Coffee House Chapel #5

October 22

Romans 11:33-35, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

2. The wisdom of God in sanctification (Rom 5-8). This second section of Romans discusses the permanent nature of salvation - the believer’s need for sanctification. How is God’s wisdom revealed in this area? In our justification (Rom 1-4), everything was provided by the work of Christ. Salvation is none of us and all of Christ - it is of grace. But what stops a justified person from indulging in their sinful nature - if we cannot lose our salvation - then we can sin to our heart’s content! Paul asked that question in Rom 6:1, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”

Boice writes that “here we are caught on the horns of a dilemma. Either salvation must be by works, which destroys grace; besides which, no one would be saved, since none can provide sufficient good works. Or else, if salvation is of grace, then we must be free to sin greatly.”

Boice continues, “God solves this problem by showing us that we are never justified apart from being regenerated or being made alive in Christ. This means that Christians have been given a new nature, and this new nature, being the very life of Jesus Christ within, will inevitably produce good works corresponding to the character of God. In fact, this is the only sure proof of our having been saved by Him.”

Believers have been joined to Christ in a “mystical union.” As we sinned in Adam - Adam being the “Federal Head” of the human race, so we are made alive in Christ - Christ being the “Federal Head” of the spiritual race (in Adam we sin and die – in Christ we are made righteous and never die). We have been justified by His works. If we are truly saved - we are made a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). Because our salvation is the work of God - “it means that we cannot undo it and so somehow go back to being what we were before. Since we cannot go back, the only way we can move is forward.” (Boice) Here is how Paul states it, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:11)

Romans 8:1-4, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus ...For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin ...” Salvation is totally of grace - but see what follows, “condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Boice writes, “who but God could think up a gospel like that? We would never do it, because we do not naturally hold grace and works together. If we emphasize morality, as some persons do, we begin to think that we can be save by our good works and so strive to do it. We repudiate grace. But if, on the other hand, we emphasize grace, knowing that we cannot possibly be saved by our inadequate and polluted works, we have a natural tendency to do away with works entirely and so slide into Antinomianism. [Antinomianism says, since we are free from law, we can do anything we please. We are free to go on sinning. In fact, we can wallow in it.] If we hold to grace, we repudiate works, and if we hold to works, we repudiate grace. But God has devised a gospel that is entirely and completely of grace and yet produces the most exceptional works in those who are saved.”

It is no wonder that Paul stood in awe of “the depth of the riches of the wisdom ... of God” and calls God’s judgments “unsearchable” and “his ways (paths) past finding out!”(Rom 11:33).

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

October 24

Romans 11:33-35, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

3. The wisdom of God displayed in human history. (Romans 9-11) This third section of Romans deals with God’s actions in the flow of historical events. God made specific salvation promises to the Jews - and yet - in spite of these specific promises - it does not appear that the Jews are responding to the gospel. Does this means that the purposes of God have failed? If God’s purposes - purposes that have specifically listed in the Bible – FAIL – then God is not God, nor can He be God.

Where does this leave the Gentiles? There are many more promises specifically given to the Jews than to the Gentiles! If God failed the Jews - whom He gave many promises - how can we trust Him to whom He gave only a few promises? Therein lies the problem at hand. “Covenant Theologians” answer this problems by saying that God has transferred His promises to Israel (the Messiah rejecters) to the Church (the Messiah acceptors). There are many problems with that take on Scripture - not the least is Paul’s statement in Romans 11:26-27, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Paul’s statement is future, and if Israel was to be replaced by the Church - it would seem that the writer and expounder of most of New Testament theology would have been aware of such a change in God’s plans for humanity.

God has not permanently rejected the Jews. Paul gives us an excellent explanation of what God is doing. Israel does seem to be rejected - but it is only for a time and it is temporary. This temporary rejection has a purpose - that God might extend His mercy to the Gentiles. This extended mercy is with the intent purpose of making Israel jealous - so that she might ultimately come to faith in her Messiah.

