The Theology of the Plan of God

The theology of the plan of God.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Wish - imperf-mid-indicative - euchomai = to pray, to wish for something; here it means to wish or desire.

Voluntative imperfect tense - expresses a wish or a desire, which cannot be realized because of an intervening obstacle.

Paul is stating what he recognizes, because of the great principle of the omniscience of God, in which He knows all of the facts before they happen.

He knew every decision that every person would ever make, and every action which would follow or precede, and all of these were placed in the computer of divine decrees.

PSA 145:14 The Lord sustains all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.
MAT 20:15 “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?”

The beneficiaries of the plan are imperfect.

This calls for all of divine genius to create, maintain, perpetuate, and continue a perfect plan for imperfect persons.

The perfect plan of God cannot be divorced from the perfect essence of God, but it must be related to the total depravity of man.

The problem is that perfect God created a perfect plan for imperfect creatures.

As far as God is concerned, we are total disasters, because we are full of human good thoughts, evil, and because we try to shift the blame to others.

God has to do the thinking (doctrine) and the working. One of the biggest problems in this plan is to get the recipients of the plan to stop working.

We want to do something to help God, such as
self-righteousness, emotion, trying to have a pleasing personality or “love everyone.”

We must understand the will, sovereignty, omniscience of God, divine decrees, integrity of God, election, foreknowledge, predestination, retribution, and condemnation.

Inasmuch as the volition of man is an instrument created by God for the execution of God’s plan, human volition, whether positive or negative, serves the divine purpose rather than hinders it.

The Sovereignty of God.

God has explained Himself to us in terms of human activities called anthropopathisms.

God has self-consciousness.
He is eternally aware of Himself. God has self-determination. Eternally He has been making decisions.

The sovereignty of God is bound up in the self-determination and decrees of God.

This is why we should always be sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Lord.

The only way to be sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Lord is to know Bible doctrine.

JOH 7:5 For not even his brothers were believing in Him. They “have been waiting” outside for Him for a long time.

TLJC taught that His followers are even closer to Him than His natural family and closet relatives.

1TI 2:4 He wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Relationship with God must have priority over relationship with people.

1KI 18:21 “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

DEU 30:19 I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live,

JOS 24:15 “And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:”

Cannot - pres-pass-ind - dunamai = to be unable.
Passive voice = something or someone won’t let him come.

To leave some environment where you are appreciated, or in some cases, you think that you’re appreciated, but your being appreciated is also keeping you from getting Bible doctrine.

When environment is not conducive to the persistent positive volition toward doctrine necessary to keep pressing then God uproots the believer who is positive.

Separation “from” should be applied to both believers and unbelievers in the cosmic system.

It does not have to be physical separation.

1. Mental separation.
In mental separation, there is one-way antagonism from those in the cosmic system toward you.

Your volition protects you from becoming antagonistic toward them by your use of impersonal unconditional love.

Mental separation emphasizes the integrity, honor, and doctrinal application of the believer residing inside the PPOG.

Impersonal love is not influenced by those loved ones who are residing in the cosmic system, who are apostate and antagonistic to doctrine.

Impersonal love functions on its own integrity and perpetuates its own priorities from the metabolization of doctrine.

Impersonal love emphasizes personal love for God while setting aside the functions of personal love for friends or loved ones.

Impersonal love does not compromise the believer’s status inside the PPOG.

Mental separation, in contrast to physical separation, is a separation which avoids maligning, judging, hating, criticizing, seeking revenge, hurting those with whom you have been intimate in the past.

2. Physical separation. There are some cases where switching from personal love to impersonal love will not even work.

Getting false information in the local church.
You must leave physically as well as under the principle of impersonal love.

Physical separation means to avoid any personal contact with a person under any circumstances.

Physical separation is sometimes needed to maintain one’s priorities and to use one’s volition to remain inside the PPOG.

PRO 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools shall become corrupted.

2TI 3:5 “They [believers and unbelievers in the cosmic system] hold to external forms of spirituality, but have renounced the power of that same spirituality; you also be turning yourself away form these men.”

ROM 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.

Separation from unbelievers inside the cosmic system is taught in 2CO 6:14-17.

This is why you are given the order: “Therefore come out from among them.”

Separation is important in social life,
JER 15:16-17; 1PE 4:3-4.

1. Guidance through prayer, ACT 11:5.

2. Guidance through objective thinking of Bible doctrine, ACT 11:6.

3. Guidance through perception of doctrine, ACT 11:7-10.

4. Guidance through providential circumstances, e.g. the people we meet,
ACT 11:11.

5. Guidance through fellowship and comparison of spiritual data, ACT 11:13-14.

6. Guidance through recalling of doctrine,
ACT 11:16.

7. Guidance through disaster.

Bible doctrine in the soul + free will of man = divine guidance, the execution of the will of God.