October 31, 1999
This past week has been quite eventful, and I have been up in
the air about what to speak about today. I had a message together
for today, which was the second half of last weeks', but I believe
this is needed for me, and for others in here today also, considering
my heart attack last week.
Brother Darryl gave me a book from his library when we visited
them a couple weeks ago. During this slow time, I have been reading
some in it. The name of the book is "The Doctrine of Absolute
Predestination." It was written by Jerom Zanchius (1516-1590).
It was translated into English, by Augustus Toplady in the early
1700s.
There is so much found in this doctrine of PREDESTINATION, that
I will not even begin to touch its meaning, which includes God's
permission of evil in the world. So, I'll just give a few points
and some passages as we go along.
As I have said many times, I have no idea how the secret things
of God work together with what we as individuals know to do and
for which we will be responsible before God:
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto
the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto
us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words
of this law.
I can give scriptures, but I cannot explain the secret things
that belong unto the Lord our God as God works all things to his
own glory. I do know, however, that we will answer to God for
everything we have done in the flesh.
FIRST,
Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from
the beginning of the world.
God always was and is so perfectly wise, that
nothing he ever did or does or will do can escape
his knowledge. He knew from all eternity not only what he himself
would do, but also what he would incline and permit others to
do.
SECOND,
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all things are naked
and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
God knows nothing now, nor will he know anything
in the future that he did not know
from everlasting past. His foreknowledge (knowing
what will happen in the future in time as we know it) is co-eternal
with himself, and extends to everything that
is or that ever shall be.
THIRD, God's foreknowledge is sure
and infallible, so that whatever he foreknows
must come to pass. His foreknowledge cannot
be hindered in any way, nor can he be deceived in any way, or
he would cease to be God.
FOURTH, it is God's secret foreknowledge
that is the first cause of everything that takes
place on this earth. Man can only know the secondary
cause.
The secondary cause is man acting freely
and voluntarily as though he were absolute
lord of his own destiny. God does not force
man to make certain choices. And man will also be judged as though
he were lord of his own destiny. But in all things and even in
his most fallen, corrupt state, man is fulfilling what is appointed
for him by the foreknowledge of God.
FIFTH,
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel
and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have
crucified and slain:
God's plan for history and his foreknowledge work together to
bring about whatever happens in history.
SIXTH,
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ to himself,according to the
good pleasure of his will,
We must say that whatever takes place on this earth is for no
other reason than because it is according to the good
pleasure of his will.
It was according to his good pleasure alone that
permitted sin to enter into the world, and death by sin, for without
his permission neither men nor devils can do anything.
SEVENTH, I will say nothing at this time about
the secret will of God and the revealed
will of God. Rather, I will only point out that whether
in the salvation of individuals or in the events
of life, it is the will of God at work.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old:
for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none
like me, 10 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: 11 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. Ephesians
1:11 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: 12 That we should
be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Notice Ephesians 1:5-11: Three times in these
few verses the Lord tells us that all things in heaven and earth
take place according to the good pleasure of his will,
vv. 5, 9, 11.
I will skip over a tremendous amount because of time, to this
point.
EIGHTH, whatever comes to pass, comes to pass
because it is God's will for it to come to pass.
God either causes something to come to pass,
or he permits certain things to come to pass
because those things accomplish the good pleasure of his own will.
Psalms 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he
hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and
he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among
the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say
unto him, What doest thou? Psalms 135:6 Whatsoever
the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the
seas, and all deep places. Matthew 10:29 Are
not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not
fall on the ground without your Father.
From beginning to end, the word of God tells us that there is
nothing that takes place in heaven nor in earth that does not
have God as its first cause. God either permits
the event to take or he causes it to take place. Either way, the
result will always be according to the good pleasure of
his own will.
Every one in here, whether we are on the mountain top or in the
valley, must say with Job:
Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can
turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14 For
he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and
many such things are with him.
Linda's eye problem was the thing that God appointed for her.
Jeanette's difficulties are the things appointed by God for her.
Nennah's problems are the things appointed for her, and the list
goes on and on. Each one of us is in the process of working out
God's good pleasure upon this earth.
One day we will understand more about what has taken place here
on earth. And those who have been converted by faith in the blood
of Christ will be among those recorded in,
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive
glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
FINALLY,
"But if this is the case, then God is unjust, for who has
resisted God's will?"
Which is the charge recorded in Romans 9:19, Thou
wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath
resisted his will?
Paul answered this in v. 14, "Is there unrighteousness with
God? God forbid."
In other words, no man can charge God with being unrighteous.
As I said, I do not know how this secret
thing of God works, but I do know that God is righteous
in all he does, and we dare not question his righteousness in
his actions.
Our God is the first cause of everything that
takes place. Paul probably had this in mind when he said,
Romans 11:33, O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind
of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first
given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For
of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory for ever. Amen.
Though God's ways are past finding out, his revealed Word is not.
We will be held accountable as to how we think and act according
to his word.
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I
live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue
shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account
of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things
done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad.
We are in this place today by Divine appointment. What will you
do with the opportunity God has brought to you?