WEBVTT

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 Oh, Heavenly Father, it is daunting to try and think about your greatness and your majesty and your glory.

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! We're very conscious of not only the inadequacy of our minds to grasp this truth, but also the sinfulness of our hearts, which pushes against this kind of truth about your bigness and your greatness.

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 So, Lord, we pray this evening that you would especially help us, not only in sort of understanding the concepts here, but also joyfully submitting to your greatness and your majesty and your glory.

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 Lord, we do recognize that you revealing your greatness to us, even though we can't grasp it or understand it fully, you do reveal it to us because you love us and you want us to know you.

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 And so we pray that we'd submit with joy as we read your word together this evening, as we think about it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Good evening. Come and join us.

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 Sit on the back row that we took away. Yeah, there you go.

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 We've come this evening to chapter three of the Baptist Confession of Faith and to what it calls God's decrees.

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 Let me give you a brief recap. It's been a couple of weeks.

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 So these sessions, we've been looking at how the 1689 Baptist Confession outlines answers to questions that we're all still asking.

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 The 1689 Baptist Confession, if you've never heard of it, was an amended version of the Westminster Confession, which was written just down the road at Westminster Abbey in the Jerusalem Room,

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 which apparently you're not allowed to go into. But anyway, you can go and ask if you like.

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 The Westminster Confession was written in the midst of the English Civil War when Parliament was fighting the crown.

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 And it was quickly followed and largely copied and pasted by the Savoy Declaration, which was written by the Congregationalists.

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 And then the Baptist Confession, which was written by the Baptist.

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 Now, the decrees of God in chapter three are all about God's sovereignty.

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 That is God's power over all things.

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 This is the idea that God rules and reigns not only just over the good things in our world, but also over the bad things, the evil things in our world.

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 That all things, everything without exception is accomplishing God's plan.

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 So both good and wicked accomplish the purposes of God.

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 Now, before we dive into what the Confession says, I want to read to you a string of Bible references.

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 My intention here is to overwhelm you, right?

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 Not just in a kind of like, oh, my goodness, there's so much information.

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 I can't take it all in, but it will do that.

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 But also, I want you to see that this is that the writers of the Confession are trying to capture a theme that comes all the way through the scriptures, right?

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 They're not just kind of proof texting an idea off just a couple of verses.

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 So I want to start at the beginning of the Bible.

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 We're going to start in Genesis chapter 50.

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 Genesis chapter 50, Joseph's brothers following the death of their father, Jacob, are worried that Joseph might now take the opportunity to pay them back for selling him into slavery.

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 And so Joseph replies to them.

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 But Joseph said to them, don't be afraid.

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 Am I in the place of God?

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 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

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 Now, notice what he says.

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 He doesn't say, you intended to harm me, but God allowed you to do it.

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 He doesn't even say God knew what would happen.

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 Rather, he says, in a parallel to them, you intended it for evil.

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 God intended it for good.

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 So although the brothers intended it, it was in their will to do it,

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 their intentions, their will only ever accomplished what God's intention was.

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 Now, when you start to think about the implications of all that, it is incredible, isn't it?

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 It means that in all of the intentions of the brothers' hearts in throwing Joseph down the well, in selling him into slavery,

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 all of those intentions were submitting to, in some sense, unconsciously to the grand intentions of God to save his people.

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 And so he was involved even at that level of what was going on.

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 Not just knowing, but intending to accomplish a purpose.

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 Exodus chapter 3, God speaking to Moses about how he's going to work in freeing the Israelites from Egypt.

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 He says this,

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 Notice this, that God's will shapes the disposition of the Egyptians towards the Israelites.

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 That the Egyptians aren't coerced against their will to give generously to the Israelites as they leave,

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 but rather that the Egyptians willingly give their gold and silver to the Israelites as they leave,

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 because God willed it.

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 So God wills it, and they carry it out willingly.

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 Their will turns out to be God's sovereign will.

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 Jump forward a few books in the Bible to 1 Samuel chapter 19.

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 Here we have the nation of Israel under Saul, and David is the king in waiting.

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 Everybody knows it.

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 David is growing in popularity.

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 They sing the song, don't they, that David's killed a lot more people than Saul.

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 Everyone is more excited about David than they are about Saul.

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 Listen to what is said about Saul.

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 Once more, war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines.

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 He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

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 But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand,

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 while David was playing the lyre.

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 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear,

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 but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall.

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 At night, David made good his escape.

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 It's incredible, isn't it?

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 God is not evil, right?

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 God is holy.

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 That is the witness of all the scriptures.

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 But still, God is in control of Saul's evil intentions in such a way

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 that it is described as he sends the evil spirit into Saul,

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 which gives him the desire to kill David.

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 The desire to kill David is not God's desire.

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 That's a wicked desire, isn't it?

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 But the desire that Saul has to kill David is not outside of God's control.

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 In fact, he stands behind it.

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 It works in submission to his will and his purpose.

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 King Ahab, the king of Israel, the bad king.

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 I would love to read you the whole story.

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 But basically, this is what's going on.

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 They're about to go into war together.

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 The king of Israel is going to go with the king of Judah.

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 And they seek out the prophets to see what the outcome is going to be.

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 And they all prophesy that it's going to be amazing

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 and that King Ahab is going to win a victory.

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 And then Micaiah continues.

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 He says,

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 One suggested this and another that.

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 And finally, a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said,

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 I will entice him.

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 By what means?

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 The Lord asked.

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 I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets, he said.

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 You will succeed in enticing him, said the Lord.

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 Go and do it.

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 So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours.

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 The Lord has decreed disaster for you.

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 It carries on.

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 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead.

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 This is where they're going to have the great success

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 because all the prophets have said they're going to be really successful.

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 But the prophets decreeing success is because of a deceiving spirit

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 that the Lord has put in their mouths.

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 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat,

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 I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.

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 So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

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 Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders,

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 don't fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.

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 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat,

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 they thought surely this is the king of Israel.

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 So they turned to attack him.

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 But when Jehoshaphat cried out,

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 the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel

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 and stopped pursuing him.

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 But someone drew his bow at random

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 and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor.

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 The king told his chariot driver,

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 wheel around and get me out of the fighting.

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 I've been wounded.

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 All day long, the battle raged

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 and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans.

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 The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot

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 and that evening he died.

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 As the sun was setting,

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 a cry spread through the army,

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 every man to his town,

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 every man to his land.

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 So the king died and was brought to Samaria

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 and they buried him there.

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 They washed the chariot at the pool in Samaria

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 where the prostitutes bathed

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 and the dogs licked up his blood

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 as the word of the Lord had declared.

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 Now, right, that's a longer passage

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 and we don't have time to get into the detail of it.

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 But just notice the depth of God's control.

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 God puts the lying spirit into the lives of the prophets

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 so that they entice him into battle.

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 This is just like with Saul again, isn't it?

