How do we know the crucifixion was part of God's plan?

The crucifixion was not a mere accident but an event central to God's sovereign plan. The sermon emphasizes that it was the Lord's will to crush Him and that this event was the outworking of God's eternal decree. Scripture affirms this as God's orchestration allows for both justice and mercy to meet at the cross. In Acts 2:23, Peter preaches that Jesus was delivered up according to God's definite plan and foreknowledge, reinforcing that the crucifixion was predetermined and essential in the redemptive history of mankind. This aligns with the Reformed emphasis on God's sovereignty over all creation, including the pivotal events of history.