Colossians 1:9-10
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God," Colossians 1:9-10. This is a prayer that a pastor prays for those whom the Lord has entrusted him to shepherd. He prays to God that the flock would be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding which would cause the Christian to conduct himself in such a way that pleases God. This will make the Christian fruitful in his works which will be good works. The Christian will also be increasing in the knowledge of God. This should be the progression of a Christians life. This sounds pretty easy until we begin to strive to accomplish these things. We find out we have hindrances. We live in a world that is full of sin which is promoted and praised. Our own flesh is drawn to sinful inclinations. The more we study the more our own body becomes weary with studying. We quickly learn that living the Christian life is not an easy task, and we cannot do it by our own power. This is another reason it is important for us to increase in the knowledge of God.
Last time we looked at the fact that God is infinite, and we are finite. God doesn't have bounds or limits; but we do. As Paul did with the Colossians, we pray for ourselves and for each other that we would increase in the knowledge of God. Today we will look at the decree of God. We view the decree of God as decrees of God because we see things as they come to pass. We presently live looking back at what has happened while anticipating what is going to happen. We are always learning, but God never learns. What God has decreed will come to pass. "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world," Acts 15:18. All these works are known unto God not because He learns them, but because He has decreed them. He who inhabits eternity never learns anything, nor does anything take Him by surprise. "The decrees of God relate to all future things without exception: whatever is done in time was foreordained before time began. God's purpose was concerned with everything, whether great or small, whether good or evil, although with reference to the latter we must be careful to state that while God is the Orderer and Controller of sin, he is not the Author of it in the same way that he is the Author of good. Sin could not proceed from a holy God by positive and direct creation, but only by decretive permission and negative action. God's decree is as comprehensive as his government, extending to all creatures and all events. It was concerned about our life and death; about our state in time, and our state in eternity. As God works all things after the counsel of his own will, we learn from his works what his counsel is (was), as we judge of an architect's plan by inspecting the building which was erected under his directions." A.W. Pink.
There are different terms in the Scriptures that are used for the decree of God. Turn to Ephesians 3:7-11. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord," Ephesians 3:11. The word "purpose" in verse 11 is the Greek word "prothesis" what one proposes in one's mind or purposes to himself, and speaks of the eternal purpose and counsel of God. Notice that God's purpose is eternal. He purposed this before time began as we know it. This also means His purpose is unchangeable. This should be very comforting for the Christian. Here are some more Scriptures dealing with God's eternal purposes, or decrees. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," Romans 8:28. "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)" Romans 9:11. "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. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," II Timothy 1:9. God is not shooting from the hip hoping things go His way.
God has decreed what He has decreed for His glory. The decrees of God are eternal, which means He is not making new ones as He goes, nor does He change them. If God had to make new decrees, that means that something has happened that He was not expecting. This would make God the same as man, finite, which means He would cease from being God.
What are some of the means to God's decreed end? I have to use the word "some" in this question because I am finite. God uses people. The critics will begin to scream at this point because they do not understand the holiness of God nor the sinfulness of mankind. Let us look at a few Scriptures that deal with this. "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain," Acts 2:23. We know the bible teaches that Christ was as a lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. This is the eternal decree of God. God used men to accomplish what He ordained. Did God force people to crucify Jesus Christ? No. Did God create new evil and new hatred in those who crucified Christ? No. Turn to Acts 3:11-18. Notice that the people did what they desired to do. They were restrained from fulfilling their desires until the appointed time. No one can blame God because they did what they wanted to do (Acts 4:26-28).
Where were we when God made His decrees? God made His decree before the world was made. The point made here is that no one influenced God in any way. God was not tricked or manipulated in any way by anyone. God was free in His decree. Free means He was not influenced by anything or anyone. "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counselor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?" Isaiah 40:13-14. Since no one was there when God made these decrees, no one gave God counsel etc. "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it," Isaiah 46:10-11.
To the unregenerate these truths are very offensive, but to those whom the Lord has saved these truths are very comforting. These truths should grow our faith in the Lord. Our God is Infinite, and He does what He has decreed to do. Lord willing we will learn more about the personal perfections of God next time. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