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 It's exactly the same kind of language.

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 And then he, God is so in charge

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 that the apparently random firing of an arrow

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 through the sky in the heat of battle,

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 it lands in the only place possible

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 for it to kill King Ahab.

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 Now think about what that means.

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 It means that God's suffering control

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 is over the flight of every arrow,

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 the flight of every drone

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 or every missile or every bullet,

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 all landing in exact spot

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 in which the Lord intends it to.

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 And it's not just that he's

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 governing the physics of that, right?

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 That might be one thing for us to believe,

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 that God governs the physics of our world

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 so that objects fly in certain directions.

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 He also rules over the desires of human hearts

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 that are involved in the firing of those arrows as well.

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 Now that's all Old Testament narrative stories.

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 I could have given you more,

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 but the Old Testament stories of God's sovereign power

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 are just a small sample

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 of how the Bible deals with God's sovereignty.

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 The prophets then come.

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 And in lots of ways,

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 the prophets are the preachers of the Old Testament.

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 They take what's written,

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 especially in the law

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 and in the accounts of history

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 and the revelation of God that they're receiving

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 and they preach it to the people.

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 And what do they say?

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 Well, here's a couple of examples.

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 Isaiah 46.

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 Remember the former things,

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 those of long ago.

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 I am God and there is no other.

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 I am God and there is none like me.

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 I make known the end from the beginning,

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 from ancient times,

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 what is still to come.

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 I say my purpose will stand

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 and I will do all that I please.

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 From the East, I summon a bird of prey,

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 from a far off land,

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 a man to fulfill my purpose.

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 What I have said,

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 that I will bring about.

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 What I have planned,

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 that I will do.

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 Exactly the same idea, isn't it?

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 God's will governs and rules history.

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 He is God.

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 There is none like him.

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 He does what he pleases,

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 even to the point of summoning birds of prey,

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 foreign armies and leaders

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 to come and accomplish what he has planned

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 because what he has planned

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 is what he will do using all means

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 because all means are in his control.

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 Now you jump forward to the New Testament,

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 you find that Jesus speaks of God's authority

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 in this same way to account for people's attitudes towards him.

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 So now we've moved from sort of geopolitics,

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 now into the areas of belief and unbelief

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 and attitudes to Jesus.

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 Jesus, if you like,

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 is the new Joseph.

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 He is the new people of God.

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 He is the new David.

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 And so what we're seeing in God's sovereignty

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 and control over their attitudes to those people

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 is now seen in their attitudes to Jesus himself.

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 John chapter six,

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 Notice that.

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 For people to come to Jesus,

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 it has to be God's action first.

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 He has to enable them.

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 Coming to Jesus is impossible for them

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 without the enabling of God.

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 God's will has to make the first move.

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 God has to will it and enable it.

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 Again, same idea.

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 John chapter 10,

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 Jesus answered,

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 I did tell you,

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 I did tell you I was the Messiah,

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 but you did not believe.

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 The works I do in my father's name testify about me,

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 but you do not believe

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 because you are not my sheep.

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 My sheep listen to my voice.

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 I know them and they follow me.

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 I give them eternal life

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 and they shall never perish.

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 No one shall snatch them out of my hand.

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 The unbelief of the people

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 is because they are not my sheep.

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 So they will not listen to his voice.

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 Interestingly, what they respond,

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 the Jews after this is,

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 what do they say?

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 We're not going to listen to him.

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 That's what they say.

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 Why listen to him?

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 He's crazy.

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 Don't listen to him.

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 But they don't listen

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 because they are not his sheep

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 and so they do not believe.

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 The early church then in the book of Acts

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 bring the same doctrine to the fore

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 and they use it to explain the atonement,

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 Jesus' death at the cross.

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 So the church pray,

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 Acts chapter four,

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 they say,

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 indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate

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 met together with the Gentiles

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 and the people of Israel in this city

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 to conspire against your holy servant,

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 Jesus, whom you had anointed.

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 They did.

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 So they conspired against Jesus, right?

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 They planned and they plotted.

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 But they did, verse 28,

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 what your power and will

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 had decided beforehand would happen.

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 In other words,

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:09.080
 even in following their desires,

00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:11.240
 even in their plotting and their scheming,

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:13.100
 they are only ever doing

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:15.779
 what God had already decided should happen.

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:18.480
 Again, it's the same idea, isn't it?

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.519
 Herod, Pontius Pilate,

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.899
 the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:22.159
 even in their conspiring,

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.639
 are only ever accomplishing

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:25.139
 what God had decided would happen.

00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.960
 Now, then the epistles,

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.039
 the apostles take this same doctrine,

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:32.659
 not only to explain our reactions to Jesus,

00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.460
 not only to explain the atonement,

00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:35.940
 not only to explain history,

00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:38.440
 but also to explain personally

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:40.160
 how you and I experience salvation.

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:41.600
 Ephesians chapter one,

00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:42.960
 praise be to God,

00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:45.120
 the father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:46.800
 who has blessed us in the heavenly realms

00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:48.820
 with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.820
 Why?

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:52.140
 For he chose us in him

00:15:52.140 --> 00:15:53.980
 before the creation of the world

00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.820
 to be holy and blameless in his sight.

00:15:56.260 --> 00:15:57.860
 In love, he predestined us

00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:00.800
 for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ

00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:02.680
 in accordance with his pleasure and will

00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:04.800
 to the praise of his glorious grace,

00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.240
 which he has freely given us

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.500
 in the one he loves.

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.339
 In other words,

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:12.019
 our belief finds its root,

00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.019
 not in our hearts first,

00:16:14.359 --> 00:16:15.959
 but in the eternal will of God

00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:18.339
 who decided before the creation

00:16:18.339 --> 00:16:19.879
 who would be saved.

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.659
 Those are the ones predestined,

00:16:21.979 --> 00:16:23.639
 not because of anything they had done,

00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:25.000
 because they have, by definition,

00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.079
 not done anything,

00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.699
 not just because they were going

00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:29.219
 to become Christians anyway,

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.379
 but because God decided.

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.019
 The root of the action

00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.539
 is in the will of God.

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:38.500
 He decides for reasons not given

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:41.339
 and for reasons only contained within himself,

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:42.339
 because at that point,

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:44.000
 nothing else existed.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.120
 So God's sovereign will

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:48.279
 over belief and unbelief,

00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.919
 over our responses to Jesus,

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.059
 over the atonement,

00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:53.019
 over the events of all of history.

00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:57.120
 Those are just a quick run through

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.019
 some Bible passages.

00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.459
 Talk to the person next to you.

00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.080
 What is striking or surprising

00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.879
 about what we've read?

00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:03.500
 What does it mean about God

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.779
 and what he is like?

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.980
 Have a think about those questions

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.500
 for a moment.

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.380
 We'll feedback,

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.740
 and then we'll come up

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.440
 with four conclusions.

