The Eternal Decrees of God
A Sermon on the Eternal Decrees of God
Originally preached Jan. 16, 1953
Scripture
Sermon Description
What are the eternal decrees of God? In this sermon, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines this question by looking at what all of Scripture says concerning God and His works. The Bible teaches that before the world began, God ordained all that would come to pass. The great plan is brought to fulfillment in creation and providence. This decree of God is God’s plan for the world; it encompasses creation, fall, and redemption. Even evil things are under God’s control. But, as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes clear, evil is never caused by God, but only permitted. It is at this point that one must appeal to as the great mystery of God. Finite creatures can never understand, or absolutely comprehend, all that God is and does. Faith requires resting in the mysteries of God. The great mystery of God’s sovereign and absolute decrees must be held to in faith. People cannot trust in themselves, but in God alone. Christians can do this because God is a good and gracious Father who ordains all things for their good and His glory. This doctrine of God’s decree ought to give great hope because Christians know that He is both a loving God and in control of all things.
Sermon Breakdown
- God has from eternity had an unchangeable plan with reference to his creatures.
- The plan of God comprehends and determines all things and events of every kind that come to pass. This includes the free actions of free agents.
- All the decrees of God are unconditional and sovereign. They are not dependent on the actions of men.
- The decrees of God are efficacious. What God determines and decrees must infallibly be brought to pass. Nothing can prevent it.
- The decrees of God are in all things perfectly consistent with his own most wise, benevolent and holy nature.
- The salvation of men, and of certain men in particular, was determined by God before the foundation of the world. He does this entirely of his own goodwill and his grace.
Great Biblical Doctrines
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.