History of the Doctrine Total Depravity is the first in a series of doctrines. Unconditional Predestination & Election Limited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perseverance of the Saints 1

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH “CHAP. VI. - Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof. 1. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory. 2. By this sin they fell from their original right- eousness and communion, with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body. 2

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH “CHAP. VI. - Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof. 3. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed; and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. 4. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.” 4

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH “CHAP. IX. - Of Free-Will. 1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil. 3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. 5

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH “CHAP. IX. - Of Free-Will. 4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.” 6

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH “CHAP. X. - Of Effectual Calling. 1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, 7

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH CHAP. X. - Of Effectual Calling. 1. determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace. 2. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.” 7

“By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated to everlasting life, and others are foreordained to everlasting death. “These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and un- changeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.” (The Westminister Confession, Chapter 111, sections III-VII – Taken from The Reformed Doctrine Of Predestination by Loriane Boettner, page 84). 8

Does the Bible teach predestination and election? Answer Answer ~ Yes! Ephesians 1:3-14 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, accord- ing to the good pleasure of His will, 9

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; 8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: 10

heard the word of truth ye believed 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” 11

God has predestined that all who are in Christ have All Spiritual Blessings 12

11 In whom also we have obtained an inher- itance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trust- ed, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the ear- nest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” 13

Saved “By Grace” The Word of God (Jas 1:21) (What God Has Done) Love of God (John 3:16) Mercy of God (Titus 3:5) The Gospel (Romans 1:16) “Through Faith” (What Man Must Do) Hear (Romans 10:17 ) Believe (John 8:21, 24) Repent (Acts 17:30) Confess (Rom 10:10) The Gospel (Acts 11:14) Be Baptized (John 6:29) Doctrine of Christ (I Timothy 4:16) Remain Faithful (Matt 10:22; Rev 2:10)