Gods necessary will

1
Gods necessary will

• Two Kinds
• 1. Will of absolute necessity
• 2. Will of hypothetical necessity
• Turretin - which is not so of itself and simply
  such but that it could be otherwise, but yet on
  the positing of something it necessarily follows
  and could not be otherwise as for example, if
  you posit that God predestinated Jacob to
  salvation, it is necessary that Jacob should be
  saved, namely on the hypothesis of the decree.

2
Decretive will

• Matthew 1125-26 At that time Jesus declared, "I
  thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
  you have hidden these things from the wise and
  understanding and revealed them to little
  children 26 yes, Father, for such was your
  gracious will.
• Acts 222-23 "Men of Israel, hear these words
  Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God
  with mighty works and wonders and signs that God
  did through him in your midst, as you yourselves
  know- 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to
  the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you
  crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

3
Decretive will (cont)

• Romans 917-19 For the Scripture says to
  Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you
  up, that I might show my power in you, and that
  my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
  18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and
  he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to
  me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who
  can resist his will?"
• Ephesians 111-12 In him we have obtained an
  inheritance, having been predestined according to
  the purpose of him who works all things according
  to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who
  were the first to hope in Christ might be to the
  praise of his glory.
• Compare Ps 5118 1153 Isa 4610 Jer 4920
  James 118

4
Preceptive will

• Ezekiel 1823 Have I any pleasure in the death of
  the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather
  that he should turn from his way and live?
• 2 Peter 39 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his
  promise as some count slowness, but is patient
  toward you, not wishing that any should perish,
  but that all should reach repentance.
• See also Is 3810 652 Lamentations 331-36
  Ezekiel 3311 Hosea 117-8.

5
Eternal and Universal

• I. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise
  and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and
  unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass...

6
Eternal and Universal

• Ephesians 38-12 To me, though I am the very
  least of all the saints, this grace was given, to
  preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
  Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone
  what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages
  in God who created all things, 10 so that
  through the church the manifold wisdom of God
  might now be made known to the rulers and
  authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was
  according to the eternal purpose that he has
  realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we
  have boldness and access with confidence through
  our faith in him.
• Ephesians 13-6 Blessed be the God and Father of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
  Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
  heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him
  before the foundation of the world , that we
  should be holy and blameless before him. In love
  5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus
  Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6
  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which
  he has blessed us in the Beloved.
• See also 2 Tim 19 1 Pet 120-21 Rom 1133-36
  Acts 223.
• Ephesians 111-12 In him we have obtained an
  inheritance, having been predestined according to
  the purpose of him who works all things according
  to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who
  were the first to hope in Christ might be to the
  praise of his glory.
• Isaiah 468-11 "Remember this and stand firm,
  recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember
  the former things of old for I am God, and there
  is no other I am God, and there is none like me,
  10 declaring the end from the beginning and from
  ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My
  counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my
  purpose,' 11 calling a bird of prey from the
  east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I
  have spoken, and I will bring it to pass I have
  purposed, and I will do it.

7
Sin

• yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of
  sin...
• James 113 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I
  am being tempted by God," for God cannot be
  tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
  17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
  above, coming down from the Father of lights with
  whom there is no variation or shadow due to
  change.
• 1 John 15 This is the message we have heard
  from him and proclaim to you, that God is light,
  and in him is no darkness at all.
• Acts 223 this Jesus, delivered up according to
  the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you
  crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

8
Determinism?

• ...nor is violence offered to the will of the
  creatures

9
Responsibility

• ...nor is the liberty or contingency of second
  causes taken away, but rather established.