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.940
 Go for it.

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.039
 Okay.

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:16.779
 Any,

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.880
 anyone want to feedback?

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.880
 Anything that was said

00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.280
 in a Greek?

00:17:32.760 --> 00:17:33.160
 Yes,

00:17:33.260 --> 00:17:33.420
 come.

00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:33.480
 Come.

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:38.400
 You said something helpful

00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:40.799
 about the section,

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:45.360
 the 1 Samuel verses,

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.500
 about the evil spirit from the Lord.

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.440
 You said a line about something like how,

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.079
 although God,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.740
 God and wickedness can't be together,

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.120
 I just,

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.200
 I thought that was helpful

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.720
 when you said it,

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.559
 but it's just a problem.

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.259
 Okay.

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:03.259
 I'm not quite sure what I said.

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:04.380
 So,

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.720
 He's not making the evil,

00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:07.420
 like,

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:07.660
 no.

00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:08.720
 I think it's like,

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.620
 if you've called it,

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.140
 God's made that back.

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.440
 Right.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:13.440
 Yeah.

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:18.059
 God is in control

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.460
 of Saul's evil intentions

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.480
 in such a way

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.200
 that he is able

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.460
 to send the evil spirit

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.120
 into Saul

00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.319
 so that he seeks

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.720
 to kill David.

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.279
 The desire to kill David

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.940
 is not God's,

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.359
 that's wicked,

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.599
 but the desire that Saul

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.839
 had to kill David

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:32.700
 is not outside of God's control.

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.099
 In fact,

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.220
 he stands behind it.

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.559
 Yeah,

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:37.900
 so,

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:40.279
 the Bible is really clear

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.359
 that God is not wicked,

00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:44.440
 but he stands behind wickedness

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:44.960
 in such a way

00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.120
 that he is not morally responsible for it,

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:49.819
 but it is not outside of his control.

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.200
 And it's really important

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.660
 that we hold that.

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.920
 We don't know all of the

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:55.299
 details about how exactly

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:55.980
 that works.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.879
 But if that is not true,

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.240
 you have a world

00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.220
 in which God's purposes

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.180
 can be thwarted.

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.019
 You and I might not be saved.

00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:03.819
 Right?

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.919
 The church might not survive.

00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:07.139
 The gates of hell

00:19:07.139 --> 00:19:07.899
 might prevail.

00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:08.819
 Yeah?

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.379
 But we're told they won't

00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.779
 because God is so...

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:11.960
 Yeah.

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.539
 Dane,

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.259
 did you have your hand up?

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:14.859
 Were you...

00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.180
 No, no.

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:16.740
 That's right.

00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.079
 Okay.

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.480
 Okay.

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.720
 Yeah.

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:19.799
 Yeah.

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.460
 And also,

00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.279
 what's the point in praying

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.620
 if God can't answer the prayers?

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.019
 Yes.

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.440
 What's the point in praying

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.500
 if God can't answer the prayers?

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.440
 Jim Packer,

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.519
 speaking,

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.099
 I think,

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.279
 to university students,

00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.259
 I think in Cambridge,

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:34.720
 I don't know,

00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.579
 probably in Cambridge,

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.880
 but it's always there,

00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.259
 isn't it?

00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:37.480
 Right?

00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.680
 In the...

00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.720
 It becomes a book called

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.220
 Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God,

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.819
 and he says,

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.920
 I know you all already believe

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.839
 in God's sovereignty

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.980
 over belief and unbelief,

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.700
 and I can prove it to you.

00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.980
 You all pray

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.299
 for your friends and family

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.279
 to come to know Christ.

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:58.339
 And if God had no power

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:58.839
 or control,

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.259
 what would be the point in praying?

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.319
 Because you're better off

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.220
 stop wasting your time praying

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.440
 and go and nag them

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.180
 to become a Christian

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.740
 because the solution

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.839
 lies in their heart,

00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:10.660
 not in God's.

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.620
 Great.

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.400
 Let me conclude

00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.299
 with the four things

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.039
 that the confessions

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.460
 sort of greet these together,

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.319
 and we can ask questions

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:19.960
 along the way through.

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.039
 The confessions essentially

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.579
 then say four things

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.700
 about God's decrees.

00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.120
 They take passages

00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.579
 like the ones

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.180
 that we've looked at

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.799
 and others,

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.860
 and this is what they say.

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.200
 The number one thing,

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.380
 God is in charge of everything.

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:34.259
 The creed puts it like this.

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.039
 From all eternity,

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:38.660
 God decreed everything

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.600
 that occurs

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:41.059
 without reference

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:42.000
 to anything

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.500
 outside himself

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:46.039
 because there wasn't

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.299
 anything outside himself,

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:47.519
 right?

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.259
 He did this

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:51.200
 by the perfectly wise

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.400
 and holy counsel

00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.299
 of his own will

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.279
 freely

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:56.220
 and unchangeably.

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.440
 Yet God did this

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:59.480
 in such a way

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.400
 that he is neither

00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.099
 the author of sin

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:04.680
 nor has any fellowship

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:06.680
 with any in their sin.

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.359
 This decree

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.460
 does not violate

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:11.140
 the will of the creature

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:12.600
 or take away

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.660
 the free working

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:15.320
 or contingency,

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.080
 dependency,

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.900
 on second causes.

00:21:19.020 --> 00:21:19.860
 On the contrary,

00:21:20.540 --> 00:21:21.940
 these are established

00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.080
 by God's decree.

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.920
 In this decree,

00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:26.320
 God's wisdom

00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:27.200
 is displayed

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.180
 in directing

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.320
 all things

00:21:29.320 --> 00:21:30.700
 and his power

00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.900
 and faithfulness

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.360
 are demonstrated

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.720
 in accomplishing

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.440
 his decree.

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.320
 Notice here

00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:37.940
 that the confession

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.640
 wants to say

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.400
 that it is not

00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.520
 God's sovereignty

00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:42.420
 versus human freedom,

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.080
 right?

00:21:43.280 --> 00:21:44.500
 Both of those exist

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:46.040
 at the same time

00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:47.100
 and actually

00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:48.440
 it is God's sovereignty

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.440
 itself,

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.580
 his power

00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.660
 over all things,

00:21:52.020 --> 00:21:53.100
 which provides

00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:54.800
 the realm

00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:56.060
 for human freedom.

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.580
 Without God's sovereignty,

00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.480
 you would have

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.020
 no freedom.

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.400
 Without God's power

00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.000
 and control

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.259
 over all things,

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.400
 you would have

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.560
 no freedom

00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:05.620
 or responsibility.

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:07.239
 So that's how

00:22:07.239 --> 00:22:07.919
 it states it.

00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:09.319
 The point is that

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.000
 God rules over

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.559
 big things,

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.159
 small things,

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.699
 hidden things,

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.500
 invisible things.

