Lesson Five
The Works of God

God is known by His works and by His Word. Though there are many who will not read His Word, yet they still are obligated to acknowledge His existence because of Creation. Christians especially should not be ignorant of the works of God. By faith we know that all things were made by Him (Heb. 11:3) and that all things are maintained by Him (Col. 1:17). But not all Christians fully appreciated the wide scope of God’s works, and the implications of them.

Ephesians 1:11 implies that a study of God’s works must first begin with His decrees, the expressions of His eternal will.


I. The Decrees of God: The Foundation of all Works: Ephesians 1:11 - God “works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

A. God’s decrees are actually only one, being a reflection that God is one. It is easier for us, however, to break them up for easier comprehension.

B. It is based on His wisdom: Eph. 3:10; Psa. 104:245.

C. It is demonstrated through the church: Eph. 3:11.

D. It is eternal (beyond time) : Acts 15:18; Eph. 1:4; 2nd Tim. 1:9.

E. It is immutable (unchangeable) : Num. 23:19; Job:23:13- 14; Psa.33:11; Isa. 46:10; Luke 22:2. We alter plans due to wavering purpose, insufficient wisdom or power. But none of these things deter God.

F. It is unconditional (absolute), not dependent on anything outside of God: Acts 2:23; Eph. 2:8; 1st Pet. 1:2.

G. It is universal, involving whatever happens in the world. Eph. 1:11:
This includes our good acts (Eph. 2;10), evil acts (Isa. 45:7; Acts 2:23), contingent events (Gen. 45:8), our life spans (Job 14:5), location (Acts 17:26), etc.

H. As far as sin is concerned it is permissive: Psa. 78:29; 106:15; Acts 14:16; Rom. 9:22.

I. It is beyond our total comprehension: Romans 11:33- 36.


II. Predestination: God’s Decrees in Action. God actively predestines the salvation of the elect and passively allows (by withholding special grace) the reprobation (“passing by”) of others. Though all of us deserve justice (ie. eternal punishment), the elect get mercy while the rest get justice.

Saints are predestined to election, which is the saving of some of the human race, out of all tribes, languages and nations in and by Jesus Christ.

A. Who predestines? It is mostly described in the Bible as being the will of the Father: John 17:6, 9; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2.

B. Who receives predestination?

1. All men, both good and evil, individually and as groups. Acts 4:28, Rom. 8:29- 30; 9:11- 13; Eph. 1:5, 11.

2. Angels, good and evil: 1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6.

3. Christ, the Mediator: 1 Pet. 1:20; 2:4; Rom. 8:29.
C. What is the purpose of predestination?
1. The salvation, throughout the ages, of the elect: Rom. 11:7- 11.

2. The glory of God: Eph. 1:6, 12, 14.


III. Creation:
A. Method of Creation: The Power of God. Psa. 33:6- 9; 115:3; Jer.10:12- 13.
“He spoke and it was done.” God did not need the trial-and-error method of evolution.


B. Perfection of (Original) Creation: God’s Holiness, Wisdom, etc.
1. Perfection shows Holiness: Gen. 1:31; Deut. 32:4; Isa. 45:18; Jer. 4:23- 26.
2. Plan shows Wisdom: Job. 26:7; 38:36- 41; Psa. 40:5; 104:24.
3. Vastness shows Immensity:Job 22:12; Psa. 8:3; Rev. 15:3.
4. Regularity shows Unchangeableness: Gen. 8:22; Psa. 74:16- 17.
5. Variety shows Exhaustlessness: Job. 38;22;


C. Purpose of Creation: The Glory of God: Psa. 19:1; 145:10; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11.
1. Usefulness for its benefits.

2. Glorifies the Creator.

3. Teaches the wise. * “Does not nature teach you?....” “Go to the ant, you sluggard.”
[Solomonic wisdom]

Note: Nature is God’s grand Metaphor to teach many spiritual truths.

IV. Providence: God Maintains His Creation: Providence is the providing for of God’s creation. It is especially realized - and appreciated - in the lives of the elect.
A. Provision: Deut. 8:3- 4, 15- 16; Psa. 65:9- 13; 104: 10- 16, 21, 27- 28; Acts 14:17.
B. Protection: Psa. 91:5- 10; Deut. 7:15; 1 Cor. 10:13.
C. Guidance: Ge. 45:7; Esther 4:14; Dan. 2:21.

@@@Good and evil come from Him: Amos 3:6, Isa. 45:7; Lam. 3:38.
@@@[Insert Quote from “Institutes”,page 257: [I]gnorance of
Providence is the greatest of all miseries, and the knowledge of it the
highest happiness.” Note: This is because you will know that both good and evil come from the Lord, created and allowed, according to His all-working and always good purpose.]


V. Miracles: These are often neglected in Biblical teaching, yet they are important.
Degrees of Miracles:
A. Common Miracles: Childbirth, Seed germination, etc.
B. Discreet Miracles: Ordinary events foretold or arranged by divine means. (1 Sam. 10:3, etc.)
C. Extraordinary Miracles: Divinely executed interruption of usual processes. (Sun standing still for Joshua, Parting of the Red Sea, etc. We can also add here the new birth. Though invisible, it is nonetheless a miraculous divine intervention.

Due Next Week:
Read chapter 6: The Preexistence and Incarnation of Christ.

Digging Deeper:
* See “The New Creation & The First Creation”. This is based on a passage from John Flavel’s “Method of Grace”.

** The New Creation is a radical change in our being. The fish may have the “free-will” to swim wherever it wants to in the ocean, but it can never fly in the sky. To do that he needs to be a different creature entirely. Likewise, man has the free-will to do and choose a wide variety of things, but he cannot choose God - or even desire God - until God first changes him into a new creature. God changes us from earth-dwellers (John 15:9) to heavenly-minded pilgrims (Psa. 73:5; Heb. 13:14); He makes us new creatures who are suited for heaven (Col. 1:12).