Boice writes, “Since this is the meaning of history, these chapters are a magnificent exploration of the wisdom of God in the ordering of space/time events. Here is how F. Godet, one of the greatest expositors of Romans, puts it:”

‘Never was survey more vast taken of the divine plan of the world’s history. First. The epoch of primitive unity in which the human family forms still only one unbroken whole; then the antagonism between the two religious portions of the race, created by the special call of Abraham: the Jews continuing in the Father’s house, but with a legal and servile spirit, the Gentiles walking in their own ways. At the close of this period, the manifestation of Christ determining the return of the latter to the domestic heart, but at the same time the departure of the former. Finally, the Jews, yielding to the divine solicitations and to the spectacle of salvation enjoyed by the Gentiles as children of grace; and so the final universalism in an infinitely higher form [than] the original unity...

‘The contrast between the Jews and Gentiles appears therefore as the essential moving spring of history. It is the actions and reactions arising from this primary fact which form its key. This is what no philosophy of history has dreamt of and what makes these chapters ... the highest theodicy.’ (Theodicy = A vindication of God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil.)

Boice closes by writing, “Who could devise a plan of that scope for world history? We could not do it: We cannot even understand it apart from the biblical revelation, and even that is difficult for us. But it is not beyond ‘the depth of the riches of the wisdom ... of God.’”

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

October 26

Romans 11:33-35, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

We’ve looked at God’s wisdom - and it’s impossible to compare it to anything that we as human beings can understand. Yet, we need to cultivate wisdom!

The Bible is full of exhortations for us to seek wisdom. The first nine chapters of Proverbs tell us to seek the gift of wisdom. Consider the following Scriptures:

Ephesians 5:15-17, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Where – how do we find wisdom? Boice gives us three thoughts:

1. “We must begin with reverence for God.” Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

2. “We must labor to know God’s Word.” Psalm 119:98, “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.”

3. “Continue [the] study of the God-breathed Scriptures.” 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Do we really believe God is all-wise? We say we do - but most of the time we do not act as if we do! Martin Luther wrote, “We are accustomed to admit freely that God is more powerful than we are, but not that He is wiser than we are. To be sure, we say that He is; but when it comes to a showdown, we do not want to act on what we say.”

Boice writes, “From our perspective, the workings of God are irregular, and we like events to run like a train on fixed timetables and along predictable tracks. Because they do not, we are always thinking of how we would be able to do things better. What this means in that in the final analysis we do not trust God to order both the ends and the means to them. How foolish, when in the matter of salvation God has ordered the ends and the means to that end so perfectly! That is a far more complicated matter than the details of our little lives. So we need to repudiate our folly, seek wisdom in the Bible, where alone it may be found, and then seize every opportunity to live for and witness to our all-wise God and heavenly Father.”

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

October 28

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Dr. Boice lists the following purposes of good sermons: (1) the chief end of a sermon is too glorify God; (2) it should be faithful to the Bible; (3) it must say something worth saying; (4) it should say it well; and (5) it should be helpful to those who listen to it. Some sermons achieve these purposes, some do not. Some subjects make achieving these goals easier than other subjects. Dr. Boice believed that there was no subject that met these goals better and easier than the “doctrine of the divine decrees.”

“The ‘decrees’ have to do with God’s ordering of everything that happens, a truth that is clearly of great importance.” (Boice) This subject is not a popular topic of most contemporary preachers. The Westminster Confession of Faith deals with this subject in the third chapter. It begins, “God from all eternity, did, by His most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.”

The probable meaning of the word “judgments” (krimata) in our text is [God’s] decrees, “how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” The word is generally used of God’s judicial decisions - i.e. God’s judgments on the wicked. Boice writes, “but the word is sometimes used of decisions or determinations, especially in its verbal form, which fits the context better.” Charles Hodge writes, “as of old, the ruler was also the judge – to judge often means to rule – [therefore] the same word is used for the decisions of the judge and the decrees or ordinances of the ruler.” Paul is thinking of the acts of God generally, not just His judicial judgments.