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.239
 He decrees,

00:22:13.439 --> 00:22:13.839
 declares,

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.179
 decides what will happen,

00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:16.659
 not by seeking

00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.639
 somebody else,

00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:18.659
 but in himself.

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.439
 And notice again,

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.419
 this is what we were

00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.359
 talking about with Daisy,

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:24.519
 he is not the author

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.179
 of sin,

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.119
 he is not morally

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.139
 responsible for it,

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:28.119
 he is not

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:30.239
 being wicked,

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.519
 but neither is he

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.899
 forcing or violating

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.779
 the will of the creature.

00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:34.579
 So people do

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.299
 what they want,

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.279
 the archer wanted

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.119
 to fire the arrow,

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.919
 the Jews wanted

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:39.099
 to kill Jesus,

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.019
 Joseph's brothers

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.259
 wanted to sell him

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.939
 into slavery,

00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:44.279
 but still the Lord

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.299
 decrees those things

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.659
 to accomplish his purposes.

00:22:47.879 --> 00:22:48.559
 Now the point of this

00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.159
 is that we would see

00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:49.819
 his wisdom,

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.419
 God is the author

00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:52.259
 of the story,

00:22:52.419 --> 00:22:53.399
 works all things

00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:54.799
 to accomplish

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.419
 his decrees.

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.519
 Now one of the ways

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.619
 that theologians

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.439
 have sort of tried

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.619
 to square the circle,

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.299
 is that what you're saying?

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.279
 Or whatever,

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.700
 about this,

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.420
 is to talk about

00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:07.099
 the two wills of God,

00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:08.579
 not in opposition

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:09.200
 to one another,

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.799
 but sort of over one another.

00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.519
 So they talk about

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.139
 God's sovereign will

00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:15.440
 and God's moral will.

00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:16.019
 Okay,

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.940
 so God has a

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:18.240
 sovereign will

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.319
 over all things

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.279
 which cannot be

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:21.480
 thwarted or defeated.

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.139
 So let's think

00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:23.920
 about the cross.

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.420
 It is in God's

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.700
 eternal plan

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.420
 from before the

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.359
 foundation of the world

00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:29.259
 that God the Son

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.399
 would take on human flesh

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.720
 and die on a cross

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.240
 for the sins

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.800
 of his people,

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.200
 right?

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.380
 That is in God's

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:36.500
 sovereign overall plan

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.240
 that cannot be

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.220
 thwarted or changed.

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.920
 And yet in his

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.980
 moral will,

00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:41.540
 right,

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.640
 in terms of what

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.540
 God wants

00:23:43.540 --> 00:23:44.420
 and desires

00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.320
 for people,

00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:46.820
 what is moral

00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.540
 and good,

00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.620
 having murderous

00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.240
 intent

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.680
 towards the divine

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.960
 Son in human flesh

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.340
 is about as wicked

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:55.240
 as you can get,

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.640
 right?

00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:56.800
 There isn't really

00:23:56.800 --> 00:23:58.460
 anything as immoral

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.059
 as that,

00:23:59.200 --> 00:23:59.319
 right?

00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.259
 That is the height

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.039
 of immorality.

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.400
 So you've got the cross

00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.180
 being both

00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:06.000
 in his sovereign will

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.019
 but against his moral will.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.319
 And lots of things

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.039
 work out like that,

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.299
 don't they?

00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.200
 So that God can

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.079
 sovereignly decide

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.819
 that something

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.460
 against his moral will

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.240
 will happen

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.740
 whilst he is not

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.539
 morally responsible

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.420
 for it in order

00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.240
 to accomplish his

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.200
 purposes in glory.

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.640
 And that's exactly

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.700
 how it works

00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.220
 with the cross,

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:24.620
 isn't it?

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.600
 People are held

00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.539
 responsible for the

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.299
 wickedness of killing

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.859
 the Son

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:30.680
 and yet in their

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.379
 wickedness they

00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:32.220
 accomplish God's

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.220
 sovereign plan

00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:33.680
 and purpose.

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.180
 You might want to say

00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:36.480
 all things work

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.180
 together for good

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.960
 for those who love

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.599
 God and are called

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.200
 according to his

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.579
 purpose.

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.440
 Secondly,

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.079
 this is more

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:46.200
 than knowing

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.200
 what will happen.

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.799
 I think,

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.180
 say,

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.079
 we were talking

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.460
 in the group

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:50.899
 at the back

00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:52.000
 there a moment ago

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.159
 just that the

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:53.819
 question that comes

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.559
 to mind is why?

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.039
 Why?

00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:55.779
 Why?

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.599
 Like why?

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.939
 Why choose some

00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:58.939
 people and not all

00:24:58.939 --> 00:24:59.279
 people?

00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.419
 And we don't know

00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.259
 the answers to these

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.740
 questions,

00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:02.039
 don't we?

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.099
 So sometimes what we

00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:03.919
 try and do is

00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:05.539
 accommodate God's

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.379
 sovereignty to something

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.559
 that we can understand.

00:25:07.939 --> 00:25:09.099
 So we might want to say,

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.000
 oh well God,

00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.719
 because he's sort of

00:25:10.719 --> 00:25:11.779
 outside of time

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.779
 and because he is

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.539
 bigger and greater

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.240
 than anyone or

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.719
 anything else,

00:25:14.719 --> 00:25:15.619
 he can sort of see

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.939
 what will happen

00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:18.299
 in human freedom

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.459
 and he can sort of

00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.980
 retrospectively decide

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.679
 that and foresee it.

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.900
 But the creed is very,

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.560
 or the confession

00:25:25.560 --> 00:25:26.580
 is very careful

00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.320
 to say that

00:25:27.320 --> 00:25:28.320
 that is not the case.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.759
 It's more than

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.700
 Jesus just knew

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.680
 who would believe

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:33.000
 in him

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.640
 and so settled

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.299
 on choosing them.

00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.279
 It's rather that

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.400
 God's intentions

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.320
 in those things

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.299
 are being achieved.

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.660
 So chapter three,

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.560
 part two,

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.519
 the confession says,

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.920
 God knows everything

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.600
 that could happen

00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:45.360
 under any given

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.160
 conditions.

00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.080
 However,

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.779
 his decree

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.519
 of anything

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.840
 is not based

00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.640
 on foreseeing

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.580
 it in the future

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.859
 or foreseeing

00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.720
 that it would occur

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.879
 under such conditions.

00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.419
 In other words,

00:25:57.439 --> 00:25:58.000
 he's not just like

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.119
 a really good chess player

00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:00.159
 who can see like

00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:01.799
 ten moves ahead

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.179
 or whatever

00:26:02.179 --> 00:26:02.879
 and then just

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:04.480
 outmaneuvers everybody

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.099
 to accomplish

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.539
 what he wants.

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.359
 Rather,

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:07.980
 actually,

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:09.399
 his will

00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:10.759
 is what decides

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.819
 what will happen.

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.220
 God stands over history.

