Article 10

Of the providence of God, the election of believers, and the rejection of unbelievers. Concerning this we confess: as we believe and confess that God is almighty, and that with Him nothing is impossible, so He is likewise also foreknowing and all-knowing, so that nothing is hidden from Him in heaven or on earth, neither what is to take place until the end of all things, nor what has taken place from all eternity. And through this exceedingly high prescience (foreknowledge), knowledge and wisdom of God, which are unfathomable, He saw and knew very well from the beginning in eternity until the end of the world, who would be the truly believing recipients of His grace and mercy, and, again, who would be found unbelieving despisers and rejecters of that grace. And so, from the beginning and from eternity, He knew, foresaw, elected and ordained all true believers to inherit eternal salvation through Christ Jesus; and, on the other hand, rejected all unbelieving despisers of that grace to eternal damnation. Therefore the perdition of men comes from themselves, and their salvation only through the Lord their God, without whom they can do nothing that is good.

But it is in no way true that the gracious, merciful, and righteous God (who acts according to His holy nature) has from eternity foreseen, ordained or predestined, and created, at a fitting time, by far the greater number of the human race for eternal damnation; or that, when they had fallen through the sin of the first man Adam, He left them without help in eternal death and condemnation, into which they had come without their knowledge and without actual evil works of their own, and without His having in this case seen and known the just cause of their rejection. Far be it from us to believe this of the only good and righteous God!

But, on the other hand, all true followers of Christ believe and confess: that the righteous God, in the beginning, created man good and upright, and gave him existence, and He hates none of the things which He has created. And when through the cunning of the devil they had fallen into eternal death, the blessed God, whose mercy is over all flesh, and who is not willing that any should perish, out of pure love and mercy redeemed, bought, and delivered the whole human race, without exception of persons, from eternal condemnation, through the atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; so that, in view of the death of Christ, none shall perish on account of Adam's sin; but God the righteous judge will judge the world in righteousness, giving assurance to all men, and rendering to every man according to his own works and deeds. The believers, who by patient continuance in well doing seek for eternal life, attain glory and honor and immortality, but the unbelieving and disobedient, tribulation and anguish, and the everlasting wrath of God.

Concerning the foreknowledge or prescience of God, read: "And has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." Acts 17, verse 26; Deuteronomy 32, verse 8.

"She foresees signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times." Wisdom of Solomon 8, verse 8; Daniel 2, verse 28, and 5, verse 17.

"O everlasting God, who knows the secrets, and knows all things before they are." The History of Susanna, verse 42; Isaiah 46, verse 10; Job 42, verse 2; Romans 9, verse 11; Acts 2, verses 23 and 31; First Peter 1, verse 20.

"My substance was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, while it was yet unformed; and in your book all my members were written, which in due time were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139, verses 15 and 16.

"He knew all things before ever they were created; so also after they were finished he looked upon them all." Sirach 23, verse 20; Acts 15, verse 18.

Here it is to be observed with attention how God, through His prescience, from the beginning elected the believers in Christ, and rejected the unbelievers. Read: "Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?" and so on. James 2, verse 5.

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, God has chosen," and so on. First Corinthians 1, verses 27 and 28.

"I have even from the beginning declared it to you; before it came to pass I showed it to you: for I knew that you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb." Isaiah 48, verses 5 and 8; Malachi 1, verse 2; Romans 9, verse 13; Ephesians 3, verse 11; Second Timothy 1, verse 9.

"Before they were sealed who have gathered faith for a treasure; then I considered these things," and so on. Second Esdras 6, verse 5.

"And who, like me, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people?" Isaiah 44, verse 7.

"We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Moreover, whom he predestined, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified." Romans 8, verses 28 to 30.

"Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you," and so on. Jeremiah 1, verse 5.

"Just as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world," and so on. Ephesians 1, verse 4; Second Timothy 1, verse 9; John 15, verse 16; Acts 13, verse 48.