“Besides, this is the direction of the apostle’s thought in these verses. Paul is marveling at the nature of God’s ways. He begins with praise of God’s knowledge, which is intuitive and infinite. Wisdom is a step beyond knowledge. It is the ability to perceive the proper, best, and most perfect means to achieve God’s perfect ends. Still, at this point knowledge and wisdom are only potentialities. It is only when we get to the next step that the potentialities become actualities, as God’s wisdom expresses itself in His decrees, and His decrees determine the path His decisions actually take in human history.

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ, Dan Todd

 

October 30

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

We are looking at the decrees of God. What are they like? How do they differ with decrees we might make? Why was Paul so awed with them? We will look at seven interesting thoughts regarding the decrees of God.

1. The decrees are for God’s glory. What is usually the subject of our first thoughts? With me, it’s generally the three most important people in my life, Me - Myself and I! I trust you realize that I am being a bit facetious! But on second thought - I’m also being very truthful. Even when we think along theological lines, our thoughts are usually in terms of our salvation and our happiness, rather than God’s glory.

Boice asks a series of questions, and then answer them the way a religiously aware person might answer - followed with a biblical answer. Think about the questions and answers!

“Why did God create the heavens and the earth?” We might answer, “To give us a beautiful environment in which to live and work.” But the Bible says, Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

“Why did Jesus Christ come into the world? We might answer, “To save us from our sins.” Now that is certainly true, but a greater answer is found in John 17:4, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

“What will the saints be saying when they stand before the throne of God in heaven?” We might answer, “Praising God for being so good to us.” Most likely we will be doing just that, but the Bible says in Revelation 5:13, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Even when we praise and worship God - most of us are hopelessly self-centered and subjective. “But the universe and all that happens in it is first of all for God’s glory, and not primarily for us, though we benefit from it and God does also have our well-being in view. Surely that is why the doxology in Romans 11 ends as it does. It does not end with man. Rather it ends with God: ‘For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.’” (Boice)

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

November 2

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

The decrees of God:

2. The decrees are one. This second item seems simple, perhaps a bit picky, yet it is profound. We have been speaking of decrees (plural). This is the result of our human reasoning. “We live within the flow of historical events and can only think of God’s acts in sequence.” (Boice) The Westminster Confession of Faith’s chapter on this subject is entitled “Of God’s Eternal Decree” (singular). God sees everything from the beginning as a whole, not in sequence. “What God foresees is only what He has foreordained or planned.” (Boice)

Psalm 2:7, “ I will declare the decree: [singular] the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” [singular] Ephesians 3:10-11, “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose [singular] which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Acts 2:23a, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel [singular] and foreknowledge of God.”

Charles Hodge wrote in his “Systematic Theology, “It is inconsistent with the idea of absolute perfection, that the purposes of God are successive, or that He ever purposes what He did not originally intend; or that one part of His plan is independent of other parts. It is one scheme, and therefore one purpose.”

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

November 4

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

1. The decrees of God are for God’s glory.
2. The decrees of God are one.

3. The decrees of God are eternal. “To think of any of God’s decisions as having been made in time is to suppose that some new circumstance, unforeseen by God, has occurred and that God therefore finds it necessary to accommodate Himself to it.” (Boice) What a powerful statement! If God’s decrees are not eternal - then God does not know everything perfectly - and circumstances would be dictating to Him - instead of God dictating circumstances. If God’s decrees are not eternal - then God is not God - and we are nothing more than pagans - worshiping an impotent god of our own making.

Here is what the Bible says about such things! Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” Speaking of Christ, Peter writes, “Who verily was foreordained (chosen) before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20). Charles Hodge writes that “history is all its details, even the most minute, is but the evolution of the eternal purposes of God.”