10
WCF

• III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation
  of His glory, some men and angels are
  predestinated unto everlasting life and others
  foreordained to everlasting death.
• IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and
  foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably
  designed, and their number so certain and
  definite, that it cannot be either increased or
  diminished.
• V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto
  life, God, before the foundation of the world was
  laid, according to His eternal and immutable
  purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure
  of His will, has chosen, in Christ, unto
  everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and
  love, without any foresight of faith, or good
  works, or perseverance in either of them, or any
  other thing in the creature, as conditions, or
  causes moving Him thereunto and all to the
  praise of His glorious grace.
• VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased,
  according to the unsearchable counsel of His own
  will, whereby He extends or withholds mercy, as
  He pleases, for the glory of His sovereign power
  over His creatures, to pass by and to ordain
  them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the
  praise of His glorious justice.

11
Divine determination

• 1 Peter 27-8 7 So the honor is for you who
  believe, but for those who do not believe, "The
  stone that the builders rejected has become the
  cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a
  rock of offense." They stumble because they
  disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
• Jude 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed
  who long ago were designated for this
  condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the
  grace of our God into sensuality and deny our
  only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

12
Three Questions in Rom. 9

• V. 6 - Has the purpose of God failed?
• V. 14 - Is God unfair?
• V. 19 - How can I be blamed?

13
Romans 96-Has God's Purpose Failed?

• Rom 91-5 I am speaking the truth in Christ- I am
  not lying my conscience bears me witness in the
  Holy Spirit- 2 that I have great sorrow and
  unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish
  that I myself were accursed and cut off from
  Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen
  according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites,
  and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the
  covenants, the giving of the law, the worship,
  and the promises. 5 To them belong the
  patriarchs, and from their race, according to the
  flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed
  forever. Amen.
• Rom 96 6 But it is not as though the word of God
  has failed. For not all who are descended from
  Israel belong to Israel...

14
Rom 96-13

• But it is not as though the word of God has
  failed. For not all who are descended from Israel
  belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of
  Abraham because they are his offspring, but
  Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 8
  This means that it is not the children of the
  flesh who are the children of God, but the
  children of the promise are counted as offspring.
  9 For this is what the promise said About this
  time next year I will return, and Sarah shall
  have a son. 10 And not only so, but also when
  Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our
  forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet
  born and had done nothing either good or badin
  order that Gods purpose of election might
  continue, not because of works but because of him
  who calls 12 she was told, The older will serve
  the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob I
  loved, but Esau I hated.
• Malachi 12-3 "I have loved you," says the LORD.
  But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not
  Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I
  have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have
  laid waste his hill country and left his heritage
  to jackals of the desert.

15
Second question - Is God Unfair?

• What shall we say then? Is there injustice on
  Gods part? (v. 14)
• Romans 915-18 For he says to Moses, "I will
  have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have
  compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So
  then it depends not on human will or exertion,
  but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture
  says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have
  raised you up, that I might show my power in you,
  and that my name might be proclaimed in all the
  earth." 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he
  wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
• Romans 919 You will say to me then, "Why does
  he still find fault? For who can resist his will?

16
Third Question-How can I be blamed?

• Romans 920-24 But who are you, O man, to answer
  back to God? Will what is molded say to its
  molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has
  the potter no right over the clay, to make out of
  the same lump one vessel for honored use and
  another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God,
  desiring to show his wrath and to make known his
  power, has endured with much patience vessels of
  wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to
  make known the riches of his glory for vessels of
  mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for
  glory- 24 even us whom he has called, not from
  the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

17
WCF 3.7

• The doctrine of this high mystery of
  predestination is to be handled with special
  prudence and care, that men, attending the will
  of God revealed in His Word, and yielding
  obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of
  their effectual vocation, be assured of their
  eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford
  matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of
  God and of humility, diligence, and abundant
  consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.

18
Point of Application

• For the church
• "...praise, reverence, and admiration of God and
  of humility, diligence, and abundant
  consolation..."
• And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in
  which you once walked, following the course of
  this world, following the prince of the power of
  the air, the spirit that is now at work in the
  sons of disobedience 3 among whom we all once
  lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out
  the desires of the body and the mind, and were by
  nature children of wrath, like the rest of
  mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because
  of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even
  when we were dead in our trespasses, made us
  alive together with Christby grace you have been
  saved 6 and raised us up with him and seated us
  with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
  7 so that in the coming ages he might show the
  immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness
  toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you
  have been saved through faith. And this is not
  your own doing cit is the gift of God, 9 not a
  result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For
  we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
  for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
  that we should walk in them.

