The Decree of God
The decree of God is his purpose or determination with respect to future activities (pg 15). We use the singular word “decree” as scripture does in Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 3:11 because His decree is only one act of God’s infinite mind concerning the future (pg 15). Our minds are only capable of thinking in successive revolutions and could never grasp the idea that all of history is one continuous decree as God has declared it (pg 15). So in order for man to understand history we break one decree down into multiple decrees, which allows the finite mind of man to take hold of God’s activities in our lives. But realize an infinite understanding does not proceed by steps from one state to another, but it is continues from the beginning of time to the end of time (pg 15)
Before going any further I want to give the following references below concerning the decrees of God:
- Psalm 2:7 – I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
- Ephesians 3:11 – According to His eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Acts 2:23 – This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
- Ephesians 1:9 – And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to his good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
- Romans 8:29 – For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers,
There are many more, but I wanted to at the least include these references.
God’s decrees are called His counsel to signify they are consummately wise (pg 16). They are called God’s will to show he was under no control but acted according to His own pleasure (pg 16). There were no outside forces working on God when he declared His decree, but His decrees were in accordance to His own good pleasure and will. Wisdom is always associated with “will” in the Divine proceedings (Eph 1:11) so God’s decrees are the counsel of His own will (pg 16).
The decrees of God relate to all future things without exception: whatever is done in time was foreordained before time began (pg 16).
God did not merely decree to make ma, place him upon the earth, and then leave him to his own uncontrollable guidance; instead, He fixed all the circumstances in the lot of individuals, and all the particulars which will comprise the history of the human race from its commencement to its close (pg 16).
Properties of the Divine Decrees
They are Eternal: To suppose that God makes things up as time marches on would presuppose that God is imperfect and is not omniscient. It would presuppose that God makes mistakes and must reorder and change His decrees to fix or cover His mistakes. If this is the case then we would have to conclude that the knowledge of God is limited and He is growing wiser as time progresses (pg 17). Do not make the grave mistake that God is ignorant about future events. Prophesies given in the Old Testament are proven in the New Testament. Scripture affirms that believers were chosen in Christ before the world began (Eph 1:4) and that grace was given to them then (2 Tim. 1:9).
Decrees of God are wise: “Wisdom is shown in the selection of the best possible ends and of the fittest means of accomplishing them (pg17) “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.” (Ps 104:24) We only see a small part of God’s decrees at work, which causes us to question, and sometimes diminish our faith. We may become discouraged because of our limited view and knowledge of God’s decrees. If we can take hold of the promise “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28) it would go a long way in sustaining and building our faith. “When we reach the bounds of the finite and gaze toward the mysterious realm of the infinite, let us exclaim, “O the depth of the riches! Both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (Rom 11:33).
Decrees of God are free: (Isa 40:13-14) When God set his decrees they were not influenced by any outside sources. He was free of any influences when He set His decrees: His decrees were His alone and He was free to decree and not decree what He wanted (pg 18).
Decrees of God are absolute and unconditional: “The execution of them Is not suspended upon any condition which may or may not be performed. When God decrees something it will be carried out and He will provide the way and means for it to be carried out (2 Thes 2:13, Isa 46:10 and Eph 1:11)
To deny the decrees of God would lead to the conclusion that the world and all we see in it are the result of blind chance. The world is no longer under designed control and sustained by God, but instead under the control of chaos and chance. Here I would like to interject a small part of “Not A Chance: The Myth of Chance in Modern Sciency & Cosmology” by R.C. Sproul.
“As long as chance rules,” Authur Koestler has written, “God is an anachronism.” Koestler’s dictum is a sound conclusion… to a point. It is true that if chance rules, God cannot. We can go further than Koestler. It is not necessary for chance to rule in order to supplant God. Indeed chance requires little authority at all if it is to depose God; all it needs to do the job is to exist. The mere existence of chance is enough to rip God from his cosmic throne. Chance does not need to rule; it does not need to be sovereign. If it exists as a mere impotent, humble servant, it leaves God not only out of date, but out of a job
If chance existed, it would destroy God’s sovereignty. If God is not sovereign, he is not God. If he is not God, he simply is not. If chance is, God is not. If God is, chance is not. The two cannot coexist by reason of the impossibility of the contrary (pg 3).
But those who hold onto hope and live with faith are certain that what appears as chaos and an out of control world is just that, appearances. Our inability to comprehend the works and decrees of an infinite God, with our finite being, if unchecked by faith, will lead us to a hopeless picture of what is to come. “There would be nothing better than the black darkness and abject horror of Atheism>” (pg20). “How thankful should we be that everything is determined by an infinite wisdom and goodness. What praise and gratitude are due unto God for his Divine decrees.”
