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Article 16

THE DOCTRINE OF ETERNAL ELECTION

We believe that, when the entire offspring of Adam plunged into perdition and ruin by the transgression of the first man, (1) God manifested himself to be as he is: merciful and just. Merciful, in rescuing and saving from this perdition those whom in his eternal and unchangeable counsel (2) he has elected (3) in Jesus Christ our Lord (4) by his pure goodness, without any consideration of their works. (5) Just, in leaving the others in the fall and perdition into which they have plunged themselves. (6)

1. Rom 3:12.

2. Jn 6:37,44;10:29;17:2,9,12;18:9.

3. 1 Sam 12:22; Ps 65:4; Acts 13:48; Rom 9:16;11:5; Tit 1:1.

4. Jn 15:16,19; Rom 8:29; Eph 1:4,5.

5. Mal 1:2,3; Rom 9:11-13; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:4,5.

6. Rom 9:19-22; 1 Pet 2:8.