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A Little Time With The 1689: Day 57

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Day 57

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 3.

“By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or fore-ordained to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ to the praise of his glorious grace;...”

Scripture Lookup

1 Timothy 5:21.

Matthew 25:34.

Ephesians 1:5,6.

Reflection

There is nothing you can do to earn eternal life.

This goes against every notion our society has for succeeding. In Western culture, we are told that in order to get something, all we have to do is work hard. When we finally achieve “it” (whatever it is), it is because we deserve it. The more cynical believe that everyone has a price. Find the right dollar amount and you can obtain what you want.

But God can’t be bought. It’s not who your parents are, it’s not what you have, it’s not how hard you work that determines whether or not you have eternal life. It is only through God’s decree that anyone receives eternal life through Jesus. He decreed who would be His in eternity past, not on a whim, not based on a choice someone made today, not on any action made by an individual. Salvation is all of God.

By salvation being all of God, He gets all the glory. There is no boasting in ourselves; there is only praise for God. He has chosen a people and called them out to be His. Since we know that His decrees are sure, and that He does not change, we know that His people will be His. We can rest confidently that His people will have eternal life. Praise His glorious grace!

Questions to Consider

  • How does knowing that God has predestined some to have eternal life affect your evangelism?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 56

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Day 56

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 2.

“Although God knoweth whatsoever may, or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet hath he not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.“

Scripture Lookup.

Acts 15:18.

Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18.

Reflection

Which came first, the decree or the foreknowledge?

We understand that God knows all things. Not only does He know every thing that will occur in this universe, He knows all the possible outcomes of every variation of event if He decreed something differently. Science fiction aficionados will recognize this as the idea of “parallel universes”. Just because God knows these outcomes, though, does not mean that they are reality. God has decreed all that will come to pass, and it is accomplished. There is no deviation. (Sorry, Star Trek and Doctor Who fans!)

Some try to say that while God has decreed all that will come to pass, it is only because He foresaw what will happen. By saying this, they attempt to keep man’s will autonomous, especially in regard to choosing salvation. But is this accurate? In other words, is it Biblical? Looking at Romans 9:16, we read that “it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” God’s decree is not based on His knowledge of the future – that would imply that He is dependent upon that knowledge, and God is independent of everything and anything. Rather, God knows the future because He has decreed it.

Our God is proactive. Thank Him for it!

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever wrestled with the idea that God decrees all things?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 55

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Day 55

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 1.

“..in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.”

Scripture Lookup

Numbers 23:19.

Ephesians 1:3-5.

Reflection

Through the unfolding of events, God’s wisdom, power, and faithfulness is displayed. Through the actions and movements of individuals, through the rise and fall of nations, through natural cause and effect, God’s decrees are carried out. These decrees have divine wisdom to their order, divine power to their potency, and divine faithfulness to their steadfast path.

Is there anything that God has failed to accomplish? How often we look at our own circumstances, at a difficult situation, and think that God will not fulfill His promises! And yet, when we look at Scripture, we see God working throughout history to fulfill His will. The wisdom of God is shown in decreeing the ultimate order to bring our good and God’s glory. A Savior is promised in Genesis, and it is foretold that the serpent will bruise his heel, but that this Savior will crush the serpent’s head. Sinners are blind to their sin, but the Gospel opens their eyes and God is glorified.

The power of God to accomplish His decrees is demonstrated throughout history. The Israelites, oppressed by Pharaoh, are released from slavery through God’s might. They occupy the promised land of Canaan through His aid. Jesus, conspired against, betrayed, beaten, crucified, rises from the dead. The church, persecuted and hated, spreads and grows through the mighty power of God.

God’s faithfulness is thus shown in the outworkings of history. What He has said, will be accomplished. We look to the past and see His faithfulness to His promises. We can look to the future and be confident that He will continue to be faithful to His promises. To have such a trustworthy, strong, and wise God as our God is such a marvelous privilege!

Questions to Consider

  • Can you see the wisdom, power and faithfulness of God when reflecting on your life?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 53

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Day 53

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 1.

“…yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin, nor hath fellowship with any therein,...”

Scripture Lookup

James 1:13.

