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TH103: The Decrees of God Bobby Long 1737-805 Thursday, January 22, 2009

Introduction: It is interesting to find that, when disaster strikes or some event captures a nation, citizens of that nation will tune in to any media source they can find when the leader of that nation speaks to the circumstances of that event. The United States recently elected a new president, and during the campaign speeches, millions were captivated by the speeches of each candidate as they put forth their evaluation of current events, their promises and plans for the future.

I find it equally astonishing that when the God of Universe decrees His eternal purposes, that very few take notice, when it is these decrees that are destine to come to pass. The definition of a decree is, a formal and authoritative order, esp. one having the force of law.1 The prophet Isaiah says, The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: Isaiah 14:24 KJV. In this one verse, we see the power and surity of the purposes of God.

III. TH103 - The Decrees of God 1. The Definition of the Decrees The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that, The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.2 It is difficult to properly speak of Gods eternal purpose in the past, present, and future tense, when eternity itself cannot be properly addressed in any increment of time. God is the creator of time itself so we, as His creation, can have a point of reference. In this manner, God shows Himself to be God, declaring the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:10A.

This paper will explore the single purpose of God which is to glorify Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. John 6:29 says that, Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. KJV. The work or enterprise of God is that we believe on Jesus Christ. When one believes on Jesus Christ for redemption, that same person will glorify God for His Son as the one and only Savior of mankind and King of the Universe; worshipping God in Christ and through Christ which is the purpose of God.

Dr. Williams Ames says, The decree of God is his firm decision by which he performs all things through his almighty power according to his counsel. Ephesians 1:11, "He does all things out of the counsel of His own will."3 God does not counsel as we would interpret counsel. It is true there is a Trinity; however, because they are of the same substance, nature, and essence, their counsel will always be in agreement in every situation. Because they is One true God, they have the same mind acting in perfect harmony. We can trust the will of God to be perfectly just and His actions and purposes to be good and true meaning us no harm, but drawing us to the Son to be transformed by the Son so we can be like Him through adoption. An adaptation of Chapter 13 of Boyces Abstract of Systematic Theology by Dr. James P. Boyce of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary states this pertaining to mans relation to the decrees of God; It is our duty, therefore, (1.) to seek to learn all the facts made known by reason and revelation, (2.) to accept them, (3.) to recognize them as the testimony of God, (4.) to admit that our knowledge is still imperfect, (5.) to believe that further information will still further remove the difficulties, (6.) to refuse on account of the difficulties to reject what God has actually taught, and (7.) amid all, to believe that whatever that teaching is, it must accord with justice, wisdom and holy perfection, because it is God of whom these things are affirmed.4 Dr. Boyce brings a great teaching to forfront when discussing the decrees of God. God knows all and has set His purpose in the heavens before time began. We are finite beings and therefore have no reason or grounds to dispute the living word of God which was with Him and was Him from before the beginning. This being said, it is true that we are

to accept what Gods word teaches as difficult as it may seem to our understanding. At the same time, we must become Bereans toward the scripture. It is true that if you torture the text, it will admit to anything. We must accept the true teaching of scripture as it is in accord with the justice, wisdom, and holiness of the entire counsel of God as put down inscripture. For example, the Bibles says that Judas went out and hung himself. Scripture also says to go yea therefore and do likewise; conclusion, the Bible vindicates suicide. This, of course, is totally false, but it does prove the point. There is a way that seems right to man but it only brings death and destruction. Our goal is to openly accept the whole councel of God as truth as we seek that truth in the humble submission to Holy Spirit as He reveals truth to us.

2. The Proof of the Decrees In proving these decrees, the presupposition that will be foundational is that the Word of God is infallible, indestructible, and totally trust-worthy for every doctrine and teaching. In the beginning was the Word and Word was with God and the Word was God. If the presupposition is doubted, then there are more serious problems to address other than proving the decrees.

The sovereignty of God is a scriptural truth that cannot be denied. John Piper explains, The sovereignty of God means that God freely does whatever he pleases to accomplish all of his pleasure, and this is the foundation for Christian hope.5 If our hope lies in any other person, thing, or belief, then we of all men should be pitied. The sovereignty of God is with malice and free. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all" (1 Chron. 29:11). There is a perceived conflict between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. The good thing about this is that the conflict is only in the minds of men; God is perfectly at ease with the relationship between the freewill of men and His sovereignty. The conflict is that if God predetermined the course of man according to His purpose, then

man had no choice to follow, it was predetermined that he would choose God when it was also predetermined that others would not. So the question is whether or not the sovereignty of God determines who will accept Christ and live in glory and who will reject him and spend eternity in hell?

A.W. Pink writes, To say that God the Father has purposed the salvation of all mankind, that God the Son died with the express intention of saving the whole human race, and that God the Holy Spirit is now seeking to win the world to Christ; when, as a matter of common observation, it is apparent that the great majority of our fellowmen are dying in sin, and passing into a hopeless eternity; is to say that God the Father is disappointed, that God the Son is dissatisfied, and that God the Holy Spirit is defeated. We have stated the issue baldly, but there is no escaping the conclusion. Pink indicates that to believe that the will of God is that none should perish and then to see men perish is saying that the will of God is disappointed, Christ is dissatisfied and the Holy Spirit is defeated. John Piper has written that Romans 9 is a raging tiger devouring free will thinking men. Piper, like other Calvinists, sees that Gods foreknowledge is founded on His pre-determination of events. In other words, Gods decrees are allinclusive by nature of being all-determinative; that is God determines everything. There are no free acts of man because God had determined every action ahead of time. We in a sense are just playing out the role and script God has given. This is at error with the teaching of scripture and can lead to a fatalistic mindset.
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This would negate the fact that God is not a respecter of persons and if salvation was not free to choose, then salvation is only available to those whom God elected and God would not be a loving God in the eyes of those who did not have a choice to begin with; when in fact Romans 9 is a celebration of the inclusion of the saving grace of the gospel by the inclusion of the Gentiles. The God of the Bible is sovereign, loving, and just. God provided the means of salvation to all men who believe. God even gives the gift of the faith of Christ to every man for the purpose of believing the gospel. Men can reject or accept the gospel thereby being accountable for their own decision. God knows the end from the beginning and knows the choices that were made. This in no way conflicts with

the ability for man to choose and the sovereignty of God. Gods sovereignty is, in no way, harmed by the free will of man being included in the will of God, as a matter of fact, it actually works better; God is sovereign and man is responsible and God knows the free actions of man prior to him making them, and has taken them in account before they ever were a reality in time.

These are respectful God fearing men. The scripture calls us all to examine the scriptures. In listening to a sermon preached by David Guzik. Mr. Guzik is the director of Calvary Chapel Bible College Germany, near Siegen, Germany. He stated that some reformed theology is correct in what they confirm, yet errors in what they deny. God is sovereign yet scripture is clearly indicates mans choice to accept or reject the Gospel. This is evident in the very words of Pink himself in the observation that men are dying without Christ, yet Matthew states that, Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matt. 18:14 KJV.

One of the most inclusive verses of the entire Bible is found in John where he writes, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV. All mankind can be found in the category of whosoever making mankind a candidate for salvation. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter. 3:9 KJV. The plain reading of the text states clearly that it is the heart of God that all men repent. The plain observation is that all men do not. Does this reduce the power of God to save; absolutely not. The power of God is mighty to save those who call on His name.

Gods purpose, decrees, and will do not occur in sequential order but rather, was established in eternity. With man, we have a purpose, then we decree according to that purpose, then our will struggles to make those decrees a reality so as to fulfill our purpose. God does not work that way. God is outside of time, therefore his purposes,

decrees, and will cannot be seen in sequential parameters, although to man, they happen in a sequence.

