By Gary Ray Branscome
The
purpose of this section is to focus on certain lasting commitments or decrees
that God has made. These ongoing decrees are to be distinguished from external
acts of God, (such as Christ changing water into wine) that only occupy a brief
period of time. The Bible speaks of three such decrees the decree of creation,
the decree of redemption, and the decree of predestination.
The Decree of Creation
The
decree of creation is that commitment God made from the beginning, not only to
bring all things into existence, but to sustain them according to His divine
plan.
The words, “Praise the LORD from the heavens:
praise Him from the heights. Praise Him, all you His angels: praise Him, all
His hosts. Praise Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all you stars of light. Praise
Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the
name of the LORD: for He commanded, and they were created. He has also
set them in their places forever: He has made a decree which shall
not pass,” use the word “decree” in regard to what God has created
(Psalm 148:1-6). The words, “He gave to the sea His decree, and would
not let the water flow further than He ordained: when He laid out the
foundations of the earth,” tell us that the limits of the sea are
determined by God’s decree (Proverbs
The Decree of Redemption
The
decree of Redemption is that commitment God made from the beginning to send
Christ to redeem lost mankind, whose fall He has foreseen, but not caused.
The words, “This Jesus, being delivered up by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by the hands
of wicked men have crucified and slain,” tell us that God allowed the Pharisees
to arrest Jesus, because that was His plan from the beginning (Acts
The Decree of Predestination
The
decree of predestination is that commitment God made from the beginning to work
through His Word to bring multitudes to salvation through faith in the
forgiveness Christ won for us. Predestination and election will be treated at
greater length when I deal with that doctrine. They are dealt with here only as
eternal decrees of God
The
words, “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” tell us that
it was God’s plan from the very beginning for Christ to die for the sins of the
world (Revelation 13:8). The words, “He [the Father] has chosen us in
Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world,” tell us that God did not
choose us before He decided to send Christ to die for our sins, but chose to
save us “in Him” that is “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:4). The words, “No
man can come to me, unless the Father who has sent me draws him,” tell us
that we do not choose God, He chooses us (John
At
the same time, the words, “As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure
in the death of the wicked, but want the wicked man to turn from his way and
live,” tell us that God does not want anyone to be lost (Ezekiel 33:11).
The words, “God… has made of one blood all nations of men to live on all the
face of the earth, and has determined their appointed times, and the boundaries
they live in, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope
for Him, and find Him, although He is not far from any one of us,” tell us
that God wants all men to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:24-27). The words, “Everyone
whom the Father gives me will come to me; and I will never turn away anyone who
comes to me,” tell us that God will never reject those who want to be saved
(John