1 John 1:5.

Reflection

Evil is rampant in this world. From the genocide and killing we hear on the news, to the fighting and backbiting in the workplace or family, to the bitterness and coveting of our own hearts, the fact that sin is present is undeniable. So when we learn that God is sovereign over all, and that He has decreed all things that are to pass, we look around and wonder how it can be. How can a holy and righteous God decree all things when there is evil? Did He decree this evil? Did He create this evil?

R.C. Sproul states:

One thing we know for sure is that evil does exist. It exists, if nowhere else, in us and in our behavior. We know that the force of evil is extraordinary and brings great pain and suffering into the world. We also know that God is sovereign over it and in His sovereignty will not allow evil to have the last word. Evil always and ever serves the ultimate best interest of God Himself. It is God in His goodness and in His sovereignty who has ordained the final conquest over evil and its riddance from His universe. In this redemption we find our rest and our joy — and until that time, we live in a fallen world.

All of our knowledge about God comes to us from Bible. From its pages we know that God has no fellowship with darkness. He is not the author of sin, and cannot abide sin due to His holiness. Sin does not originate with God but from His fallen creatures. God however limits it, and orders it for His own purposes. We also know that He is all-powerful, most wise, and that He has freely decreed what will happen. This course of events is the best because the One who has decreed it makes no errors. We have to trust this even though our surroundings and our own frailties tempt us to believe otherwise.

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever wrestled with the problem of evil?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 52

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Day 52

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 1.

“God hath decreed in himself from all Eternity by the most wise and holy Counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things whatsoever comes to pass;…”

Scripture Lookup

Isaiah 46:10.

Ephesians 1:11.

Hebrews 6:17.

Romans 9: 15,18.

Reflection

God has determined whatsoever comes to pass.

He has determined it.God decreed this in himself. He has determined it alone. There are no advisors to God, and no conditions placed upon Him. God only needs to consult His own will to decree what will happen, and his decrees are done freely. Every nanosecond of time has been set and directed by Him. There is no event, large or small, that takes Him by surprise, because there is no event that veers from His decree.

He has determined it by His own will. It is not done haphazardly. God decrees by his own will, which is most wise and holy. It is infinitely perfect in its purpose and execution.

He has determined it, and it is unchangeable. His decrees do not change. They are perfect. What He has said, will happen. Nothing can sway Him, persuade Him, or manipulate Him. There is no fickleness with God!

We can take comfort in knowing that nothing can thwart the decrees of God, and that His sovereignty is good, just, and absolute. He is infinitely gracious, holy, almighty, and knowledgeable. Would you really want anything to be outside of His control?

Questions to Consider

  • Is there any aspect of life that you have considered to be outside of God’s decree?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 51

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Day 51

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 3.

“…the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and Being; but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties, and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.”

Scripture Lookup

John 15:26.

Galatians 4:6.

Reflection

The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. This is different than what is taught in Eastern Orthodox churches, which claim that the Spirit proceeds only from the Father. Looking at John 15:26 and John 16:7, though, we see that the Spirit proceeds from the Son.

While the trinity is mysterious, it is important to know. Not only is it revealed truth from God, which is always wondrous and beneficial for us, it is also the basis of our “communion with God”. Without a knowledge of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we cannot have salvation. Zacharias Ursinus writes:

It is necessary…that all who will be saved, should have a knowledge of the one God, the eternal Father, the co-eternal Son, and the co-eternal Holy Ghost; for unless he is known as such an one as he has revealed himself, he does not communicate himself unto us, neither can we expect eternal life from him.

May we agree with the doxology, “Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”!

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever reflected on the doctrine of the trinity as the foundation of your communion with God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 49

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Day 49

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 3.

“…of one substance, power, and Eternity, each having the Divine Essence, yet the Essence undivided,..”

Scripture Lookup

Exodus 3:14.

John 14:11.

1 Cor. 8:6.

Reflection

God is one, and in this one being are three subsistences: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are all of the same substance, power, and Eternity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are of one substance. God is spirit. This means that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are spirit, because they are God. All three persons of the trinity are of one power. They all, being God, have the power of God. They are of one Eternity. There never was a time when the Father was not. There never was a time when the Son was not. There never was a time when the Holy Spirit was not.

All persons of the trinity have the Divine Essence. What does that mean? Oxford dictionaries defines essence as “the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character”.  So the Father is fully God, the Son is fully God, and the Holy Spirit is fully God. No member of the trinity is more or less God than any other member.

