Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
Divine Decree and the sin problem.
Friday, July 16, 2010
DIVINE DECREES AND THE SIN PROBLEM
GOD IS PERFECTLY HOLY, HE HATES SIN UNEQUIVOCALLY;
IT IS TOTALLY CONTRARY TO HIS NATURE.
GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND HE ASSIGNED TO MAN A FREE WILL.
SIN IS PRESENT IN THE UNIVERSE WITH ALL OF ITS DESTRUCTION TO CREATION.
SIN, EVIL AND SUFFERING ARE INTEGRATED IN GOD’S ORIGINAL PLAN BUT CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM IN THE SENSE THAT HE DETERMINED THEM TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY COULD NOT BE DEMONSTRATED WERE MAN NOT IN NEED OF THAT GRACE.
THE CROSS NEUTRALIZED SIN, INDICATING HOW GOD PERMITS MAN’S FREE WILL TO OPPOSE HIM YET AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING HIS OWN INTEGRITY AND GLORY.
IT WAS EVIL IN THE FORM OF RELIGION THAT PUT CHRIST ON THE CROSS, BUT IT WAS GOD WHO USED THE CRUCIFIXION TO ACHIEVE HIS OWN PURPOSE – SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF SIN.
THERE IS A DEFINITE DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT GOD DESIRES AND WHAT HE PERMITS.
2PE 3:9 – The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2CO 5:19 – God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
1JO 2:1-2 – Jesus Christ the righteous;
2… Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1TI 2:3-4 – God our Savior, 4 desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
SO WHILE SIN AND REJECTION OF HIS PLAN ARE DISPLEASING TO GOD AND INCOMPATIBLE WITH HIS DIVINE NATURE, THEY ARE NEVERTHELESS A PART OF HIS DIVINE DECREE UNDER THE CATEGORY OF THE FALL OF MAN.
MANY THINGS THAT OCCUR ARE THE RESULT OF THE FREE WILL OF GOD’S CREATURES ACTING IN OPPOSITION TO HIS DESIRES.
THE WILL OF GOD WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED REGARDLESS OF MAN’S NEGATIVE VOLITION.
THOUGH ALL SINS WERE JUDGED AT THE CROSS, THERE ARE STILL ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE DECISIONS FOR WHICH THE PERSON MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.