the section on what a correct understanding of reprobation results in for the believer: 'This decree of reprobation also serves subordinate purposes in regard to the elect; for, in beholding the rejection and final state of the wicked, (1) they learn what they too would have suffered had not grace stepped in to their relief, and they appreciate more deeply  the riches of divine love which raised them from sin and brought them into eternal life while others no more guilty or unworthy than they were left to eternal destruction. (2) It furnishes a most powerful motive for thankfulness  that they have received such high blessings. (3) They are led to a deeper trust of their heavenly Father who supplies all their needs in this life and the next. (4) The sense of what they have received furnishes the strongest possible motive for them to love their heavenly Father, and to live as pure lives as possible. (5) It leads them to a greater abhorrence of sin. (6) It leads them to a closer walk with God and with each other as specially chosen heirs of the kingdom of heaven.'

There is nothing more humbling than to consider that if it were not for God's mercy, you could have been passed over.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 11 by reading points 6 to 11.

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