Required reading
Remarks on Important Theological Controversies in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter III by reading up to the paragraph beginning '19. It may be argued from the infinite power and wisdom of God, that nothing can come to pass....'
My summary
This week Edward speaks about the divine decrees.
We learn about election, including how it relates to:
(i) the revealed will of God;
(ii) divine foreknowledge;
(iii) divine contingency;
(iv) prayer;
(v) divine glory;
(vi) divine permission;
(vii) sin.
What grabbed me
I liked Edwards comments on the relation of prayer to God's sovereign decrees: 'They say, to what purpose are praying, and striving, and attending on means, if all was irreversibly determined by God before? But, to say that all was determined before these prayers and strivings, is a very wrong way of speaking, and begets those ideas in the mind, which correspond with no realities with respect to God. The decrees of our everlasting state were not before our prayers and strivings; for these are as much present with God from all eternity, as they are the moment they are present with us. They are present as part of his decrees, or rather as the same; and they did as really exist in eternity, with respect to God, as they exist in time, and as much at one time as another. Therefore, we can no more fairly argue, that these will be in vain, because God has foredetermined all things, than we can, that they would be in vain if they existed as soon as the decree, for so they do, inasmuch as they are a part of it.'
We pray because God decreed that we pray.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter III of 'Remarks on Important Theological Controversies' by reading up to the paragraph beginning '30. God decrees all things, and even all sins.'
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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