SD 3.2
Savoy Declaration
3.2. Of God's Eternal Decree
Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed any thing, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
Proof texts
- Acts 15:18 — [18] known from of old.’
- 1 Sam. 23:11, 12 — [11] Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” [12] Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”
- Matt. 11:21, 23 — [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
- Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18 — [11] though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad — in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls — [13] As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” [16] So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. [18] So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Acts 15:18 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 3.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- 1689 3.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?