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.
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;
(4)
The works God has planned for one’s life (Eph.
(5)
The sinful acts of men (Pr. 16:4; Acts
(6)
The death of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:19-20; Acts 2:23).
(7)
The
(8)
The salvation of men (1 Tim. 2:4).
(9)
The giving of spiritual gifts (1 Cor.
(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).