John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ Edited by C. F. W. Walther Published by: St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1877 [Translator's Preface. These are the major loci or topics of John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ as edited by Dr. C. F. W. Walther. These should be seen as the broad outline of Baier-Walther's dogmatics, but please don't assume that this is all. Each locus usually includes copious explanatory notes and citations from patristics and other Lutheran dogmaticians. Chapter Twelve On predestination and reprobation. 1. God in time leads some humans and by a plan to salvation, and the same people and by the same plan by which they are led in time to salvation, God has decreed from eternity. And they see this by the names of predestination and election. 2. However by the words of predestination and election are indicated now the decree about the whole work of leading humans to salvation, then peculiarly a decree about certain humans under a certain plan of the knowledge of salvation certain to the divine intellect. 3. For recognizing the decree of predestination, in so far as it sees the whole business of human salvation, the order of divine acts is seen diligently, just as in the sign of reason according to divine revelation other things are followed by others. 4. And thus, because God loved his humans for the highest goodness not only when in the first humans he created them in his divine image, truly also seen in Adam's fall, but also sinners are accompanied by his love, so that for the cause of procuring their salvation he gave them the Son the redeemer for all; also it is recognized, that, when God from all eternity foresees, humans by sin to be gone to corruption, however for the cause of procuring their salvation he decided to give the Son, who for all paid the price of redemption. 5. Then, just as God declared in time, by act they had followed salvation through the merit of Christ, those who had believed in Christ; so that however all who were able to believe in Christ, God himself thus proclaimed the doctrine of faith, so that it was possible to extend to the ears and minds of all, thus it is recognized, that God wished from eternity, that all humans believe, and to have decided for, the mediator whom he decided to sin, and by the published doctrine about him, to offer his embrace to all. 6. And in what manner God joined in time the divine strength by his word, through which the supernatural assent of faith, by the word supplied by himself, and thus faith in Christ is able to be excited, and is excited, how often a human without a wicked resistance admits that word; thus it is certain, that God from eternity decided, with proclaiming the word in time strongly and graciously to go along thus with the producing effect of faith, so that no one might be without faith, unless those in the middle of faith or grace being conferred had despised the same. 7. Further just as God in time justifies all, who believe in Christ and, unless the same by sins against the conscience drive out faith and the Holy Spirit, more and more he renews, or he sanctifies, and he preserves that same faith and he confirms it continuously to the end of life; thus it is known, that God from eternity decided, for all who will believe in Christ, in time to confer the grace of justification and renewal, by the means rightly to sanctify the users further, and to preserve their faith and to confirm it continuously to the end of their life. 8. Finally, just as God in time finally saves by act all who believe in Christ, also the eternal decree of God is recognized about all being certainly saved who finally believe in time. 9. And because God from eternity foresaw which humans might finally believe, and so that he decides to save these, that the eternal decree about the eternal salvation being shared to the finally believing, in view of the merits of Christ and the foreseen faith in Christ, done and precisely seen it is called especially by the name of predestination or election. 10. However from the opposite, just as God in time punishes by eternal damnation humans who either never believed, or on the contrary they drove out faith and ended life without faith, thus it is admitted, that God determined from eternity, those, who died without final faith, to damn eternally. 11. And just as God foresaw from eternity, which humans in time depart without faith in Christ, thus in the same way, so that such is distinctly recognized, he determined to damn them eternally. And this decree is called reprobation. 12. To election strictly speaking pertains the virtually causing cause I. the efficient cause, which is the Triune God. 13. The impulsive internal cause is the goodness or mercy and free favor of God. 14. The external impulsive cause, and it the principal, is the merit of Christ. 15. The lesser principal external impulsive cause of the decree of election is faith in Christ, and it final faith. 16. The object of predestination is human sinners, but finally believing, and them all and singly. 17. The nearer end of election is the same salvation, applied to the elect in time; however the ultimate end is the glory of the divine goodness. 18. The decree of election, according to what is to this point, is determined to be (1) particular and (2) immutable. 19. It is possible to define election or predestination broadly speaking, that it is an eternal decree of God, by which God from his immense mercy to all humans, whom He foresaw falling into sin, to send a mediator and to offer through a universally embracing proclamation, also to all, who will not be fighting, to justify all believing and by the means of grace further to renew those using the means and to protect faith continuously to the end of life in them, and then those finally believing he arranges to save for the glory of his goodness. 20. Strictly speaking predestination or election is able to be defined, that it is an eternal decree of God, that God from his immense mercy foresaw those humans all and singly, who will be finally believing in Christ, according to that same merit of Christ, by final faith being apprehended and thus foreseen, he arranges to give eternal salvation, being the cause of that same salvation of them and the cause of his glory. 21. Reprobation similarly is a decree of God, and to such an extent it recognizes the efficient cause to be the triune God. 22. The internal impulsive cause is the punishing justice of God. 23. The external impulsive cause are human sins, also in so far as they are joined with final unbelief. 24. The object of reprobation are impious humans finally unbelieving. 25. The end of reprobation is the punishing of sinners and the glory of the divine punishing justice. 26. Reprobation also is a decree not only particular, but also immutable. 27. It is possible to define reprobation, that it is an eternal decree of God, which God out of his avenging justice decides to damn finally unbelieving human sinners according to their own sins when joined to final unbelief for the punishing of their sins and the glory of his divine justice. -------------------------------------------------------------- This text was translated by Rev. Theodore Mayes and is copy- righted material, (c)1996, but is free for non-commercial use or distribution, and especially for use on Project Wittenberg. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 66000 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-3149 Fax: (260) 452-2126 --------------------------------------------------------------