19
Point of Application

• For the world
• The doctrine of predestination is not the gospel
• Acts 1630 - Then he brought them out and said,
  Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they
  said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
  saved, you and your household.
• Rom. 109 ...because, if you confess with your
  mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
  heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
  be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and
  is justified, and with the mouth one confesses
  and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says,
  Everyone who believes in him will not be put to
  shame. 12 For there is no distinction between
  Jew and Greek for the same Lord is Lord of all,
  bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13
  For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
  will be saved.
• See Lev. 185 Neh. 929 Ezek. 2011, 13, 21
  Matt. 1917 Luke 1028 Gal. 312 ch. 710
  Deut. 3014 Joel 232

20
Paul's conclusion

• Romans 1133-36 (ESV)
• 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and
  knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his
  judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 For
  who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has
  been his counselor? 35 Or who has given a gift
  to him that he might be repaid? 36 For from him
  and through him and to him are all things. To him
  be glory forever. Amen.
• See Deut. 2929 Isa. 4013 Job 3622, 23 Job
  357 4111

21
Supralapsarianism vs. Infralapsarianism

• Supra - Decree of election, Creation, Fall (E - C
  - F)
• Infra - Creation, Fall, Decree of election (C - F
  - E)

22
Providence

• WCF 5.1 Gods providence is worked out according
  to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and
  immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise
  of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice,
  goodness, and mercy.
• Calvin says (I.17.1) strives to the end that God
  may reveal his concern for the whole human race,
  but especially his vigilance in ruling the
  church, which he deigns to watch more closely.

23
Preservation

• Romans 1136 For from him and through him and to
  him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen
• Neh 96 "You are the LORD, you alone. You have
  made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all
  their host, the earth and all that is on it, the
  seas and all that is in them and you preserve
  all of them and the host of heaven worships you.
• Heb 13 He is the radiance of the glory of God
  and the exact imprint of his nature, and he
  upholds the universe by the word of his power.
• Colossians 117 And he is before all things, and
  in him all things hold together.

24
Alfred Freddoso

• 1 God gives being-as-such to every creature at
  every moment it exists.
• 2 Creatures themselves act as causes of other
  creatures and thus give them being (not in the
  sense of creation, but in the sense of effecting
  something in the thing that was not there
  before).
• Conservationism (conservatio preservation). 2
  is true and 1 is false.
• Occasionalism (occasio opportunity or context).
  1 is true and 2 is false.

25
Conservationism

• According to this view, God, having created all
  things, now contributes to the ordinary course of
  nature solely by conserving natural substances
  and their accidents, including their active and
  passive causal powers. For their part, created
  substances are genuine secondary causes which can
  and do causally contribute to natural effects on
  their own, given only that God preserves them and
  their powers in existence. When such substances
  directly produce an effect, they alone are
  immediate causes of that effect, whereas God is
  merely an indirect or remote cause of the effect
  by virtue of His conserving action consequently,
  the actions of created substances are in some
  straightforward sense their own actions and not
  God's actions.

26
Occasionalism

• al-Ghazali (1058-1111)
• Gabriel Biel (1425-1495)
• Nicolas Malebranche (1638-1715)

27
Molina

• He is of the opinion that secondary causes bring
  about nothing at all, but that God by Himself
  alone produces all the effects in them and in
  their presence, so that fire does not produce
  heat and the sun does not give light, but instead
  it is God who produces these effects in them and
  in their presence. Hence ... he claims that
  secondary causes are not properly causes in the
  sense of having an influence on the effect for
  it is only the First Cause which he affirms to be
  a cause in this sense, whereas secondary causes,
  he claims, should be called causes sine qua non,
  insofar as God has decided not to produce the
  effect except when they are present (Molina,
  Concordia, pp. 159-160).