God in essence pre-determines according to His foreknowledge as is stated in the word; Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Peter1:2 KJV. Also Acts 2:23 declares plainly that, Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: KJV.

To deny that God knows everything; even the course that men will take would be do deny Gods omniscience. Romans 8:29 and 8:30 indicates this when it states that, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. 8:29-30 What can we say? I hold the belief that scripture teaches that within the pre-determined sovereignty of God, He has allowed man to choose to believe or not believe on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Man is without excuse and is responsible for his choice in the God he will serve. Christ has made the way of redemption by shedding His own blood and the word of His testimony and has outlined the consequences of each decision. True love can only be demonstrated by those with a free will. One cannot confuse the sovereignty of God and the power of God. Sovereignty speaks to the ability to do a thing and power speaks of the resources to achieve that which is decreed. God is sovereign and at the same time there are things that God will not do. The only restraints to God are those that deal with His promises to men and those actions that violate His nature.

Gods plans and purpose cannot be thwarted. Isaiahs revelation from the Lord makes this very well known when he states, The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand: Isa. 14:24 KJV. Nations may rage and make vain plots against God the Father and against

His anointed, but the Lord sits in the heavens and laughs according the Psalm 2. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Isa. 14:27. KJV

Another proof of the decrees of God is found in the book of Ephesians. God will carries out his will according to His good pleasure which is in complete harmony with His will. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:9-12 KJV. It is also seen that the pleasures of God are good and are not meant for harm. Paul states that, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV. The purpose of God is to receive glory from those who have received an inheritance through Jesus Christ by means of trusting and believing in Him as a propitiation for our sin. It should be a comfort to realize that all things, good and bad, work together for good to them that love God.

3. The Bases of the Decree As we look at the characteristics and attributes of God and His decrees, we need to keep in mind the character and nature of the decree will reflect the character and nature of the decrier. We need to remember that God is all-wise, good, righteous, sovereign, perfect, and omniscient. Knowing these things about God, we can know that whatever God decreed in eternity past would be within the confines of, and reflected by, His character.

The bases or foundation of the decree or purpose of God is monumental in this discussion. We have put forth that the decrees of God are all-inclusive meaning that they encompass all aspects of creation and morality. This does not mean that every decree is all determining. The Calvinist would say that every choice made by man was actually

made by God before hand and thus, the actual cause of choice is not man but God. The presupposition of this train of thought is that for every action to be all inclusive, it must also be pre-determined by God. This, I believe is the error. An all inclusive decree does not necessitate it to also be pre-determined. This does not necessarily mean that God has determined all things after the counsel of his will in the sense just described. It may legitimately be interpreted to mean that whatever comes to pass happens the way God planned it. If man has free will; that is the way God planned it. Man's free acts are within the counsel of God; this is the very decree, that man should have the power of free choice. God's decree may thus be all-inclusive without being all-determinative. Conttrell explains when he writes, Every detail may be included in God's decree without everything's being determined or effectuated by God, and God is no less sovereign if the decree be thought of in this way. God is still absolutely sovereign on the basis of an allinclusive, though not all-determinative, decree.7 God's decrees are good. Isaiah 46:10 says: Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure. From the creation when God said that it was good, then He made man and said that it was very good, God is love and all He does is just and holy and good.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deut. 31:6 KJV. Gods goodness reach to man in a most intimate way in that, if we are His, then He promises that He will be with us always and he will not forsake us. Numbers 23:19 make it very clear about the absolute truthfulness of God nature when scripture states, God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Num. 23:19 KJV.

If God is holy and just, never lies, will never forsake us, we can trust that His decrees toward us will have the same nature and character. Philippians 2:13 says: "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." KJV. We can delight and find joy in the decrees of God, for as we walk in them, God is glorified and we are most satisfied. In God's decrees He accomplishes His pleasures or desires which are good. God cannot do anything less than this since He is good, and no evil dwells in Him. For You [are] not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. Psalm. 5:4. KJV.