Recall, though, that God is one. Therefore, the Divine Essence of God is undivided. There are not three divine beings who are fully God, but rather, three divine persons of which God subsists. Richard Barcellos writes, “The three persons do not each possess one third of the divine essence. The essence of God is indivisible (not separable into parts). The essence of God cannot be cut into parts – it’s all or nothing.”

Questions to Consider

  • Could you give a definition of the trinity if asked?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 48

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Day 48

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 3.

“In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word (or Son), and Holy Spirit,…”

Scripture Lookup

1 John 5:7.

Matt. 28:19.

2 Cor. 13:14

Reflection

“Are there more gods than one?”

“No, there is only one God.”

The children’s catechism is so helpful to this sidetracked momma of many. When teaching my children these questions and answers over and over, the questions, answers, and Scripture verses are taught to me as well. I may not have the more “grown-up” catechisms memorized, nor all the ins and outs of the Confession, but I have a good foundation from which to build. And all of them agree that there is one God.

That God one is the starting point for understanding who God is. He is the only living God, the only true God, who is not made up of parts. It is important to remember that “we believe in one God”, as the Nicene creed begins.

Yet there is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity that sets it apart from any other conception of deity:

the trinity.

God does not have parts, yet He consists of three subsistences, or as some put it, persons. They are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is not divided, but yet exists in three persons. We need to be careful how we explain the trinity lest we accidentally fall into heresy.

How can we wrap our heads around this? Well, as Sam Waldron writes, “This doctrine of the Trinity is and must for ever be a divine mystery.” Remember, if God is infinitely greater than we are, He is not going to be fully grasped by our finite minds. We base the truth of the trinity on Biblical support, but accept it upon faith.

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

-Reginald Heber

Questions to Consider

  • What about the trinity would you like to further learn?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 47

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Day 47

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…and in all his Commands; to him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience as Creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.”

Scripture Lookup

Revelation 5:12-14.

Reflection

Love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

-Isaac Watts, “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”

He is worthy.

In Western culture, rebellion and distrust of authority is the norm. Even with those leaders we like, we are apt to follow only as long as we choose. The moment we disagree with a policy, up go the arguments: “Who does he think he is?” “All leaders are corrupt!” “They can’t tell me what to do!” Naturally, this distrust extends to God. The unbeliever denies His existence, or defames His character, all in a vain effort to be autonomous. Like the poem Invictus by Henley, they want to be the master of their fate, the captain of their soul.

As sinners, this attitude of rebellion is nothing new: Adam and Eve, anyone? The nation of Israel, often called “stiff-necked”? Even when we become Christians, we tend to resist the demands of God when they are not agreeable to us. Got any idols in your life that you can’t live without? Do you want to be accepted by others, no matter what compromises may have to be made? Is your desire for comfort keeping you from following His commands?

When we study who God is, we cannot but come to the logical conclusion that yes, He is to be worshiped. Yes, He is to be served. Yes, He is to be obeyed. And yes, we ought to be willing to do whatever else He may require. Because He is worth it.

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. -John 6:68

May we lay down our lives to be in submission to Him. May He help us to do so.

Questions to Consider

  • How are you cultivating a submissive heart to God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 46

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Day 46

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…he is most holy in all his Counsels, in all his Works,…”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 145:17.

Reflection

If you spend any time among Calvinistic or Reformed churches, you may hear the phrase “the whole counsel of God”. It is stressed that you want a church that preaches and teaches the whole counsel of God found in the Scriptures, everything that God has to say and teach us. Why is that important? What is so special about the counsel of God?

God’s counsels and works are “most holy”. When we come to Scripture and learn about God and His work of redemption in history, when we learn about His commandments and precepts, we are learning things that are righteous and good. His thoughts and actions are above any others.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

-Isaiah 55:8,9

If all of God’s counsels and works are most holy, wouldn’t we want to learn as much as we can of them? Wouldn’t we want to tell others as much as we could about this holy and righteous God and His ways? Yet many churches today seek the approval of man. They don’t want to teach the things that might be hard sayings (John 6) for fear of losing approval, money, or reputation.

Seek the churches that preach the whole counsel of God. Be thankful that they do!

Questions to Consider

  • Are there any counsels or works of God that you might have considered not holy?