We Do Not Separate God's Decree from the Actual Events of Time

     We at Pristine Grace love to focus on God's eternal decree. It gives us great comfort to know that God has predestined every single event of our lives. It helps us to know that there is nothing that happens in this world that is not His pleasure. Many of the articles on this website focus on this wonderful truth. However, to many outsiders, those that are not familiar with God's decree, and those who don't dwell on it like we do, it is thought that we emphasize the decree of God to the exclusion of the cross of Christ and the events of time. Let me state emphatically right here and right now that not only is this an impossibility, but it is wrong.

     We cannot separate the events in our lives and throughout the world from God's decree. It is true that whatever will be will be, is it not? Events cannot happen without a decree and a decree without its corresponding events not being actualized is not a decree. Take for example God's eternal decree for God to justify His people. We love this decree of God so much, but only because of the actual events which transpired because of it! God's decree to justify His people without the cross of Christ is not justification. God's justification of His people without the decree is not justification either. The decree to justify and the actual justification of them cannot be separated in any degree. That is why it is safe for us to focus on God's decree and state that the decree to justify IS the justification of His people because God's decree does not return void. It is efficacious. When God speaks - His word is accomplished!!!!!

     We have been accused of focusing on the decree of election and reprobation to the exclusion of the cross. That we make God's decree of separation the basis of our Gospel as opposed to the cross of Christ. But did not Christ die for only those elected to salvation? Men were elected in Christ in eternity or they were not elected in Christ in eternity. It is true that we emphasize the eternal decree of God in the Gospel. Nevertheless, while we may emphasize this important decree, we do not mean to exclude the cross of Christ from it as to us it is an impossibility. God's decree must always be attached to the actual events associated with it. Just as the actual events that are accomplished must be within view of God's decree.

     God's Sovereignty is at the heart of the Gospel message. It is not liked by most religionists. Many disciples of Christ departed from His presence when they heard of His Sovereign Eternal Decree.

Jn 6:60-66, (KJV), Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? (61) When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? (62) What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? (63) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (64) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (65) And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. [that is in God's eternal decree] (66) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

     Let us not shrink back from God's eternal decree. Let us not be like those disciples that would depart from a Christ who is absolutely Sovereign. I am not ashamed of my Predestinarian faith although I realize that many may think I eliminate the cross of Christ. But the cross of Christ without the decree of God is not the cross just as a decree without the cross is not a decree. To speak of the cross of Christ is to speak of the decree of God. To speak of the decree of God is to speak of the cross of Christ.