WCF 3.8

Westminster Confession of Faith

3.8. Of God’s Eternal Decree

The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.

Proof texts

Rom. 9:20 — [20] But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
Rom. 11:33 — [33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Deut. 29:29 — [29] “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
2 Pet. 1:10 — [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Eph. 1:6 — [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Rom. 11:33 — [33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Rom. 11:5, 6, 20 — [5] So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. [6] But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. [20] That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
2 Pet. 1:10 — [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Rom. 8:33 — [33] Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Luke 10:20 — [20] Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

For discussion

The Assembly cited Rom. 9:20 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
10 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q7 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q8 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

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Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): This Section teaches that the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care. This necessity arises from the fact that it is often abused, and that its proper use is in the highest degree important. The principle of divine sovereignty in the distribution of grace is certainly revealed in Scripture, is not difficult of comprehension, and is of great practical use to convince men of the greatness and independence of God, of the certain efficacy of his grace and security of his promises, and of their own sin and absolute dependence. But the philosophy of the relation of his sovereign purpose to the free agency of the creature, and to the permission of moral evil…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): The doctrine of predestination is, indeed, a high mystery — one of the deep things of God, which our feeble intellects cannot fully comprehend. In our inquiries about it, we ought to repress a vain curiosity, and not attempt to be wise above what is written. But, since the doctrine is revealed by God in his Word, it is a proper subject for sober investigation, aud ought to be published from the pulpit and the press. Calvin justly remarks, "That those things which the Lord hath laid up in secret, we may not search; those things which he hath brought openly abi'oad, we may not neglect; lest either on the one part we be condemned of vain curiosity, or on…