4. The decrees are wise. Everything God does issues from His perfect wisdom. We’ve looked at the wisdom of God in salvation. If you and I were to design salvation - it would have been a salvation of works. Heaven would end up being a boasting match - with each of us bragging that we had done more to get there - instead of a place of worshiping and serving God with an attitude of thanksgiving - knowing we do not deserve to be there. The wisdom of God’s decrees is evident in everything that He does. Psalm 104:24, “ O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

November 6

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

1. The decrees of God are for God’s glory.
2. The decrees of God are one.
3. The decrees of God are eternal.
4. The decrees of God are wise.

5. The decrees of God are free. Man insists that he has a free will! But most of our decisions are not made in a vacuum! Our decisions (purposes) are often formed under the influence of other minds, and certainly by our circumstances. The vast majority of mankind does not seek God (the God of the Bible). It is not because they are physically incapable of seeking God - but it’s because they do not want to seek God (“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” - Romans 3:11) Yes - “we are free - yet our freedom is within a framework of space/time limitations.” (Boice) God’s will - determines the framework of man. God is above all influence from without! Truly, only God’s decrees are free!

Arthur W. Pink writes, “God was alone when He made His decrees. He was free to decree or not to decree, and to decree one thing and not another. This liberty we must ascribe to Him who is supreme, independent, and sovereign in all His doings.”

God’s freedom in regards to His decrees is taught in the Isaiah passage that Paul quotes in Romans 11:34. “Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, or being his counseller hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:13-14)

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

November 8

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

1. The decrees of God are for God’s glory.
2. The decrees of God are one.
3. The decrees of God are eternal.
4. The decrees of God are wise.
5. The decrees of God are free.

6. The decrees of God are absolute and unconditional. God has perfect freedom - freedom to do whatever He desires to do. To take that truth to its logical conclusion - God’s decrees are absolute, unconditional, and immutable. “This means that what God determines to do is not suspended upon any condition that may or may not come to be, or upon any act that you or I may or may not do. God is infinite in knowledge and perfect in power. Therefore, nothing can arise to cause Him to do things differently or thwart His design.” (Boice)

Psalm 33:11, “The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Some argue that if God’s decree are absolute and unconditional - then man cannot have a free will - and be responsible for his condition. That would be true if (1) God and man were on the same plain - operating as equals, and (2) the choices man makes were not determined by his sinful nature. Man’s decisions are made because he is a sinner, and that makes man responsible for his condition. “God exercises His will toward us in this area by allowing sin to operate, just as He also exercises His will in other cases by intervening to save us from sin and turn us away from such action. As to the first condition, we are not on God’s level, which means that while our choices embrace only our own choices, God’s decrees embrace not only His will but also the contrary wills of sinful and rebellious subjects.” (Boice)

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

November 10

Romans 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

1. The decrees of God are for God’s glory.
2. The decrees of God are one.
3. The decrees of God are eternal.
4. The decrees of God are wise.
5. The decrees of God are free.
6. The decrees of God are absolute and unconditional.

7. The decrees of God are effective. Today we will briefly touch on a topic that sometimes causes controversy - that being the difference between the perfect and the permissive will of God. “Theologians make a distinction between God’s efficient decrees, that is, what He specifically wills, and God’s permissive decrees, that is, what He does not specifically will Himself but nevertheless permits to come to pass.” (Boice)

This subject can easily become very confusing. Sin entering the world, and the sinful acts of believers and unbelievers fall into the category of the permissive will of God. God is not the author of sin, and He tempts no man to sin, James 1:13, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”

God is the author of good, and He does good. God also permits evil, but He is not the author of evil. The distinction between the two is valid. But the gist of this decree is that whatever God ordains, whether He does it actively or passively, it is certain to come to pass. Friends, that will have to satisfy me until I see Him face-to-face. The answer to the tough question of where sin came from will have to wait until we are present with Him eternally and then we will no longer have the ability to sin - so the answer may not even be worth knowing at that time and place.

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd