1. God, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordained everything that ever happens, yet in such a way that God is not the author of sin nor is violence done to the will of the creatures, nor is the power or possibility of secondary causes taken away, but rather established.

2. Although God knows everything that may or can come to pass based on all possible conditions, yet he has not decreed anything just because he foresaw it as future, or as what would happen because of such conditions.

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some people and angels are predestined to everlasting life and others are foreordained to everlasting death.

4. These angels and people thus predestined and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably intended, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or decreased.

5. Before the foundation of the world was laid, God chose in Christ those of mankind who are predestined to life for everlasting glory, according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will. He did this out of his mere free grace and love, without any foreseeing of their faith, their good works, their perseverance in either of these, or any other thing in the creature that might act as conditions or causes moving him to it. All of this is to the praise of his glorious grace.

6. As God has appointed those whom he chose to glory, so also he has, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means of bring it about. Thus those who are chosen, being fallen in Adam,

• are redeemed by Christ,
• are effectually called to faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, and
• are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power, through faith, to salvation. No others are redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but only those chosen by God.

7. God decided, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, by which he extends or withholds mercy as he pleases, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by the rest of mankind and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice.

8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, so that people, giving attention to the will of God revealed in his Word and yielding their obedience to it, may be assured of their eternal selection based on the certainty of their effectual calling. This doctrine should provide matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and it should produce humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all who sincerely obey the Gospel.