Having considered the principal sources from which God may be known, and who and what He is in His Being, attributes, and the Persons of the Godhead, we proceed with a discussion of the extrinsic1 works of God. These can be considered both as to their origin and manifestation. The extrinsic works of God originate in the decrees of God. This is true in a general sense, but also in a special sense, relating to man’s eternal predestination, as well as the Counsel of Peace or the Covenant of Redemption, wherein the Son became Surety on behalf of His elect. The manifestation of the extrinsic works of God relates to nature—creation and providence—or grace, which is the execution of the great work of redemption.
We initially will consider the decrees of God, which is a doctrine from which a believing child of God may derive extraordinary comfort, delight, peace, and joy. God is all-sufficient in Himself, having had no need to create any of His creatures. The creature can neither add glory nor felicity to Him; however, it has pleased the Lord to create creatures in order to communicate His goodness to them and consequently render them happy. God in decreeing creation has eternally purposed and decreed within Himself where, when, how, and of what nature each creature should be, and what each should do and encounter. Whereas the doctrine itself can be deduced from the Word of God, the manner in which God decreed is hidden from us. In this respect we have hindsight rather than foresight. We discuss this doctrine in human terms, seeking to understand it in a manner consistent with God’s Being.
Socinians and Arminians, considering the contingent nature of all that transpires, as well as the fact that man acts according to the free exercise of his will, are prepared to remove everything, particularly that which pertains to man, from under the domain of divine government, as they cannot comprehend how God could have decreed everything so precisely. They argue: “What happens to the concept of contingency and what remains of the freedom of man’s will? How can prayer, exhortation, and diligence have any purpose, and how then can God be exempt from being the cause of sin and the damnation of man? If man cannot add anything to his salvation, he might as well cease all efforts and live in indifference.” Consequently, they deny that God’s decree extends to everything and that He has decreed specific events from eternity. We, however, being firmly grounded in the truth, maintain upon the basis of God’s Word that there is such a decree of God, a truth which we confess and seek to use in a sanctified manner. In order to present this truth clearly to everyone, we shall consider the essential nature of God’s decree and its particulars, confirm this from God’s Word, respond to objections, and exhort one another to put this doctrine into practice.
We shall begin by considering the testimony of the Word of God. Scripture, in teaching that God has created, maintains, and governs all things according to a decree which He has decreed within Himself, uses a diversity of expressions to describe and represent this eternal decree.
(1) It uses the word decree. “I will declare the decree” (Ps 2:7); “truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined”2 (Luke 22:22).
(2) It uses the verb to appoint. “For He performeth the thing that is appointed for me” (Job 23:14).
(3) It uses the phrase determinate counsel and foreknowledge. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23); “For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:28).
(4) It uses the phrase the counsel of His will and His pleasure. “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isa 46:10); “who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11).
(5) It uses the word purpose. “Who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28); “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in Himself” (Eph 1:9).
These texts do not merely provide us with the various designations for this decree, but convincingly and simultaneously confirm the truth of the doctrine that God has eternally made a decree, according to which proceeds all that transpires in this time state.
In human decision-making, people will view a matter from all angles, considering both pros and cons, in order to determine its feasibility. Often they cannot analyze the situation correctly, vacillate between two options, and ultimately must make a decision based on the facts as they appear to be at that moment and in similar situations. Far be it from us, however, to attribute such imperfections to the omniscient, only-wise, omnipotent, and immutable God; His ways are not as our ways. We cannot analyze in what manner the Lord decrees and establishes His counsel and purpose. We know, however, that He does so and that our human terminology gives expression to the unsearchable wisdom and immovability of God’s purpose, as well as His comprehensive plan concerning all things as to the manner of their existence and the time of their occurrence.