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AUGUST: Knowing and Serving God

August 18

GOD'S ETERNAL DECREES

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.
Ephesians 1:4

God's manner or method of working is what is commonly called the doctrine of the eternal decrees of God. These are the things that God determined and ordained before He had done anything at all. We must approach this subject with an open mind, seeking and searching for the teaching of Scripture.

There are certain things that our finite minds will not be able to reconcile with one another. Here I must introduce the word antinomy. What is an antinomy? It is a position in which you are given two truths that you yourself cannot reconcile. There are certain final antimonies in the Bible, and as people of faith we must be ready to accept that. When somebody says, "Oh, but you cannot reconcile those two," you must be ready to say, "I cannot. I do not pretend to be able to. But I believe what I am told in the Scriptures." For example, I know the Bible tells me that man, in a sense, is a free agent, and on the other hand that God's eternal decrees govern everything.

In the light of the nature and character of God, the doctrine of the eternal decrees must follow as an utter, absolute necessity. Because God is who and what He is, He must work in the way in which He does work. From eternity God has had an unchangeable plan with reference to His creatures. The Bible is constantly using phrases such as "before the foundation of the world"(see Ephesians 1:4).

God's plan comprehends and determines all things and events of every kind that come to pass. If you believe that God has determined certain ends, then you must believe that He determines everything that leads to those ends. The doctrine of the eternal decrees of God says that all things are ultimately determined and decreed by Him.

A Thought to Ponder
From eternity God has had an unchangeable plan with reference to His creatures.

From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 93, 95-96.




Today’s devo is taken from Walking with God Day by Day © 2003 by Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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