The basis for Gods decrees is His foreknowledge. Wisdom is not only the accumulation of facts, but the way in which this knowledge is utilized for good. God has all knowledge and all wisdom; such is the wisdom of His decrees. We see that God does the things that He does out of His wisdom. Psalm 104:24 says: "O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your possessions." KJV. And Proverbs 3:19 tells us: The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens. The wisdom of the Lord is eternal in scope and absolute in nature because God is eternal in scope and absolute in nature. Proverbs 8 points to the fact that creation was out of wisdom and this wisdom which was Gods was in God from eternity.

God's decrees are carried out free from influence or coercion. We see this in Daniel who writes, And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Dan. 4:35 KJV. In the book of Isaiah, he prophetically writes, Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or [being] his counsellor hath taught him? Isaiah 40:13. God is all knowing and is independent of His creation. God can be in total and absolute control and still yet offer freedom to man in his actions. The Father does all things in accordance with His eternal

purpose; therefore the decisions made were formed in eternity. Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own

purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim. 1:9 KJV.

Since God knows everything and cannot learn, this forbids His plans being made within the constraints of time. If God formed his plans because of influences due to past decisions, then God would then form future plans due to an increase in knowledge, which is not possible. Therefore, the plans of God are eternally founded and springs from His will alone. If Gods plans were not eternal then they would have to be formed in time. These plans formed in time would be in direct conflict with the nature of the God forming them.

God has an effectual will in which that thing is purposed and a permissive will. The purposes of God reach to every part of creation knowing every drop of rain and where it will hit. It is a hard thing to comprehend the fact that God can and does effectuate some things such as creation, but permits other things to occur based on the actions of free men; and all these actions being known before time began and all these actions, both effectively caused by God and/or permitted by God, but chosen by man, are all within the scope of his eternal purpose and decree. God effectively caused the creation by a decree, and at the same time, and within the same sovereignty permitted Adam to freely choose to sin. God did not cause the sin, but permitted it to happen. This can be seen by the statement in Matthew 13:35 where it if found that the prophets of God were slain from before the foundations of the world, in Hebrews 4:3 we see works being completed before the foundation of the world, and in Revelation 13:8 we see Jesus Himself as a lamb slain before the foundation of the world. In this line of thought, God causes some things directly, and allows others to happen, yet knows exactly the course of all events and all decisions and has made those events certain.

It is certainly a fact that what God says will happen; will happen. The disagreement comes in to play, as we have discussed earlier, on God being pre-determining all actions or God, in His sovereignty, giving man free will in actions, yet including these actions as part of the overall decree. In that sense, every free action of free men is certain before

they were ever executed. God is in control of every situation and every action, however, control of a situation does not mean that God must be determinative in every action of the will of the one whom He sovereignty gives choice.

It is like my children. Their freedom is given by me. They have parameters that they live by. I allow them to roam freely within the yard. I could, if I wanted to, decline them from playing in the yard. I, as a parent, have freely chosen to give my children freedom to move within the parameters I have set. Am I any less sovereign in my free choice to allow my children to have freedom from my determinate will? No. Cottrell states that, The self-limitation is itself a sovereign and free choice on the part of God; he was not forced in any way to limit his control. The fact that he freely chose to so limit himself shows that he is sovereign, that he does have control over the entire situation. Thus it is not that God cannot control man's will; in this case God would not be sovereign. It is the case rather that God freely chooses not to control man's will, and thus maintains his absolute sovereignty. It must also be remembered that this sovereignty self-imposed suspension will one day be lifted when God sits as sovereign judge over all.8

4. The Purpose of the Decrees The purpose of the decrees of God is to reflect back on the single purpose of God which is to give glory and honor and praise to God. All things are to Gods glory. Everything a believer in Christ does should be done to glorify God. Paul indicates this in the book of Corinthians when he states, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31. KJV.

In the book of Revelation chapter 4, we see the throne room of God where constant praise and worship is offered God. In the midst of this worship, we see the twenty-four elders representing the believers who are royal priests, worshipping God and saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev. 4:11 KJV. We find that God is worshipped and given glory and praise for being the Almighty Creator. Scriptures declares in Psalm 19:1 that the very heavens themselves declare the glory and handy work of Gods hand.

It is the good pleasure and will of God to predestined believers for His glory by means of adoption in and by Jesus Christ. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph. 1:5-6 KJV. Paul, in Romans 8:29, states that God pre-determines according to His foreknowledge. Yet, Calvinists, insist that Gods foreknowledge is founded on and springs from Gods all-inclusive pre-determining acts. If these acts were not pre-determined, the Calvinist would they say the outcome would not be know until it happens. Yet this is not the case. God is omniscient. He knows all outcomes of all scenarios. To say that God has to determine to know is actually limiting the sovereignty of omniscience of God.

As believers, we look forward to the day that we will see our Redeemer and God face to face. Gods decree is for His glory and in Philippians; we find that every knee will bow to Jesus to the Glory of God. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:9-10. KJV. It is interesting that every knee, just not the knees of those who believe, but every knee. Those who are not saved, those who mocked him and rejected him will one day admit and bow their knee to God; saint and sinner; lost and saved.

5. The Content and Order of the Decrees In the material and physical realm God is alive and active in the lives of men and in the order and sustaining of His creation. In the six days of creation, God said and there was. God looked at it and said it was good. God determined that there would be man made in his own image giving man dominion over every thing in the sea and land. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the

cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen. 1:26 KJV. God declares that as long as there is an earth, there will be seasons. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen. 8:22 KJV God makes a covenant with Noah to never destroy the earth again in Genesis 9, in Psalm 119 He establishes and keeps the earth, He sets boundaries for nations in Deut. 32:8, and the list goes on. In John 21:9, Jesus was speaking with Peter and stated that, This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. KJV. God declare to Peter how he would die. In the moral and spiritual realm God is not only in control of the physical and material but also decrees and establishes His good pleasure in the moral and spiritual realm of men and angels as well. In Genesis 3, we see God declaring war on Satan and establishing the devils downfall by declaring that the seed of the woman would crush Satans head. As a believer, we can firmly believe that the battle that Christians have is founded more in the spiritual than in the physical for our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the power and principalities of the air.

Other examples of Gods determining and decreeing power in the spiritual realm can be found in Romans 6:23 when God declares that the wages of sin is death. God not only declares the wages of sin, but is currently restraining sin by the Holy Spirit of God alive in the church in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV. Those that believe are saved according Gods purpose according to 2 Timothy 1:9 KJV. It is certainly true that God does work all things together for good to those who are called by His name.

God controls the demonic realm as well. When Jesus stepped foot out of a boat, he was met by a man living in caves and overran with demons. As Jesus approached, they ran to Him and said, And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Matt. 8:29 KJV. In this one statement we find that the demonic realm is subject to Jesus, we learn they

have a destiny that is appointed and determined by God, and we find this destiny has a specific time; all determined by God. God determined to permit sin Berkoff states that, The decree merely makes God the author of free moral beings, who are themselves the authors of sin. God decrees to sustain their free agency, to regulate the circumstances of their life, and to permit that free agency to exert itself in a multitude of acts, of which some are sinful. For good and holy reasons He renders these sinful acts certain, but He does not decree to work evil desires or choices efficiently in man. The decree respecting sin is not an efficient but a permissive decree, or a decree to permit, in distinction from a decree to produce, sin by divine efficiency.9 God is not the author of sin nor does God tempt man. Within the purposes of God and sovereignty of God, lies the free will of man. This free agency of man allows for man to act in a way that is his own, while still being under the sovereignty of God which is no less sovereign if God allows for the free acts of man, for in this lies the true meaning of sovereignty. God determined to overrule sin for the good Time and time again we see that God overrules sin for good. This principle is most dramatized in the story of Joseph. Sold into slavery by his brothers, thrown in to prison by Potifar, interpreted the Pharaohs disturbing dream and in the end, put over all the resources of Egypt for the purpose of eventually saving not only the inhabitants of Egypt, but his family as well.

In the moving scene where Joseph reveals who he really is to his brothers, he stated that what they had meant for evil, God meant for good. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive. Gen. 50:20 KJV.

Romans 8:28 rings true again as Paul writes, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Rom. 8:28 KJV. All things mean all things; the good and the bad.

Gods process for salvation occurred at the time of his determination for the free will of man. Knowing our propensities the cure was also determined before the foundations of the world. In Revelation, we find that before the throne stood a lamb. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Rev. 5:6 KJV. Previously, John wept convulsively due to the fact that no one in heaven was worthy to open the seven sealed scroll written upon and on the back side which is the title deed to the earth. There was one worthy and he was the Son of God. Gods redemption was hidden in accounts in the Old Testament. Such a story is found in the book of Ruth which gives us great detail into the Goel or Kinsmen Redeemer. God had to become man to redeem man because of the stipulations of redemption. God was able, willing, took on all the debts of the one being redeemed, but also had to be kin. No angel could redeem man kind, only a man; only a perfect man. God determined to reward His servants and punish disobedience Reward and punishment was a key theme for Paul. Paul saw himself in a race to win crowns. Never did he doubt his salvation; he was concerned with finishing strong and finishing as an Olympian would in competition. John speaks very plainly about the future of those that believe and those that dont believe when he says, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36 KJV.

God determines In the social and political realm

God has made determination and decrees that reach to the social and political realms. God ordains family relationships and human governments; He makes decrees according to structure of both the family and governments; their purposes and their position.

God has a plan and sets the path for the future of nations God has determined the rise and the fall of many nations. He has determined and prophesied the rise of nations such as Greece and Rome. He has declared the capture of Israel and the deportation. In all this God has remained true and trustworthy [1] For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3: 1-2 KJV [21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Dan 2:21 KJV The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Prov. 21:1 God declares that man should be subject to governments. It was not the early churches desire to be at odds with government. As a matter of fact it was just the opposite. It is the responsibility of the Christian to be a model citizen when the laws do not conflict with the clear teaching of scripture. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. Romans 13:4 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. Matt. 12:17 KJV

The family and human government

God establishes and ordains the family The family is very important to God. Within the very Ten Commandments, we told to honor our mother and father and our days will be lengthened. Parents are told to be a student of their children teaching them to obey and the fear and admonition of the Lord. From the very beginning, God ordained the family and marriage and used it quite frequently as analogies that would relate to the family of God. [18] And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Gen 2:18 KJV God wills that man should not divorce. Because the family and marriage was ordained by God, what God has brought together, who is man to try and destroy. Divorce is an example of Gods permissible will. It is Gods will that man would not divorce, but divorce happens. These events are not caused by God, but have been permitted by God and these actions are taken in account within the purpose of God. [5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? [6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matt. 19:5-6 God tells man to multiply upon the earth. God tells man to fill the earth. God wants a creation that will be filled with His worship and praise. [1] And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Gen 9:1 KJV God makes declarations concerning the call and mission of IsraelThe call of Abraham was in essence a call for a nation to come forth. Abram was an idol worshipping Gentile from the land of Ur. More that likely Abram worshipped the pagan gods of his fathers. God, however, showed grace to Abram and called him out of the land of Ur and into a covenant relationship with Him forever. [1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse

him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Gen 12:1-3 KJV) Israel is Gods chosen people; not because of their superiority, but out of grace. It is true that God has called us all to be a kingdom of kings and priests, but the future of the church and of Israel are two different destinies. We see this in the Book of Ruth when Naomi (a picture of Israel), teaches Ruth, (a picture of the church) about the Redeemer (Boaz) but it was Ruth who actually won the heart of Boaz after being introduced to Boaz by an un-named servant, and in the end became the Redeemers bride and Naomi got back the land. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exo 19:5-6 KJV In these next verses, God actually calls Israel His people and His heritage and the land is His land. Christ will come and set up the throne of David in Jerusalem again. God has put his stamp on this particular part of the world and has especially called it His own. [1] For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:1-2 KJV The founding and mission of the Church The founding of the church was a mystery hidden in the Old Testament but that mystery was revealed in the New Testament and came to pass in the book of Acts. As Jesus was preparing to leave, he told his disciples to, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt. 28:19

The work of the church is everlasting because it is the will of the Father through Jesus Christ. There is church work, and then there is the work of the church. Church work will one day end, but the work of the Church is the work of Jesus Christ and him living and moving in the lives of His own. This work will have eternal fruit because the one working in the church is eternal. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16 KJV The final triumph of God From Genesis chapter 3 to Revelation Chapter 22, we see the hand of God working in the lives of people and nations both determinatively and permissively. We have seen Godly men fail, and we have seen God forgive and show mercy and pour out His wrath. Satan has tried to delay or debunk his destiny only find it frustrated by Gods plan. The devil has tried everything from polluting the gene pool in the pre-deluvial days of Noah and Genesis six, to the killing off of the majority of the nation of Israel. Great people of God have risen up to do what was right such as David, Ester, and Joseph. All theses were chosen for such a time as theirs in order to maintain their race and their heritage while at the same time finding the decisions wrenching in the moment, but the outcome already known by God.

After the rapture of the church, God will once again turn His attention to Israel and call a nation back to Him. The nation of Israel will realize their mistake and call upon Christ as who He is as a mother crying over a son. Jesus will return and save his people setting up a thousand years of perfect justice and rule. Then at the end, nations will rise in rebellion and God will judge raising up those again for destruction. Then there will be no more sin and no more shame. And He will wipe away every tear and we will forever be with the Lord. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto

me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Rev. 21:3- 6 KJV. In summary, the decrees of God are yes and amen. They are everything God is. We can trust God to work on our behalf, therefore we can count on the decrees of God to do the same.

We need to remember that God is all-wise, good, righteous, sovereign, perfect, and omniscient. Knowing these things about God, we can know that whatever God decreed in eternity past would be within the confines of, and reflected by, His character.

RESOURCE
1

Extracted from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/decree on 1/16/09. Hodges, Charles.(1797 1878), Systematic Theology Volume 1., Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal LibraryCh. 10., Sect.1., Pg. 400

Ames, William. The Decrees of God. Extracted from http://www.apuritansmind.com/William%20Ames/WilliamAmes%20TheDecreesOfGod.htm ., A Puritan's

Mind, McMahon, Dr. Matthew C. All Rights Reserved, 1998-2008

Founders Journal Fall 2001 pp. 25-28. Extracted from http://founders.org/journal/fj46/article3.html on 1/16/09. Extracted from, http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/43_The_Sovereignty_of_God/ on 1/19/09.
6 5

Pink, A.W., The Sovereignty of God., Ch. 1, as extracted from http://www.freegrace.net/library/Pink/sovereignty/pink_sov_index.html on 1/189/09. Cottrell, Jack., Sovereignty and Free Will., Vol.X1. Number 3, Spring 1963. Pg. 39-51. All Rights Reserved: The Cincinnati Bible Seminary Cottrell, Jack., Sovereignty and Free Will., Vol.X1. Number 3, Spring 1963. Pg. 39-51. All Rights Reserved: The Cincinnati Bible Seminary
9 8 7

L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology (London: The Banner of Truth Trust, n.d.), pg.103

QUESTIONS: Q1: What is a decree of God?

The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that, The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Q2: According to Boyce, what is the responsibility of man concerning the decrees of God? Boyce of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary states this pertaining to mans relation to the decrees of God; It is our duty, therefore, (1.) to seek to learn all the facts made known by reason and revelation, (2.) to accept them, (3.) to recognize them as the testimony of God, (4.) to admit that our knowledge is still imperfect, (5.) to believe that further information will still further remove the difficulties, (6.) to refuse on account of the difficulties to reject what God has actually taught, and (7.) amid all, to believe that whatever that teaching is, it must accord with justice, wisdom and holy perfection, because it is God of whom these things are affirmed. Q3: What should be our goal toward what God decrees? Our goal is to openly accept the whole councel of God as truth as we seek that truth in the humble submission to Holy Spirit as He reveals truth to us. Q4: How does Pink view the free will of men concerning the soveriengty of God? Pink indicates that to believe that the will of God is that none should perish and then to see men perish is saying that the will of God is disappointed, Christ is dissatisfied and the Holy Spirit is defeated. Q5: Concerning Romans 9, What does Piper say toward the free will of men? John Piper has written that Romans 9 is a raging tiger devouring free will thinking men. Q6: What verse support a permissive will of God at the same time the free will of men? Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matt. 18:14 KJV. Q7: Would it be wise to have a premise that denies knowledge of God uless the actions are pre-determinied? NO: To deny that God knows everything at all times; even the course that men will take would be do deny Gods omniscience. Romans 8:29 and 8:30 indicates this when it states that, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom. 8:29-30

Q8: For a decree to be all-inclusive, does it have to be all-determining? We have put forth that the decrees of God are all-inclusive meaning that they encompass all aspects of creation and morality. This does not mean that every decree is all determining. Q9: What can we understand concerning the decrees of God from the nature of God? If God is holy and just, never lies, will never forsake us, we can trust that His decrees toward us will have the same nature and character. Philippians 2:13 says: "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." KJV Q10: What is the basis for the decrees of God? The basis for Gods decrees is His foreknowledge. Wisdom is not only the accumulation of facts, but the way in which this knowledge is utilized for good. God has all knowledge and all wisdom; such is the wisdom of His decrees. Q11: Did God cause Adam to sin? God effectively caused the creation by a decree, and at the same time, and within the same sovereignty permitted Adam to freely choose to sin. God did not cause the sin, but permitted it to happen. Q12: Does control necessitate the determining of every action within a situation? God is in control of every situation and every action, however, control of a situation does not mean that God must be determinative in every action of the will of the one whom He sovereignty gives choice. Q13: What is the purpose of God in all He does? The purpose of the decrees of God is to reflect back on the single purpose of God which is to give glory and honor and praise to God. Q14: What is an example of a decree that reaches to the earth? God declares that as long as there is an earth, there will be seasons. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen. 8:22 KJV Q15: Give a Biblical example of the decrees of God reaching to the demonic? And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Matt. 8:29 KJV. In this one statement we find that the demonic realm is subject to Jesus, we learn they have a destiny that is appointed and determined by God, and we find this destiny has a specific time; all determined by God. Q16: Is God the creator of Sin? God is not the author of sin nor does God tempt man. Within the purposes of God and sovereignty of God, lies the free will of man. This free agency of man allows for man to act in a way that is his own, while still being under the sovereignty of God which is no less sovereign if God allows for the free acts of man, for in this lies the true meaning of sovereignty. Q17: Give an example of a story in the Bible that shows God determines to overrule evil with Good? This principle is most dramatized in the story of Joseph.

Q18: What should Christians know concerning the plans of God? Romans 8:28 rings true again as Paul writes, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Rom. 8:28 KJV. All things mean all things; the good and the bad. Q19: What does the Bible say concerning Gods actions toward those that believe and those that do not? John speaks very plainly about the future of those that believe and those that dont believe when he says, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36 KJV. Q20: What can we gather from the whole counsel of God concerning his purpose? From Genesis chapter 3 to Revelation Chapter 22, we see the hand of God working in the lives of people and nations both determinatively and permissively and ultimately His purpose concerning His glory is fulfilled.