八、上帝的预旨

12问：上帝的定旨是什么？

答：上帝的定旨乃上帝为了自己的荣耀，从太初就按其不变之预旨所设定出于其智慧、自由、圣洁之谋略的运作（弗1:11；罗11:33；9:14-15，18），使万有一切都成就在历史中（弗1:4，11；罗9:22－23；诗33:11），尤其关乎天使和人类的事。

Question 12: What are the decrees of God?

Answer: God’s decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he has, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained: Whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men.

13问：上帝对天使和人类的定旨是什么？

答：上帝出于祂的圣爱，也为了使祂荣耀的恩典至终可以得着称赞，乃根据祂永恒不变的定旨，拣选部份天使得着荣耀（提前5:21）；也拣选部份人藉所设定的途径得着永生（弗1:4-6；帖后2:13-14）；并按祂主权的能力以及祂旨意无可测度之谋略，或施恩或不施恩，预定其他各人因所犯之罪蒙羞辱、受天谴，使祂公义的荣耀得着称赞（罗9:17-18，21-22；太11:25-26；提后2:20；犹4；彼前2:8）。

Question 13: What has God especially decreed concerning angels and men?

Answer: God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, has elected some angels to glory; and in Christ has chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will (whereby he extends or withholds favor as he pleases), has passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.

14问：上帝如何实施祂的定旨？

答：上帝按照祂无误之预知，以及祂心里绝对自由、绝对不变之谋略，藉其造化与护理之工，施行祂的定旨（弗1:11）。

Question 14: How does  God execute his decrees?

Answer: God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will.