The Counsel of God

“The Counsel of God”: Is it Glorious or just a good Lifetime Channel movie?

Certain verses in John’s 12th Gospel chapter causes even the greatest of Gospel theologians to ponder silently while scratching their heads for lifetimes.  Most of God’s men would happily skip over such subjects… and their congregations would be none the wiser.  However, the subject of “the decrees of God” is not a subject that binds but rather a subject that sets free.

Definition: Decree –noun

1. a formal and authoritative order, esp. one having the force of law: a presidential decree.

2. Law . a judicial decision or order.

3. Theology . one of the eternal purposes of god, by which events are foreordained.

Perhaps the simplest illustration that has been introduced to me concerning the foreknowledge of God used time to illustrate the difference between the mind of God and the mind of man:

Man thinks of time in increments: Millenniums, centuries, decades, years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds.  God, however, does not think of time in increments but rather a single event- fluid and without any breaks.  It’s a beautiful picture of covenant.

For this reason Isaiah wrote chapter 46:9-10.  Please turn as we read together.

Having this understanding also allows us to see more clearly God’s statement, “…I am that I am…” Ex. 3:14.

What does all this mean?  It means that everything God does has already been done in the mind of God and nothing can or will change it. “For I [am] the LORD, I change not;” Mal. 3:6

A simple illustration might be that of the difference between vows made long before the wedding and the same vows made at the wedding. The vows are the same but don’t take effect until the wedding day.  The only difference being, what things God decrees, counsels or sets in order will not change or be prevented.

Case in point:

John 12:37-41 tells of God doing the unthinkable.  He closed the door of opportunity for certain people to receive the message of the Gospel.  Let’s read together.

The question has to be asked, “Why would God do such a thing?”  The answer is found in verse 41 (read).  When Isaiah saw the glory of God, in all its splendor, he thought immediately of those whom God would open the eyes of and considered them to be glorious examples of grace.  In fact, if everyone on the planet is to be redeemed, the grace of God is not glorious but rather a good Lifetime Channel story.

Unfortunately for us (but fortunate to the glory of God) not every person will go to Heaven. So, who will go to Heaven?  John 6:34-40 gives us the answer.