Sunday, June 18, 2006

Q23 A3: Whether God reprobates any man?

Yes. As men are ordained to eternal life through the providence of God, it likewise is part of that providence to permit some to fall away from that end (this is called reprobation) because it belongs to providence to permit certain defects in those things which are subject to providence.

Reprobation differs in its causality from predestination. This latter is the cause both of what is expected in the future life by the predestined--namely, glory--and of what is received in this life--namely, grace. Reprobation, however, is not the cause of what is in the present--namely, sin; but it is the cause of abandonment by God. It is the cause, however, of what is assigned in the future--namely, eternal punishment. But guilt proceeds from the free-will of the person who is reprobated and deserted by grace.