The Decrees of God

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Isaiah 14:24
• Scripture Reading — Isaiah 46:8–11
• Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:11
• Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:29–30
• Sermon
• Prayer of Dismissal

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Sermon Title: The Decrees of God

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11

I. Introduction — Why Study the Decrees of God?

A. When facing hard situations, we naturally ask "Why is this happening?" and "Who is really in control?" — we reach for solid footing B. All doctrine is unto doxology — the study of God is meant to lead us to worship

1. Romans 9–11 moves from God's sovereign election of Jacob over Esau to doxology: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33)
2. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 3 repeatedly grounds predestination in "the praise of his glorious grace" C. The doctrine of the decrees is meant to be both a call to worship and a comfort to believers

II. Definition of the Decrees of God

A. Basic definition (Kevin DeYoung, Daily Doctrine): a decree is an official order, edict, or command B. Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q&A 7: "The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass" C. Illustration: a driver controls his route but is subject to traffic, weather, road closures, other drivers, and roads he did not lay — his self-determination is relative, limited, and weak; God's is not

III. Biblical Foundations

A. Isaiah 14:24 — God's decree concerning Assyria

1. "As I have planned, so shall it be; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand"
2. Introduces the pattern: God has a plan, a purpose, and he will bring it about

B. Isaiah 46:8–11 — God distinguishes himself from idols

1. Idols are carried, cannot move, cannot answer — they are helpless (Isaiah 46:7)
2. "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me" (Isaiah 46:9)
3. God declares "the end from the beginning" and "from ancient times things not yet done" (Isaiah 46:10)
4. "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose… I have spoken and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed and I will do it"
5. Israel is called to remember God's past works as grounds for present confidence

C. Ephesians 1:11 — the chief New Testament passage on the decrees

1. "We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will"
2. Purpose (Greek: prothesis) — that which is planned in advance; a resolve; what God has determined to do
3. Counsel (Greek: boulē) — a purposeful resolution; God's deliberate, settled will
4. The scope is "all things," not merely salvation — though salvation is prominently included (cf. Romans 8:28)
5. The decrees are rooted in God's infinite knowledge:
   • Necessary knowledge — God knows all things that could possibly happen in every scenario
   • Free knowledge — God knows the unfolding of his plan as decreed

D. Matthew 10:29–30 — the decrees extend to the smallest details

1. Not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father's will
2. "The hairs of your head are all numbered" — better understood as God having determined the number, not merely counted them
3. This granular sovereignty is intended as comfort for believers

IV. Scope and Structure of the Doctrine

A. The decrees must be distinguished from the execution of the decrees (how God carries them out) B. Westminster Shorter Catechism uses creation and providence as the two modes of execution C. Louis Berkhof (systematic theologian) adds redemption as a third category; redemption falls under providence in the Westminster Standards D. Future lessons will focus primarily on providence and redemption

V. Summary Statement

A. J. I. Packer: "God's dominion is total. He wills as he chooses and carries out all that he wills, and none can stay his hand or thwart his plans" B. In the decrees we see God as sovereign King — unlike earthly kings whose edicts are limited by creaturely finitude, God's decrees are unlimited and certain of fulfillment C. A note on Middle Knowledge (Molinism): the class affirmed that God does not merely survey possible worlds and choose among them — rather, the world as it exists is the world God decreed; the roads are the way they are because God chose it so