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.980
 He is the author

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.539
 of history.

00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:17.539
 Now,

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.859
 that's really important,

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.319
 isn't it?

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.119
 Because it means

00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:21.439
 that he is not

00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:22.000
 a passenger

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.319
 of fate

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.440
 or human freedom

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:26.059
 who just happens

00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.640
 to know where

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.319
 things might go

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.279
 and just is a better

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.119
 player of history

00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:29.819
 than you or I.

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.319
 The Bible never talks

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.220
 about God like that.

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.960
 God intends

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.799
 Joseph's brothers

00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.400
 to sell him

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.019
 into slavery,

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.119
 which means that

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.859
 he steered

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.480
 even Joseph's arrogance

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.539
 and his brother's

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.500
 hatred of his arrogance.

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.339
 He provided the well

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.759
 for them

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.880
 at just the right opportunity.

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.299
 He made sure,

00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:46.680
 didn't he,

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.839
 that Reuben

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.779
 didn't have a chance

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.619
 to rescue him

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.299
 so that he would

00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.799
 get sold

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.460
 into slavery.

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.940
 Number three,

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.440
 this decree

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.759
 includes salvation.

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.200
 This is probably

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.759
 the most difficult

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.660
 part of all this.

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.599
 It's one thing,

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:00.859
 isn't it,

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.480
 to realize that

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.519
 God decrees events.

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.180
 It's another thing

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.000
 to see and admit

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.059
 that he governs

00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.359
 belief and unbelief too.

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.399
 But again,

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.000
 that's what we found

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.539
 in the scriptures.

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.559
 Jesus says it,

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.980
 no one can come to me

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:13.279
 unless the Father

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.899
 enables it.

00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:15.200
 You do not believe in me

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.279
 because you're not my sheep.

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.360
 And so the confession says,

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:20.160
 by God's decree

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.880
 and for the demonstration

00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.900
 of his glory,

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.340
 some men and angels,

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:26.200
 men using as in humanity,

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.819
 are predestined

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.900
 or foreordained

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:31.000
 to eternal life

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.559
 through Jesus Christ

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.120
 to the praise

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.340
 of his glorious grace,

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:36.220
 echoing Ephesians 1.

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.059
 Others are left

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.019
 to live in their sin,

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.400
 leading to their

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:40.440
 just condemnation

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.120
 to the praise

00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:42.360
 of his glorious grace.

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.500
 Part five,

00:27:43.600 --> 00:27:44.580
 those men and women

00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.720
 who are predestined

00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.159
 to life

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.299
 were chosen by God

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.159
 before the foundation

00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:48.740
 of the world

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.339
 according to his eternal

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.799
 and unchangeable purpose

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.619
 in the secret counsel

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.399
 and good pleasure

00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:54.960
 of his will.

00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:56.539
 He chose them in Christ

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.599
 for eternal glory

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.799
 purely as a result

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.819
 of his free grace

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.319
 and love

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.740
 without anything else

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.559
 about them

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.859
 serving as a condition

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.799
 or cause

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:06.319
 moving him to do so.

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.759
 Now it's really important

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.859
 that you read this carefully.

00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.859
 The confession

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:14.159
 is really clear

00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:16.740
 to separate belief

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.380
 and unbelief

00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.240
 and how God

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.180
 stands behind

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:20.279
 both those things.

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.620
 So notice what he says

00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:23.820
 in chapter 3,

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.560
 part 3.

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.460
 Notice he says,

00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:27.400
 God's decree

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.240
 and for the demonstration

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.660
 of his glory,

00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:29.660
 some men and angels

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.460
 are predestined

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.240
 or foreordained

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.180
 to eternal life

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.660
 through Jesus Christ

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.259
 to the praise

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.400
 of his glorious grace.

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.980
 Others are left

00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.940
 to live in their sin.

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.340
 The confession

00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.620
 is surprised

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.739
 by the grace

00:28:41.739 --> 00:28:42.099
 of God

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.979
 to sinners,

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:45.699
 not the condemnation

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:47.259
 of sinners.

00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:47.759
 Right?

00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:50.659
 Left to our own devices,

00:28:50.959 --> 00:28:52.379
 we would all be lost

00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:53.019
 and condemned.

00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:53.779
 That's the point,

00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:54.259
 isn't it?

00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:55.479
 The wonder

00:28:55.479 --> 00:28:56.319
 of the confession,

00:28:56.479 --> 00:28:56.779
 the wonder

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.500
 of the scriptures,

00:28:57.719 --> 00:28:58.019
 the wonder

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.899
 of Ephesians 1

00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.819
 is that God

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.659
 in his kindness

00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:02.119
 chooses to save any

00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:04.559
 because nobody

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.459
 deserves it.

00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:07.059
 There is no condition

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.819
 in humanity

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.659
 which deserves

00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.339
 the salvation

00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.119
 that we receive

00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:11.119
 in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.259
 There is nothing

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.159
 in us

00:29:13.159 --> 00:29:14.019
 that would deserve

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.679
 the love

00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:15.639
 that Christ has shown

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.500
 in coming and dying

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.119
 on the cross.

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:19.759
 So there can't be

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.200
 a reason in us.

00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:23.259
 And so he stands

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.960
 behind belief

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.379
 and unbelief

00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:25.279
 in slightly different ways,

00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:25.539
 doesn't he?

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.419
 He graciously

00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:28.200
 and for reasons

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.000
 only known

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.539
 and understood

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:30.599
 by himself,

00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:32.679
 he loves

00:29:32.679 --> 00:29:34.759
 and saves some

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.039
 and others

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.359
 are left

00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.099
 to live in their sin

00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.699
 leading to their

00:29:37.699 --> 00:29:38.599
 just condemnation

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.139
 to the praise

00:29:39.139 --> 00:29:40.379
 of his glorious grace.

00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.139
 Now I realize

00:29:43.139 --> 00:29:44.819
 that it is difficult.

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.719
 The asymmetry

00:29:46.719 --> 00:29:47.659
 between them

00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:48.559
 is important

00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.240
 to hold on to

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.980
 but it doesn't answer

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.919
 all of our questions.

00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:52.500
 But really I think

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:52.959
 we're supposed

00:29:52.959 --> 00:29:53.899
 to be in awe

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.439
 and wonder

00:29:54.439 --> 00:29:55.599
 that God

00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.639
 for some reason

00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:57.939
 known only to himself

00:29:57.939 --> 00:29:59.299
 has chosen to love us.

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.199
 As he describes

00:30:01.199 --> 00:30:01.740
 in the Old Testament

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.279
 when he's trying

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.939
 to explain

00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:03.939
 why he loves Israel,

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.359
 he says,

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.279
 I loved you

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.879
 because

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:07.639
 the next phrase,

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.160
 I loved you

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.759
 because

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.680
 I loved you.

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.740
 That's his answer.

00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.920
 I loved you

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.619
 because I loved you.

