Lesson 21  January 28, 2004

Review Intro:

 

 

 

 

6.  It Depends on God Alone

Though God often uses human instruments to accomplish His plan, it ultimately depends solely upon God both for its source and for its accomplishment.  (Primary and Secondary)

As to Its Source:    Isaiah 40:13-14

As to Its Accomplishment:   Isaiah 40:21-26;   Eph 1:11

 

7.  Things Excluded From God’s Plan

Excluded from the decree of God are all things relating to His own existence, His attributes, His subsistence in three Persons, His intimate relationships, or His responsibilities.

 

8.  The Scope of God’s Sovereign Plan

The Totality of God’s Plan

 

The Bible tells us that God is the One “… who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph.  1:11).  Not some things, but all things.

Note how the Psalmist put it:  Psalm 103:19

Even the evil and the good are included together in the sovereign plan of God. There are no areas, or happenings over which God is not the Supreme Ruler.

Everything in creation is subject to His rule and only occurs as a part of His pre-designed plan (see Isa. 46:10-11; 45:6-7, 9).

 

Illustrations of the Areas Included in God’s Plan

(1) The material universe (Ps. 33:6-11; 89:5-18; Deut. 32:8; Job. 14:5;  Col. 1:16-17;    Heb. 1:2-3a).

(2) Nations and their rulers (Isa. 10:5f; 30:1ff; 31:1f; 41:2-4; Acts 17:26; Rom. 13:1f).

(3) Man’s length of life (Deut 32:39; Ps. 68:20; 91:3f; 139:16; Job 14:5, 14;  21:21).

(4) The works God has planned for one’s life (Eph. 2:10; Prov. 16:1-4, 9; Ps. 37:23).

(5) The sinful acts of men (Pr. 16:4; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; Isa. 10:5-14).

(6) The death of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:19-20;  Acts 2:23).

(7) The kingdom of God (Matt. 25:34).

(8) The salvation of men (1 Tim. 2:4).

(9) The giving of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:11).

(10) The gifts of specific individual believers to specific ministries (Eph 4:8,11; 1 Pet. 5:2-3).

(11) Even the calamities of life fall within the permissive aspect of the will of God          (Isa. 45:7).