God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will.[1] [2]

Once more we can stand in awe as the reformers put forward one simple text, then upon that foundation lay a work of tremendous height, that sings of the glory of God, as it declares Him the Sovereign of all. How we could wish that the church throughout the ages had such confidence in the Word of God. ". . . who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Eph. 1:11). We can be assured no modern has such an understanding of the word "all" and we would be treated at this point with several pages for the possible meaning the "writer" of Ephesians had in using this word in this way.

We could perhaps rightly enter into a discussion of the scholarship of the past and that of the present day. We would lose by a league. The generations of the reformation had a command of language that in its simplicity removed debate, and left all who would argue as mere cavilers before the Sovereign God of the universe. I dare say none today would word this question or answer in this way, and none would dare make such a bold proclamation from "only" one proof- text. We seem to have forgotten that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. But then, we don’t fear anything, even God. My very soul cries out as I see those who would profess to be of God, with such abandon make use of His Holy Word as if it were no more than an ancient work of man.

Which of us would have chosen the word execute? Yet no other properly describes what God has, is, and will do until in His own time, He calls the end to the world as we know it. To take the words of this answer and sit with dictionary in hand and contemplate each is a worthy exercise.

As we have seen in the treatment of the decrees of God in these three questions, the decrees are primarily concerned with election. Though all of the creation is listed, and this is not a side issue, angels and men are the height of God’s creation and it is only fitting that the focus of the decree is toward them. Dr. J. B. Green in his "Harmony of the Westminster Standards" chose to group this question with Chapter four of the "Confession" and questions 14 - 17 of the Larger Catechism under creation. As noted the decrees indeed do have application to all of creation and I would again caution us not to look at the Word of God to try and separate "each and every" word that can be considered a divine decree from the whole. In speaking of the Decalogue in his short work entitled "The Ten Commandments" G. Campbell Morgan wrote, "In the close of the Book of Ecclesiastes, the preacher says ‘This is the end of the matter; all have been heard: fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole of man’ (Ecc.12:13). Not ‘the whole duty of man,’ as it was in the Authorized Version, but the ‘whole of man.’ That is to say, if a man fear God and keep His commandments, he is a whole man. Judged by this standard, how many are there that are not whole men?" So it is, we must be careful to not be caught up in the bright light of one portion of the Holy Writ, but give attention to all. ". . . but every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." was the answer of our Lord when shown such lofty heights designed of hell to entrap the souls of the unwary. So the divine truth prevails and all of the creation is sustained by God’s eternal decrees. This is not the same as providence which we shall see in the proper place is the ordering of these decrees and the resultant secondary causes proceeding therefrom, to bring about God’s perfect and holy will.

". . . counsel of His own will." surely none would dare to consider any but the Godhead Itself capable of holding counsel with God to bring about change to that which is perfection itself. As I watch the world rave about itself, and man once more dream of building its modern towers of Babble, daring to profane the Word of God in declaring it to condone evil, and permit perversion of the species I cannot but remember the story of Job. Surely if any ever had cause to seek direct counsel with God, it was Job. Yet throughout we see Job declare God sovereign, and God never condescend to explain His actions. God speaks of paths in the sea, and the feeding and care of various wild life, but never explains Himself. God is sovereign! God has spoken, His voice is an eternal decree to which all of creation must bow in obedience. What comfort then are the words of Paul ". . . all things work for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose" (Rom.8:28). If God’s every word is less than the eternal truth, these too are but empty and vain words.

Thus our beloved faith so vividly and soundly proclaimed in the TULIP stands continuously before the throne of God, safe from all attacks. Yet, along with the reformers and both Dort and the Westminster Divines let us not detract from the beauty of the decrees as they apply to angels and men, brought to fruit in the work of creation and continuing in providence.

Providence is God’s continuing and "active participation" in the world today. The eternal decrees set the boundaries so to speak, how it is assured that the ends declared by God are properly reached in the timing of God, God "orders" all things that come to pass. It is extremely difficult here to grasp this continuing process, when the end has already been determined and not enter into a fatalism that makes all of life and creation but mere puppets in the hand of God. This isn’t true, and while we are but clay in His hands, being formed by Him there is an element of the "freedom" of the creature, and the non-violation of free will of man by God, it is God’s will that will bring about this end in perfect harmony. Thus God’s eternal plan comes to be and the freedom of the created is not crushed in the process, but the elect are enabled to become willing to do the will of God. The created maintains responsibility for their actions and the reprobate stands before God on that faithful day of the Lord, acknowledging guilt by the silence of their raging hearts and tongues before the justice of God. I am not sure this can be put into words we can fully grasp, but the Bible clearly teaches that it is of God both for us to will and to do and that the election is of God. To which opposite ends, we can but appeal to the mystery of God at places and accept His Holy Word as truth. Nonetheless, the fear here is that we move to the opposite end of the spectrum and say that man chooses God, or the free will of man gives choice to man to be in or out of heaven.