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.579
 You want to know

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.500
 a reason for my love?

00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.299
 It's because of my love.

00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.599
 The cause is

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.399
 within God himself.

00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.139
 Now just think

00:30:25.139 --> 00:30:25.940
 about what that means,

00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.119
 right?

00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.019
 Just think how that works,

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.220
 right?

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.019
 Just think

00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:30.759
 that God

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.839
 stands behind

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.200
 then

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.740
 in his sovereign power

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.920
 all things

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.420
 that brought you

00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:35.799
 to faith

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.779
 in Jesus Christ.

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.559
 Now I can't remember

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.160
 everyone's testimony.

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.839
 I was trying to think

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.779
 of someone's testimony here

00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:43.359
 but I'm going to pick Ray

00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:44.519
 and you can correct me,

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:44.720
 Ray,

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:45.319
 where I'm wrong,

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:45.500
 right?

00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:47.920
 So the Lord

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.660
 sovereignly decided

00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:51.480
 that Ray

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:53.160
 would be born

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:54.900
 on Salisbury Road

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:56.960
 above the laundrette,

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.240
 right?

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.400
 And that in his

00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.559
 teenage years

00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.440
 he would encounter

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.019
 the gospel

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:03.860
 and be drawn

00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:04.720
 into friendships

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.840
 with other believers.

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.240
 And so

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:09.640
 it's not an accident

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.460
 that those people

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.259
 were in his life

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.039
 at that time.

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:12.640
 You know,

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.519
 the conversations

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.299
 that were had

00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.380
 that encouraged Ray

00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.140
 to start thinking

00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:17.680
 about the gospel,

00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:19.539
 they were not

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.880
 accidents,

00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:21.440
 right?

00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:22.240
 The Lord

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.100
 did that.

00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:23.960
 Now why would

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.920
 the Lord do that?

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.680
 Well because

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.880
 in time eternity

00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:30.220
 before Ray

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.279
 even existed,

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.000
 the Lord

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.120
 chose

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.519
 to love him

00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.080
 and save him

00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:38.019
 and as he

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.840
 sovereignly rules

00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:40.160
 over all things,

00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:42.180
 organises all of that

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:43.480
 for the purpose

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.500
 of eventually

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:46.160
 Ray freely

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:48.039
 responding to the call

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.600
 of the gospel

00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.660
 in his life.

00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:50.460
 And if you're a Christian

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:50.720
 this evening,

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.700
 God's done all of that

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.039
 for you.

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:54.740
 I had the privilege

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.279
 of being raised

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.460
 by Christian parents

00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:58.839
 who prayed for me

00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.779
 and shared the gospel

00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.519
 with me.

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.500
 Oh yeah,

00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.180
 well that just means

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.460
 that you're conditioned

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.119
 to believe.

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:05.899
 You've never really

00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:06.940
 kind of had chance

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.700
 to freely respond

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.159
 to the gospel.

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:10.379
 What if

00:32:10.379 --> 00:32:12.420
 God is so sovereign

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:14.119
 that his intention

00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:15.259
 to save me

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:16.720
 involved placing me

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.920
 in the particular family

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:19.200
 that he placed me in

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.660
 whereby I would hear

00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:21.039
 the gospel

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.440
 in the way that I did

00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.580
 in order for me

00:32:23.580 --> 00:32:24.240
 to be saved?

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:25.539
 You know,

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.279
 the flyer that was left

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.259
 on the car windscreen,

00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.600
 the person that gave

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.740
 the gospel to you

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.340
 as you were walking

00:32:31.340 --> 00:32:32.259
 out the tube station,

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.000
 you know,

00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:34.860
 the Christian friend

00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.880
 who just wouldn't give up

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.660
 inviting you to church,

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.640
 none of that was an accident.

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:39.319
 None of that was an accident.

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:41.500
 The Lord stands behind it all

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.840
 working in order

00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:44.140
 to accomplish his purpose

00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:45.220
 in eternity.

00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.500
 Incredible, isn't it?

00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:47.180
 Incredible truth.

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:49.640
 Okay.

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.420
 Just as God has appointed

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.200
 the elect to glory,

00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:53.039
 so he has,

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.779
 by the eternal

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:55.120
 and completely free purpose

00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:55.600
 of his will,

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:58.580
 foreordained all the means.

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.420
 It's how the confession

00:32:59.420 --> 00:32:59.920
 puts it.

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.460
 I don't know whether

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.240
 I put that on your handout.

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.759
 He's foreordained

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:04.400
 all the means.

00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.779
 Isn't just that he says

00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.640
 this is the end,

00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.200
 but he goes,

00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:08.880
 this is how we're going

00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:10.180
 to get there as well.

00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.840
 Finally, number four,

00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.580
 and this is really important.

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.220
 We're going to end here.

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.900
 Oh gosh, it's nearly 7.30.

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:17.080
 We need to treat this doctrine

00:33:17.080 --> 00:33:18.180
 with great care.

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:19.700
 Yeah, this is really important.

00:33:19.820 --> 00:33:20.700
 I think our struggles

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.220
 with the doctrine

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.900
 of God's sovereignty

00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:24.000
 are probably not so much

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.019
 to do with the logic of it

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.740
 or the absence

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:27.060
 of Bible material on it.

00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:28.740
 There's so much

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.600
 Bible material on it

00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:30.180
 and actually,

00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.560
 the logic of it

00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:32.700
 in terms of the bigness

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.120
 of God

00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:34.560
 makes absolute sense,

00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:34.880
 doesn't it,

00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:35.200
 of the God

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.740
 that we worship.

00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.660
 The problem that we have

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.279
 with it is that

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.180
 it's badly used

00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:39.860
 or abused

00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.519
 by Christians

00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.640
 who wrongly apply

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.140
 the doctrine

00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:44.200
 or contradict other things

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.360
 that the Bible also says

00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:46.060
 which we'll come to

00:33:46.060 --> 00:33:46.820
 in weeks to come.

00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:48.740
 So the Confession says this

00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:49.700
 in its final section

00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.700
 on the decrees of God.

00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.359
 It says this,

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:52.519
 the doctrine

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:54.099
 of the high mystery

00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:55.159
 of predestination

00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:56.939
 is to be handled

00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:58.579
 with special prudence

00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.519
 and care

00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:01.179
 so that those

00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:02.179
 heeding the will

00:34:02.179 --> 00:34:03.059
 of God revealed

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:03.679
 in his word

00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:04.740
 and obeying him

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.960
 may be assured

00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:07.299
 of their eternal election

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.699
 by the certainty

00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:10.079
 of their effectual calling.

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.599
 In this way,

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.539
 the doctrine

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.480
 will give reasons

00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:14.319
 for praise,

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.219
 reverence

00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:16.000
 and admiration

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.539
 of God

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.980
 as well as humility,

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:18.960
 diligence

00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.319
 and rich comfort

00:34:20.319 --> 00:34:21.539
 to all who sincerely

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.480
 obey the gospel.

