Predestination is God's pleasure to give us pleasure. The sermon unfolds Ephesians 1:5–6 as a profound meditation on divine predestination, not as a cold decree but as the loving, sovereign act of God the Father, rooted in His eternal joy and pleasure in the Son. It emphasizes that predestination is about the gracious purpose to adopt believers as sons through Jesus Christ, culminating in their full conformity to His image and eternal fellowship with Him. The central message is that this doctrine, far from being a cause for pride or defensiveness, should inspire deep joy, worship, and delight in God's infinite grace—especially in the Father's pleasure toward us in Christ, where we are accepted not by our merit but by His divine favor. The preacher calls the congregation to embrace predestination not as a theological abstraction, but as the sweet, life-giving reality of being eternally loved, adopted, and made pleasing to God through union with Christ. Ultimately, the doctrine is presented as the very means by which God glorifies His grace and invites all who believe into the eternal delight of His presence.

The sermon centers on the sovereign decree of God as articulated in the Westminster Confession of Faith, emphasizing that from all eternity, God has unchangeably ordained all things according to His wise and holy will for the manifestation of His glory. It unpacks the doctrine of election, affirming that God's choice of individuals for everlasting life is not based on foreseen faith, good works, or human merit, but solely on His free grace and love, with the ultimate purpose of glorifying Himself. The passage from Ephesians 1 is used to illustrate the eternal, unchangeable nature of God's plan, where believers are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestined for adoption, sanctification, and glorification, forming an unbroken chain of salvation. The sermon addresses common objections, particularly the perceived tension between God's desire for all to be saved and the reality of election, arguing that such passages must be interpreted in light of the whole counsel of Scripture, which consistently affirms God's sovereignty and the necessity of divine grace. Ultimately, the doctrine is not a source of despair but of profound assurance and worship, as it reveals God's faithfulness in securing salvation for His elect through the Spirit's effectual calling and the certain promise of perseverance.

2 Timothy 2:20 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

What is predestination? Ephesians 1:5–6 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that predestination is God's good pleasure to adopt children by His glorious grace. The devotional unfolds the doctrine of predestination as a profound expression of God's eternal love, rooted not in human merit but in the good pleasure of His will. From Ephesians 1:5–6, it emphasizes that the substance of predestination is adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, not merely forgiveness or justification, highlighting God's desire to expand His family. The source, standard, and success of this divine plan are all grounded in God's grace—His unearned, self-giving love that culminates in believers being accepted in the Beloved, already pleasing to God through union with Christ. The ultimate purpose is the praise of God's glorious grace, calling for a response of worship, deep comfort, and joy.

We continue our study of the Doctrines of Grace by answering three common objections to Total Depravity, and then move into one of the most searching and glorious doctrines in all of Scripture: Unconditional Election. From Ephesians 1 to Deuteronomy 7, we see that God's choice of his people is rooted entirely in himself, not in anything he foresaw in us, and that this truth has been woven into the fabric of Scripture from the very beginning. Far from being cold or arbitrary, this doctrine demolishes pride, produces unshakeable assurance, and leaves us caught up in worship.

Pastor Jason's report from last week's Reformed Baptist conference in Chilliwack, British Columbia, highlighting the profound joy and spiritual unity found among believers across geographical and denominational lines. Central to the message is the beauty of Christian fellowship, illustrated through the shared confession of faith, mutual accountability, and the deep bonds formed among pastors and church leaders committed to doctrinal fidelity and gospel-centered ministry. The gathering exemplifies a vibrant, cross-regional association that fosters church planting, theological education, and mutual support, with particular emphasis on the importance of handling profound doctrines like predestination with care and humility. The experience culminates in a vision of global Reformed Baptist unity, underscored by the establishment of IRBS Western Canada and the dedication of young, passionate leaders who serve faithfully despite significant challenges, all rooted in a shared commitment to Christ and His Word.

From the Confessing the Faith Conference 2026, this session introduces the doctrine of God's decree as treated in Chapter 3 of the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. The lecture approaches divine decree as a revealed mystery — genuinely knowable through Scripture and providence, yet ultimately incomprehensible to creaturely minds — and sets the framework for subsequent sessions on predestination, divine authorship of sin, and the good purposes of God worked out even through human failure. Main points: - the nature of God's decree as a revealed mystery requiring special prudence - the limits and proper grounds of creaturely knowledge of the decree - an introduction to Chapter 3, paragraph 1 of the 2LCF Scripture references: - Job 26:14 - Romans 11:33-36

From the Confessing the Faith Conference 2026, this session surveys the doctrine of God's decree as it runs through the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Savoy Declaration, and the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. Beginning with definitions and the family relationship among these confessions, the lecture traces the decree from Scripture's authority through creation, providence, the fall, the covenant of grace, the person of Christ, the ordo salutis, and the final judgment, demonstrating that the decree is not an isolated locus but the integrating backbone of classical Reformed theology. Main points: - the decree and Holy Scripture (Chapter 1) - the decree and the doctrine of God (Chapter 2) - Chapter 3 — God's decree itself - the decree and creation (Chapter 4) - the decree and divine providence (Chapter 5) - the decree and the fall of man (Chapter 6) - the decree and God's covenant (Chapter 7) - the decree and Christ the Mediator (Chapter 8) - the decree and the ordo salutis (Chapters 10–17) - the decree and the gospel's extent (Chapter 20) - the decree and the last judgment (Chapter 32) Scripture references: - Genesis 50:20 - Isaiah 10; 46:8-11 - Matthew 11 - Acts 16 - Romans 1 - Philippians 2:13 - Hebrews 1:1; 11:3

Second London Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 3, Paragraph 7