Important Theological Controversies - Edwards - VI - Continue Chapter III

Required reading

Remarks on Important Theological Controversies in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter III by reading up to the paragraph beginning '48. Christ is often spoken of in Scripture as being by way of eminency, the elect or chosen of God.'

My summary

This week Edwards plows on with the divine decrees, hearing that:

(i) God decrees all things and even all sins;

(ii) God's knowledge must be omniscient;

(iii) the implications of Christ's death being predetermined;

(iv) our rewards are certain;

(v) election cannot mean two different things.

What grabbed me

I appreciated Edwards firmness on the implications of Christ's death being predetermined: 'If God absolutely determined that Christ’s death should have success in gathering a church to him, it will follow that there was a number absolutely elected, or that God had determined some should surely be saved. If God determined that some should surely be saved, that implies that he had determined that he would see to it, that some should perform the conditions of salvation and be saved; or, which is the same thing, that he would cause that they should be surely saved. But this cannot be, without fixing on the persons beforehand. For the cause is before the effect. There is no such thing as God’s resolving absolutely beforehand that he would save some, and yet not determining who they should be, before they were actually saved; or that he should see to it, That there should be in a number the requisites of salvation, and yet not determine who, till they actually have the requisites of salvation. But God had absolutely determined that some should be saved, yea, a great number, after Christ’s death; and had determined it beforehand.'

If God determined to save some, then some must have been predetermined to be saved.

Next week's reading

Conclude Chapter III of 'Remarks on Important Theological Controversies'.

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.