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.179
 Here's the point,

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:25.019
 the Bible's teaching

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.799
 on God's sovereignty

00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.920
 and his predestination

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.779
 of those who would believe

00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:28.900
 is not written,

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.239
 one,

00:34:29.319 --> 00:34:30.239
 to answer all the questions

00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:30.920
 you might have,

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.480
 it's not.

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:32.500
 Two,

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.099
 it's not written

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.319
 to contradict

00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:35.219
 human freedom

00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:36.000
 and responsibility

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.659
 because the Bible

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.619
 teaches that too.

00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.639
 Three,

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.819
 it's not written

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.800
 to prevent you

00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:41.740
 from sharing the gospel

00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.340
 with people

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.500
 or praying for people,

00:34:43.620 --> 00:34:44.920
 it's exactly the opposite.

00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:45.840
 Instead,

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.660
 it's written

00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:48.320
 because God wants you

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:48.880
 to know

00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:50.980
 that you are saved

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:52.980
 because he loves you.

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:53.820
 Ultimately,

00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:55.740
 he is holding you,

00:34:56.180 --> 00:34:57.980
 you are not holding him

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:59.800
 and he wants you

00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.680
 to know that

00:35:00.680 --> 00:35:02.460
 because if you think

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.400
 your Christian life

00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:05.059
 is you holding on to God,

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:07.360
 you will not make it.

00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:09.800
 Only if you understand

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:11.920
 and only if it's true,

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.860
 which it is,

00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:15.240
 that God holds on to us

00:35:15.240 --> 00:35:17.000
 will we make it to glory

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:18.340
 because if you know

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.400
 anything about yourself,

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.840
 you should know

00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:22.200
 that your grip on God

00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:23.420
 is way too weak

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.660
 to last

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:26.059
 through life's trials

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:27.539
 and purposes.

00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:30.240
 But God has a hold on you,

00:35:30.860 --> 00:35:31.740
 says the confession,

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.780
 says God's words,

00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:34.000
 and history is

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.140
 accomplishing his purpose.

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:36.180
 He will finish

00:35:36.180 --> 00:35:37.039
 what he has started

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:38.140
 in your life.

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:39.379
 He's not just working it out

00:35:39.379 --> 00:35:40.079
 on the fly.

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.139
 Whoa,

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.480
 didn't realize

00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.119
 that would happen.

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.500
 Goodness me,

00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:45.460
 I didn't realize

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.420
 that their children

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:48.039
 would be wayward

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.619
 or difficult.

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.480
 I didn't realize

00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.259
 that their parents

00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:51.039
 would not approve

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.839
 of their new faith

00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:52.519
 in Jesus Christ.

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.400
 He's not shocked

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.219
 by any of those things,

00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:54.500
 is he?

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.699
 But he's working

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.519
 all things out

00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.119
 for the purpose

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:57.819
 of his glory,

00:35:58.199 --> 00:35:59.599
 that you can trust him

00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.539
 and praise him

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:02.159
 and give him

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:02.980
 all the glory.

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.119
 I've finished there.

00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.860
 Any questions

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:08.719
 as we wrap it up?

00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:11.159
 Yes.

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.940
 So, like,

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.980
 how does this

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:16.639
 inform our daily lives?

00:36:17.319 --> 00:36:18.059
 I understand

00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:19.759
 how, like,

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.920
 completely understand

00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:21.699
 how predestination

00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:23.219
 is comforting to us

00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:24.839
 and is something

00:36:24.839 --> 00:36:26.500
 that we can fall back on.

00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:27.099
 But, like,

00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:28.199
 in our daily lives,

00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:29.879
 how does this impact?

00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:30.379
 Like,

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.000
 does God,

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.439
 if I miss a bus,

00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:33.879
 God's sovereignty is that?

00:36:33.959 --> 00:36:35.000
 If I choose what,

00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:36.039
 and the vitamin S,

00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:36.839
 does God's sovereignty

00:36:36.839 --> 00:36:37.239
 end up?

00:36:37.339 --> 00:36:37.879
 How does that

00:36:37.879 --> 00:36:39.559
 live through the daily life

00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.619
 besides salvation?

00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:41.400
 Yes.

00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:42.579
 If God is sovereign

00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.219
 over all things,

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:43.960
 how does that affect

00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.599
 daily life?

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:47.579
 So,

00:36:48.359 --> 00:36:49.940
 it shouldn't paralyze you

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.559
 into not making

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.179
 any decisions,

00:36:51.359 --> 00:36:51.539
 right?

00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:52.179
 Because God

00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:54.819
 gives you responsibility

00:36:54.819 --> 00:36:55.900
 to make decisions

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.019
 and to move forwards

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.759
 and to do things.

00:36:57.859 --> 00:36:57.980
 You know,

00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:59.119
 you can't go into M&S

00:36:59.119 --> 00:36:59.559
 and just say,

00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:00.460
 I'm just going to stand here

00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:01.279
 until God writes

00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:02.159
 in the sky what I'm,

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:02.920
 you all right?

00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:03.159
 Yeah.

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:04.219
 So,

00:37:04.359 --> 00:37:05.539
 you are to go and move forward

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.420
 and make those decisions.

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:08.139
 But you are to understand

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:08.960
 that underlying

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:10.519
 all of those things

00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:12.840
 is God's sovereign

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:14.320
 purposes that can

00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:15.280
 never be thwarted.

00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:15.659
 So,

00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.920
 if you take those two wills,

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:18.820
 I seek to live my life

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:19.280
 in obedience

00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.360
 to God's moral will.

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:22.340
 But it is not my ability

00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:23.239
 to live according

00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:24.219
 to his moral will

00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:25.340
 that will determine

00:37:25.340 --> 00:37:26.460
 ultimately the ends.

00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:27.659
 That is in God's

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:28.599
 sovereign purposes,

00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:29.059
 isn't it?

00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:30.019
 So,

00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:31.219
 even when I sin,

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:34.099
 I don't worry

00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:35.719
 that God's purposes

00:37:35.719 --> 00:37:36.599
 and glory are going

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:38.019
 to be thwarted by that

00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:39.519
 because even those things

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.320
 are in his

00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:40.820
 control.

00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.019
 So,

00:37:41.100 --> 00:37:42.460
 it brings great comfort

00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:42.960
 to me

00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:45.039
 and it relieves

00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.800
 a lot of

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:48.120
 anxiety and stress.

00:37:48.660 --> 00:37:48.680
 So,

00:37:48.780 --> 00:37:49.360
 like you say,

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:49.559
 yeah,

00:37:49.680 --> 00:37:51.019
 the bus that you missed,

00:37:52.180 --> 00:37:53.519
 that's in God's

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.420
 plan and purpose,

00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:54.740
 isn't it?

