Eternal Decree |
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The subject of God's eternal decrees is seldom addressed in sermons, and rarely discussed in most of the ''Christian" literature of the day. About the only place to turn for an extensive treatment of this topic is the often dry and sometimes pedantic writings of the systematic theologians. It would be unfair, however, to blame the general lack of understanding entirely on the paucity of literature about the subject, when most believers would be forced to admit that they have never examined the Biblical evidence itself. The purpose of these section is to provide a convenient remedy to this situation. Just what are the "eternal decrees" of God? In his one volume systematic theology, Augustus Hopkins Strong offers the following concise definition: ''By the decrees of God we mean that eternal plan by which God has rendered certain all the events of the universe, past, present, and future!" The key words in this definition are "eternal plan" and "rendered certain". The essence af what the Bible has to say about this teaching may be summarized under two points related to these key words. First, the Bible that all of God's creative acts are based on an "eternal plan" or purpose grounded solely in the pleasure of His own invincible will. Second, the Bible also clearly reveals that all secondary causes set in motion by those creative acts have been so ordered and predetermined as to "render certain" that all things will unfold in absolute conformity with God's eternal plan. Those who believe that God has voluntarily limited a portion of his sovereignty by endowing man with an alleged “free will” have a great deal of difficulty with the subject of God’s eternal decrees. To accommodate their views, they have invented a rather interesting way of explaining God’s role in the unfolding of creation events. They are willing to admit that God has total “foreknowledge” of how man will exercise his “free will” in any given circumstance, but they deny that God in any way imposes his own will upon man. The effect of their teaching is to rob such important biblical truths as election of any significant meaning. The “elect,” according to this view, are not chosen as the result of the exercise of God’s own sovereign will, but in response to foreseen actions by those elected. In other words, God only “chooses” those whom he knows in advance will freely “choose” him. The decrees of God, therefore, are not absolute, but are contingent upon the sovereign and “free” choices of man. This kind of teaching may be wide-spread and readily received, but it certainly does not do justice to biblical truth. To attempt to draw an artificial distinction between God’s “foreknowledge” and his decrees is to prove nothing. Jonathan Edwards made just such an observation when he wrote: Whether God has decreed all things that ever come to pass or not, all that own the being of a God, own that He knows all things beforehand. Now, it is self-evident that if He knows all things beforehand, He either doth approve of them or doth not approve of them; that is, He either is willing that they should be, or He is not willing that they should be. But to will that they should be is to decree them. (Italics added) While the following biblical passages are not exhaustive, they do represent the essence of what the Bible has to say about God’s eternal decrees. Whether the subject arises under the name of predestination, or election, or reprobation, or foreordination, or appointment, Scripture leaves no doubt as to who controls the unfolding events of all creation. To deny this clearly revealed truth is to exalt man and dishonor God. To acknowledge and rejoice in this truth is to glorify God and begin to understand his eternal purposes for man. 1. God’s decrees are inevitable, irresistible, and based solely upon his own eternal purposes.
2. The course of all non-sentient creation is predestined by eternal decree.
3. The purpose, place and actions of all mankind are predestined by eternal decree.
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We wish to acknowledge with gratitude the valuable efforts and scholarship of Pastor Ciff Bjork for these excellent notes. He can be contacted at the following address:
Cliff Bjork |