Knowing God - Lesson 9: “God and the Universe” - Part 2 Cameron Jungels - Wed, PM March 12, 2014

“Knowing God”

Lesson 9: “God and the Universe” - Part 2 (Eastside Baptist/Wed PM/March 12, 2014) 

God and the Universe

v  God’s Decree – God planned the universe.

v  Creation – God made the universe.

v  Preservation – God upholds the universe.

v  Providence – God guides the universe. 

1. The Decree of God – God planned the universe. 

The Decree of God

v  God’s decree involves his eternal plan or purpose in creating, sustaining, and guiding the universe.

v  Hodge: “The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own glory He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.”

The Decree of God

v  Singular

v  Freely Made

v  Eternal

v  Changeless

v  Universal

v  Unconditional

v  Certain

v  Preserves Human Accountability

v  Centered in Jesus Christ

v  Directed toward God’s Glory 

2. Creation – God made the universe.

v  Hoeksema – “… that act of the almighty will of God whereby He gave to the things that were eternally in His counsel existence in distinction from Himself.” 

 

Out of Nothing

v  There was a time when there was nothing but God.

v  God created the universe without the aid of pre-existing materials.

v  God created by divine fiat – by his powerful command. 

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2, NIV) 

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Heb. 11:3, NIV)

 

Created at a Definite Point

v  Universe had a clear beginning or starting point.

v  Erickson – “God did not fashion and adapt something that already existed independently of him.” 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1, NIV)

 

Created by the Triune God

v  All three persons of the Triune God had an essential role in the origin of the universe.

v  Originated by the Father

v  Mediated through the Son

v  Executed by the Spirit 

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Co. 8:6, NIV) 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3, NIV) 

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:2, NIV)

 

Freely Made for God’s Glory

v  By God’s wisdom, in accordance with his will, for his ultimate glory and praise.

v  “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev. 4:11) 

 

Other Aspects of God’s Creation

v  Supernaturally and instantaneously, not by evolutionary processes

v  In six days, not ages and ages

v  According to “kind”

v  As a “mature” universe, with appearance of age.

v  Perfect and whole – “very good”

 

3. Preservation – God upholds the universe. 

v  McCune (and J. Edwards) – “…the work of the triune God, accomplished particularly through the Son, whereby he upholds the universe ‘with all its laws, properties, powers, and processes.’” 

Preservation

v  Not continual creation but continual preservation.

v  Universe is not independently self-sustaining.

v  Involves protection from harm and provision for all needs.

v  General stability of the universe.

v  Concurrent with the laws and processes of nature.

v  Preservation of human and animal life. 

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col. 1:16–17, NIV) 

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Heb. 1:3, NIV) 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:24–25, NIV)

 

4. Providence – God guides the universe. 

Providence

v  Strong – “…the continuous agency of God by which He makes all the events of the physical and moral universe fulfill the original design with which he created it.”

v  “…God’s attention concentrated everywhere.”

 

Providence and Human Freedom

v  Free actions of human beings are subservient to God’s providence (James 4:13-17).

v  13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."  16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.  17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them. (Jas. 4:13-17, NIV)

v  Providence can prevent human actions (Gen. 20:6).

v  Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. (Genesis 20:6, NIV) [Abimelech and Sarah, Abraham’s wife]

v  Providence can permit human actions (Psalm 81:12; Rom 1:26).

v  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. (Psalm 81:12, NIV)

v  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. (Romans 1:26, NIV)

v  Providence can direct human actions toward God’s appointed goal (Gen. 50:20).

v  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20, NIV)

v  Providence can determine the boundaries of actions, including evil actions (Job 1:12; 2:6).

v  The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:12, NIV)

v  The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." (Job 2:6, NIV)

v  If the LORD had not been on our side-- let Israel say--  2 if the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us,  3 they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us;  (Psalm 124:1-3, NIV) Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. (Psalm 124:6, NIV)

v  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Co. 10:13, NIV)

v  A good model for the relationship is ‘compatibilism’ or the ‘liberty of spontaneity.’

v  Humans exercise freedom in accord with their nature and desires, but human freedom is not parallel with God’s freedom.

 

Providence and Secondary Causes

v  God can and does intervene in the universe with miraculous power.

v  Most often, however, God chooses to work providentially through secondary means, such as the normal laws of nature.

 

Final Words

v  We want to know God, so that we might love and fear God.

v  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Deut 6:4; Mk 12:30).

v  “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk 12:31).

v  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36).