00:37:55.140 --> 00:37:55.519
 You may,

00:37:55.800 --> 00:37:57.059
 that doesn't mean

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.539
 that it will become

00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.820
 obvious why that happened,

00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.420
 does it?

00:37:59.559 --> 00:38:00.580
 You may never know,

00:38:00.740 --> 00:38:01.420
 but you do know

00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:02.240
 that that is in

00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:04.620
 God's sovereign hands.

00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:05.539
 You know,

00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:06.260
 when you worry

00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:06.840
 and you panic,

00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:08.080
 you basically have to say

00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:08.480
 to yourself,

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:08.840
 don't you,

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:09.659
 you know,

00:38:09.799 --> 00:38:10.099
 Lola,

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:10.920
 Steve,

00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.480
 whatever,

00:38:12.019 --> 00:38:12.880
 do you really genuinely

00:38:12.880 --> 00:38:13.719
 believe in the bigness

00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.139
 of God?

00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.980
 Or do you suddenly

00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:17.559
 think that God

00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:19.579
 is now out of control

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.599
 and that all of these

00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.279
 things have happened

00:38:21.279 --> 00:38:21.980
 because he's just

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.739
 kind of lost it?

00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:23.579
 Oh,

00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:23.699
 no,

00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:24.440
 I don't believe that.

00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:25.139
 Oh,

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:25.279
 right,

00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:25.480
 okay.

00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.639
 It will all be

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.420
 all right then.

00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:30.000
 Everything will be okay.

00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.579
 I don't,

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.820
 in terms of doctrines,

00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:35.320
 like the kind of cash

00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:36.139
 value of that in my

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:37.360
 day-to-day life is massive,

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.820
 absolutely massive.

00:38:39.139 --> 00:38:39.219
 Yeah.

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.360
 Any other questions?

00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:46.099
 So where is our

00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:46.880
 responsibility

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:48.139
 in the whole scheme of things?

00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:48.980
 Right,

00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:50.000
 where is our responsibility

00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.900
 in the whole scheme of things?

00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:52.179
 We will come to that,

00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:52.639
 right?

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.360
 So we do have

00:38:54.360 --> 00:38:54.920
 responsibility

00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:56.280
 and we are held

00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:57.360
 responsible for our

00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:58.579
 obedience or disobedience

00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.539
 to God's moral will.

00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:00.579
 Absolutely right.

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:01.880
 That,

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:03.800
 that responsibility

00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:04.400
 is,

00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:06.279
 is not in opposition

00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:07.259
 to God's sovereign

00:39:07.259 --> 00:39:08.599
 will and purpose.

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:09.779
 It is secured

00:39:09.779 --> 00:39:10.460
 by his sovereign

00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:11.179
 will and purpose.

00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:12.699
 But you're still,

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.119
 you and I are still held

00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:15.199
 morally responsible

00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:15.820
 for what we do.

00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:16.679
 You know,

00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:16.880
 so,

00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.159
 you know,

00:39:18.199 --> 00:39:18.759
 Galatians 6,

00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:19.300
 don't,

00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:19.980
 you know,

00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:21.059
 don't be deceived.

00:39:21.179 --> 00:39:21.940
 God cannot be mocked.

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.920
 You reap what you sow,

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:23.380
 right?

00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:24.659
 So there is a,

00:39:24.659 --> 00:39:26.719
 a direct relationship

00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:27.619
 between what we do

00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:28.800
 and the lives

00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.420
 that we receive.

00:39:29.860 --> 00:39:30.619
 But even that

00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:31.820
 is in God's

00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:32.800
 sovereign plan and purpose.

00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:34.779
 Ultimately,

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.320
 you have to say,

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:35.860
 don't you Clifford,

00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:37.019
 that you don't understand,

00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.860
 I don't understand,

00:39:39.259 --> 00:39:40.099
 exactly how,

00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:41.300
 what the Bible says

00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:42.400
 about my responsibility

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.320
 and God's sovereignty

00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:44.340
 can be married together.

00:39:44.779 --> 00:39:45.820
 I don't understand that.

00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:46.840
 I do know that

00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:47.920
 the Bible teaches both

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:49.599
 and I can't

00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:50.460
 kick this one out

00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.599
 in order to keep this one

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.839
 and I can't kick that one

00:39:52.839 --> 00:39:53.839
 out to keep this one.

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:55.019
 I have to hold the two

00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:56.139
 in tension with one another

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:57.980
 because the Bible says both.

00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:58.360
 Well,

00:39:58.360 --> 00:39:59.579
 my good intention exists.

00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:00.079
 Yeah.

00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:03.920
 Yes.

00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:06.840
 I can't resolve it for you

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.360
 ultimately.

00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:07.820
 Yeah.

00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:08.940
 Yeah.

00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:10.099
 Yeah.

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:11.340
 Great.

00:40:11.820 --> 00:40:12.500
 Let me pray.

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.960
 I know we've run over time

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.579
 but that was all

00:40:14.579 --> 00:40:15.180
 in God's plan.

00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:18.039
 Let me pray.

00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:20.059
 Heavenly Father,

00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:21.779
 what a wonderful joy it is

00:40:21.779 --> 00:40:22.880
 to know that we leave

00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:23.800
 this room tonight

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:28.380
 absolutely inside your will

00:40:28.380 --> 00:40:29.400
 and your sovereign purposes

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:32.199
 that nothing that will happen to us

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.980
 will come as a surprise to you

00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:36.360
 or outside of your intentions for us.

00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:38.039
 Thank you that we can know

00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:38.960
 that what you've started

00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:39.639
 in our hearts,

00:40:39.739 --> 00:40:40.500
 you will finish.

00:40:41.300 --> 00:40:42.219
 There is a day

00:40:42.219 --> 00:40:44.159
 when we will stand

00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:46.519
 transformed into Christlikeness,

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.980
 living with you

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:48.820
 for all eternity

00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:49.900
 in a world remade

00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:50.639
 by your power

00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:51.320
 for your glory

00:40:51.320 --> 00:40:52.000
 forever and ever.

00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:53.800
 We long for that day

00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:54.940
 and we know

00:40:54.940 --> 00:40:55.960
 we will be there

00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:57.800
 because you are holding us,

00:40:58.320 --> 00:40:59.739
 not us holding you.

00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:02.259
 And all things in our lives,

00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:04.320
 little and big,

00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:06.039
 are working together

00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:07.099
 for your good purposes.

00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:08.179
 So we pray

00:41:08.179 --> 00:41:09.000
 that we'd trust that

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:10.199
 and we'd enjoy that

00:41:10.199 --> 00:41:10.960
 this week.

00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:12.239
 In Jesus' name.

00:41:12.599 --> 00:41:12.920
 Amen.

00:41:13.259 --> 00:41:13.480
 Amen.

00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.099
 Amen.

00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:17.099


00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:17.099


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00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:17.099


00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:19.099
 Thank you.