Eternal, Absolute Predestination!

(Charles Spurgeon, "The Incarnation and Birth of Christ")  Play Audio!  Download

Ephesians 1:11-12, "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory."

Oh! we love the sublime doctrine of eternal absolute predestination!

Some have doubted whether predestination is consistent with the free agency of man.

We believe that man does as he pleases, yet notwithstanding he always does as God decrees.

Man does as he wills; but God makes him do as He wills, too.

No, not only is the will of man under the absolute predestination of Jehovah; but all things, great or little, are of Him.

There is nothing great or little, which is not from Him.

The summer dust moves in its orbit, guided by the same hand which rolls the stars along!

The dewdrops trickle on the rose leaf, as God bids them.

Yes, the sear leaves of the forest, when hurled along by the tempest—have their allotted position where they shall fall, nor can they go beyond it.

In the great, and in the little—there is God working all things according to the counsel of His own will.

And though man seeks to go against his Maker, yet he cannot.

Everything is ordained by God!

Unto Him . . .
  who guides the stars and sparrows,
  who rules planets and yet moves atoms,
  who speaks thunders and yet whispers zephyrs
—unto Him be glory!

Ephesians 1:11-12, "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory."