-



The Decrees of God

The decrees of God is His purpose or determination with respect to future things. The Sciptures make mention of the decrees of God in many passages and under a variety of terms. The word "decree" is found in Psalm 2:7, Eph. 3:11, here we read of God's eternal purpose. In Acts 2:23 we read of His "determinate counsel and foreknowledge. In Eph.1:9 we read of His good pleasure. God's decrees are called His counsel to signify they are complety wise. They are called "God's will" to show He was under no control, but acted according to His own pleasure and for His own glory. 

The decrees of God relate to all future things without exception: Whatever is done in time, concerning biblical redemptive history was foreordained by God before time. We learn from scripture that God works all things after the counsel of His own sovereign will. Thus, the decrees of God are declarations or pronouncements  that He has made in working out His purposes in various ages. Paul wrote, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." The decrees of God extend to His creation of His universe, His plan of salvation for humankind, and His divine providence over all things. 

Next, I will consider some of the properties of God's divine decrees.

First, they are eternal:To suppose any of the decrees to be made in time is to suppose that some new occasion has occurred, some unforeseen event or a combination circumstances has arisen, which caused God to form a new resolution/decree. Sadly, this type of thinking argues the limits of deity. As if God needs to become wiser and more progressive with time. Instead, God is not ignorant of future events which will be carried out by human volitions; for God is the one who foretold them and governs them ny way of providence. God is in control of all things eternally and His decrees are eternally immutable. 

Second, the decrees of God are wise: Wisdom is shown in the selection of the best possible ends and of the best means of accomplishing them. The Psalmist wrote, "O Lord, how manifold are your works. In wisdom you have made all" Ps. 104:24. 

Third, the decrees of God are free: Isaiah the prophet wrote, "Who has directed the Spirit pf the Lord, or being His counselor has taught Him in the path of judgement and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?" Isa. 40:13.14. The Triune God was alone when He made His decrees and what He determined before the foundation of the world were influenced by no-one. He was free to decree or not to decree. He has liberty to do as He pleases. 

Fourth, the decrees of God are absolute and unconditional: The execution of them is not suspended upon any condition which may, or may not be, performed. In every place where God has determined the end, He has also chosen the means. His "counsel will stand and He will do all His pleasure" Isa. 46:10.

In conclusion, a word caution, the Bible plainly teaches that man is a responsible creature and answerable for his own actions. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
The Eternity of God   Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  Psalm 90:2   I. How God Is Eternal   1.  God is without beginning : “In the beginning” God created the world (Gen. 1:1). God was then before the beginning, and no point can be fixed in to where God began, if He were before the beginning of created things? God is without beginning though all other things had time and beginning from Him. Abraham called upon the name of the everlasting God, “the eternal God” (Gen. 21:33). It is opposed to the heathen gods of foreign nations.    Time began with the foundation of the world, but God, being before time, could have no beginning of time, there could be nothing but eternity.    2.  God is without end . He always was, always is, and always will be what He is. He remains always the same in being -so far from any change that no shadow of it can touch Him (James 1:17). The Scripture states, “the
Read more

Jeremiah the Bold

-
Image
Jeremiah the Bold  Read Jeremiah 7-9 (evening gleanings) In the book of Jeremiah, chapters 7-9, God's judgement against Judah is a central theme. These chapters depict a solemn warning against disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. The Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, is warning the people of Judah that their disobedience and neglect of the law will result in dire consequences. The people of Judah had turned away from God and were engaging in idol worship. They were offering sacrifices and worshiping false gods, thinking that their actions were pleasing to God. However, the Lord saw through their hypocrisy and warned them of the impending judgment that would come upon them. In chapter 7, the Lord speaks through the prophet Jeremiah and warns the people of Judah that their disobedience and unfaithfulness will lead to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. He reminds them that the temple was not a guarantee of their safety, but rather a symbol of their relationship with God.
Read more

The Immutability of God

-
Image
                           THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD   They shall perish, but you shall remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. Psalm 102:26-27   I. How God is Immutable    1.  God is unchangeable in His essence . He is unalterably fixed in His being, so that not a particle of it can be lost form it, not a mite added to it. He who has not being from another cannot but be always what He is: God is the first being, an independent being; He was not produced of Himself or of any other but by nature always has been, and therefore He cannot by Himself, or by any other, be changed from what He is in His own nature. He is not capable of change. The author of Hebrews, speaking of Jesus, wrote, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”    2.  God is immutable in regard to His knowledge . God has known from all eternity all that which He can know, so that nothing is hi
Read more