Perhaps if we would attempt to first understand that it was from nothing that God created all, to include mankind, and all was to glorify Himself alone, we could better accept the idea of Irresistible Grace. Because He does have a "free will" man will never turn to God by himself. The first point of Calvinism, that man is lost (depraved) and cannot save himself, a fact fully attested in Scripture sets the stage whereby Irresistible Grace is an absolute necessity if any were to be saved.

Many and perhaps most will chafe under the idea that this means God violates the will of the creature. First to make it appear even worse I would simply say that of his own doing man is already condemned and rightfully so, and who is this creature of darkness that would dare question God? However there is comfort here that passes anything we can imagine. First we can know we are of the elect. The whole Gospel of John was written for this express purpose. What rejoicing there should be then with this sure knowledge that we indeed are the children of God and the end is in His hands, not the fallible likes of ourselves. There is a lifting of guilt and sense of freedom we cannot even imagine from these mere words, this must be experienced to understand.

Then there is a lifting of guilt in that since it all rests with God, my duty is to glorify God by obeying God and delivering the message. I don’t save anyone, my weak faith causes none to be lost. It also removes the earthly sting of having such good news tossed back in our faces by those we reach out to as an expression of the love of God we have received and now attempt to share. They don’t refuse me, they refuse God. The guilt lies with themselves, not me. God is vindicated in that He sent a messenger with the good news. Man of his own will refused the message! That man cannot see or hear (understand) unless God takes another overt action and sends the Holy Spirit, places no guilt of the condemnation to the charge of God. The offer is made in truth and love, the darkness of sin having blinded the creature does not negate the sincere offer of Christ we present. It does bring freedom of guilt to us however. The Synod of Dort declared it was so because of sin. This is correct reasoning and application of the Scripture.

Creation has ended in that God declared it so when He rested the seventh day. The work of providence continues and will as God actively cares for His creation every moment of every hour as He has from the beginning.

A decree cannot be changed. The end result, meaning which angels would remain holy and which men will be saved being an eternal decree is sure and will not change. Providence is the "earthly" circumstances that God uses to bring this end about. It is thus prayer avails much and we see miracles wrought through prayer by mere men who call upon God.

With this lesson we have passed through the most difficult of Bible doctrines and are prepared to move onto doctrines where there is little or no argument in the whole of the Church. There are some who believe that man can be saved by God and then sin to the point he is removed from the state of grace. The Perseverance of the saints however rests upon sure ground with so much Scripture behind it that in my opinion it takes a real effort to not believe it. The biggest points of contention are with Limited Atonement and Irresistible Grace. If you have been able to understand and see this truth from the Bible, the rest of this series of lessons will be a breeze, you have reached the top of the mountain and now begin to descend toward that New Jerusalem come down from heaven.

Ephesians eight verse two is the answer to both these questions to me. "You are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God lest any should boast" (Eph. 2:8). If we didn’t save ourselves, and we continue by the grace of God, why do we think we can lose the gift given. First the gifts of God are without shadow or turning, that is they are eternal. Second if all is by grace, and we were saved without merit, it is logical we cannot lose that gift for lack of continuing merit. To have to continue to do something to keep the gift, it is not of grace and cannot be called a free gift. A gift or grant is a done deed, if God were to remove it, then it was never given in the true sense of being a gift to us. No grace, then no salvation! To whom is grace bestowed? To the elect alone! The blood is sufficient, but will not be applied or made effective for the non-elect. Question, will there be one single human soul in hell according to the Bible? (Remember the rich man and Lazarus as you answer this.) End of debate, one soul in hell means that the election was not complete or for every soul to walk upon the earth. If Christ died for you, you will be saved. How wonderful our God who can work the salvation of man who hates God and doesn’t know he needs a Savior, and not violate the will of that man. Truly we serve an awesome God who is worthy of our praise and to whom the labor of obedience for His own glory is but our reasonable service and to be expected from us.

How fantastic that God loves us so much that in the whole of the story revealed in that Great Book of Redemption not one thing can we find required of us, that God did not first give us. Can there be evidence greater of the love of one for another than he lay down his life for him? Yet we read in due time Christ died for the ungodly. While we were still lost in darkness, dead in sin, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God died for us!

Forget the political correctness and inclusiveness of the world. Let us be holy, because He who called us from darkness into this glorious light is holy. Christianity is exclusive! Except by the blood of Christ, none will see eternal life, for we are dead in sin already.

For further thought: Reread lesson one and look at the TULIP in note 5. Which of these five points do you disagree with? Why? Based upon which verse of Scripture?

I used the phrase that the gifts of God are without shadow or turning in this lesson. How does this apply, or not, to the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the church and individuals.

For further study: There have been several in the history of the church that tried to make creation compatible with science. The latest effort tries to make each day a symbolic day, whereby they use the word day, but mean a long period of time elapsed between each of these days. They have named this the frame work theory. Why were or why were not the six days literal days as we know them? How do you reach this conclusion. Hint, using a concordance check each word in the first chapter of Genesis. Check the word day in Genesis one against the word day in the fourth commandment. Has your opinion changed?

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[1] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11 AV)

[2] Scripture for further study and thought:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17 AV)