Lesson 20 January 25, 2004
WHAT HAPPENED? FIRST THE DIVINE DECREE:
Introduction
Need to go back to the
beginning the Sovereign decree of God in eternity past!
The truth of God’s
sovereign plan has many practical ramifications for us, but before we can
properly relate to God’s plan, we need a right understanding of that plan
generally speaking, or we may try to relate to the plan of God improperly.
So, when we think decree
we need to think plan of God and then what exactly is God’s plan? What is God’s plan like, and how does it
impact our lives?
1. The Nature and Characteristics of God’s
Sovereign Plan
God’s
Plan Is One
In God’s plan there are
many steps and phases that flow from it, yet there is only one master plan
which intricately and harmoniously includes all things (Acts
Ephesians 1:11
This is infinitesimally
small, in comparison to the whole, which should be humbling, but our part is
very important to God, important enough to consider us individually even as to
the number of the hairs on our head (Matt. 10:30).
Such should not only
comfort, but it should remind us we are indeed here for a purpose (cf. 1 Pet.
5:6-7 and Eph.
2. Definition
The decree or plan of
God is “God’s eternal purpose, according to the wise council of his own will,
whereby, for His own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass”
The great purpose of
this plan is the manifestation of the glory of God in all His divine
perfections.
3. Various Designations of the Plan of God
The Scriptures refer to
God’s plan by various designations. Some of these may look at some specific
aspect of God’s plan, but it is still a part of the decree of God.
Some of these are: “the counsel of His
will” (Eph. 1:11), “predetermined plan” (Acts 2:23), “foreknowledge” (1 Pet.
1:2; cf. vs. 20), “purpose” (Acts 4:28;
Rom. 8:28), “kind intention” (Eph. 1:9), “predestined” (Rom. 8:30), “elect” (1 Thess.
1:4), and “will of God” (Eph. 1:1).
4. The Time of the Institution of the Plan of
God
When did God form His plan?
2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:20
While it is an eternal
plan, it is unfolded and manifested in time or human history.
God is not scrambling
about trying to work out His plan or make last minute corrections.
The tragedy was (or is)
a part of God’s plan. God includes our
fumbles and allows the tragedies of life in His sovereign purpose (Isa. 43:10-13;
44:6-9, 24-28; 45:6-13, 20-22).
He has pre-designed (prooridzw) a plan that takes into consideration the evil
and the good and the permission of the evil will ultimately demonstrate His
glory and bring praise to Him (Ps. 76:10).
5. It Is an All-Wise Plan, the Very Best
Possible Plan
Since
God’s plan is the plan of an omniscient and all-wise God, it must be the wisest
plan possible. God’s plan accomplishes the purposes of God in the most complete
and perfect way.
We need to learn to see
life from the standpoint of its overall purpose, the glory of God.
Unfortunately, we tend to look at life from the finite standpoint of our own
very temporal and limited existence.
Looking
at God’s plan from an eternal perspective with its eternal weight of glory,
enables us to rest in today and to accept life and use the things that happen
to serve God and His eternal plan.
2 Cor.
4:8-18
The prophet Isaiah
reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that God’s thoughts and ways are very different
from ours, as much so as the heavens are higher than the earth.
Paul Enns
writes in the Moody Handbook of Theology:
God’s wisdom and
knowledge cannot be comprehended, and His decisions cannot be tracked as
footprints in the sand. God has consulted no one and no one has advised Him.
But because God knows all things He controls and guides all events for His glory
and for our good (cf. Ps. 104:24; Prov.
Having
discussed the sovereignty of God and His plan and purposes for the nation of
Israel in Romans 9-11, the Apostle concludes with this praise to the infinite
wisdom of God: Rom. 11:33-36