What is the Result/Goal of Reprobation and How Should We Respond to This Doctrine?

February 23, 2025 Preacher: John Bell Series: Sunday School: Soteriology

What Is the Result of Reprobation?

At least five terms describe the destiny that God predetermined for non-elect sinners.

  1. Wrath
  2. Destruction
  3. Not Obtaining a Right Standing with God
  4. Condemnation
  5. The Lake of Fire

Should we feel sorrow about this reality?

 

What Is the Goal of Reprobation?

  • Goal 1: To Glorify God for His Wrath and Power
  • Goal 2: To Glorify God for the Riches of His Glory for Vessels of Mercy

 

Table 1: Doxologies in Books That Highlight God’s Wrath and Power and Mercy

 

Book

 

Doxologies

 

God’s Wrath and Power

 

God’s Mercy

 

Romans

 

“From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (11:36).

“To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen” (16:27).

 

1:18, 20; 2:2–3, 5, 8–9; 3:5–6; 9:17, 22; 11:33

 

3:24; 4:16; 5:6–9, 20–21; 8:32; 9:15–16, 18, 23; 11:30–32; 15:9

 

Ephesians

 

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (3:21).

 

2:3; 5:6

 

1:6–8; 2:4–5, 7–8; 3:16

 

Philippians

“To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen” (4:20).

1:28; 3:21

1:28; 4:19

1 Timothy

“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1:17; also 6:15–16).

6:9

1:13, 16

2 Timothy

“To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (4:18).

4:8

1:9

1 Peter

“To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (4:11).

 

1:17; 3:12; 4:5

1:3, 13; 2:10; 5:10

Jude

 

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (24–25).

4, 6, 11, 14–15

 

21

 

Revelation

 

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1:5–6; see also 4:8–11; 5:3–8; 7:9–12; 11:15–18; 15:2–4; 16:4–7; 19:1–8).

5:12; 6:16–17; 7:12; 11:18; 12:12; 14:7, 10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 7, 19; 19:1–2; 20:11–15

 

1:5; 21:1–22:21

 

 

 

Two Ways to Respond

  1. Be Humbled
  2. Praise God for His Wrath, Power, and Mercy

Who Deserves Blame for Reprobation?

Sinners deserve blame for reprobation

 Seven Ways to Respond

  1. Don’t Reject Reprobation because It Seems Unfair to You
  2. Be Deeply Grateful That God Chose You
  3. Abominate Sin
  4. Proclaim the Gospel to Anyone and Everyone
  5. Flee to Christ
  6. Don’t Expect to Understand Every Aspect of Reprobation
  7. Trust God

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