Chapter 7
Decrees
264. What are the decrees of God, and how does it appear that they exist?
They are called the "essential, internal acts of God." They are His eternal purposes. Their
existence is
1. Proved from the perfection of the divine nature. His knowledge being infinite
and infallible supposes that He has determined things to be as they are.
2. They are proved from the harmony observable in creation and providence.
3. They are constantly ascribed to God in the sacred Scriptures.
4. They are also proved by the prediction of things the most contingent (Amos
3:7; Matt. 8:17; John 19:36).
265. What kind of acts are the decrees of God?
The acts of God are divided into three kinds:
1. Those internal acts which have no relation to beings without;
2. External transient acts, as [making] creation;
3. Those internal acts of God which have a reference to things without. Of this
last kind are decrees, being the councils of God concerning future things
without Himself.
266. Are the divine decrees essentially or accidentally in the divine nature?
They cannot be considered as accidents in the divine nature, for this would be
inconsistent with simplicity, contrary to absolute perfection, and opposed to
immutability, for accidents are the root of all change. And this is as much as is necessary
to be said on this subject, for we cannot easily conceive of decrees being the divine
essence, of which they are the internal acts.
267. Are all the decrees of God from eternity?
Yes, because this is attributed to them in the sacred Scriptures, as when the kingdom is
said to be prepared for the righteous "from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:34),
also [in that the righteous are said to be] elected (Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9); also from Acts
15:18, "known unto the Lord are all things from the beginning of the world." If the
decrees are made in time, then after the manner of men God acts from the circumstances
of the moment, which is altogether inconsistent with His infinite perfection.
268. Are the decrees of God immutable?
Yes. There may be changes in the external dispensations of His providence, but there can
be none in His purpose, because this would argue some defect in His foreknowledge,
wisdom, or power. "The counsel of the Lord stands forever; the thoughts of his heart to
all generations" (Ps. 33:11). Hebrews 6:17, "Wherein God willing more abundantly to
show the immutability of his counsel."
269. Are the decrees of God wise and free?
Yes. This appears from His wisdom and sovereignty manifested in the execution of them.
For whatever perfections God manifests in His works, these He designed in His eternal
purpose to glorify. Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God." Matthew 11:26, "Even so Father: for so it seems good in your sight."
270. Are the decrees of God absolute or conditional?
The decrees of God are all absolute considered in themselves because
1. They are from eternity.
2. They are dependent only on the good pleasure of God (Matt. 15:25; Eph. 1:5).
3. They are immutable (Isa. 46:10).
4. It is inconsistent with the wisdom and power of God to make decrees that have
uncertain objects.
5. It makes the purposes of God dependent on the fickle will of men. Isaiah 46:10,
"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things
which are not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my
pleasure."
271. May they not be considered as conditional in regards to their object?
They may—that is, the event or object is decreed under a condition; thus, salvation under
the condition of faith. But this mode of speaking confounds conditions and means.
272. Do the decrees of God involve the certainty of future events?
Certainty, or as Turretin says, necessity is of three kinds:
1. Physical, such as resides in second causes (e.g., fire will burn)
2. That of coaction1
3. Hypothetical necessity of the event, by which things in their nature contingent
cannot but take place, on account of the ordination of God
In this last sense things decreed are necessary, or rather certain, because
1. The eternal and immutable purposes of God must take effect.
2. This necessity is asserted in sacred Scripture: Matthew 18:7, "For it must needs
be that offenses come." Matthew 26:54, "But how then shall the scriptures be
fulfilled that thus it must be?"
3. The most casual things are said to come to pass of necessity: Exodus 12:12, 13;
Proverbs 16:33; John 19:36.
4. They are foreseen as future and therefore must take place.
5. They are predicted as future, and the Word of God cannot fail. See [Jonathan]
Edwards, Freedom of the Will, part 2, section 11.
273. Does the decree of God make Him the author of sin?
No, because the decree, though it may render sin certain, is not the cause of sin, since it
neither imports the evil disposition from whence it flows nor intimates the least
approbation of it, but is merely permissive. There is a great difference between allowing
sin and causing it. It may be considered as the polar star of theology to remember that
God is infinitely perfect and to ascribe to Him nothing which is not consistent with this
character. See Edwards, On the Will, part 4, section 4.
1 [Compulsion, specifically a person outwardly forcing another person to do something.]
274. How are the decrees of God conversant about the free acts of moral agents?
God uses all things agreeably to the nature He has given them. He works with necessary
causes in one way and with contingent causes in another, violating the nature of neither,
yet accomplishing His purposes by both.
275. Is there any just ground for the distinction between absolute and permissive decrees?
There is, in a certain view. God decrees all good absolutely and is the cause of it, but He
permits evil, though the decree to permit is in itself absolute.
276. What is a permissive decree?
Such as relates to sinful actions. "A permissive [decree] determines the event of the evil
permitted and overrules it to a good end, contrary to the intention both of the work and
the worker." Fisher's2 Catechism [Q. 7.28] It merely determines the certainty of its event.
277. Are all things, even the most minute, decreed?
Nothing is so vast or so minute as to be beyond the limits of God's providence or plan.
The hairs of our heads are numbered, and a sparrow falls not to the ground without the
notice of our heavenly Father [Matt. 10:29–30].
2 [James Fisher (1697–1775) was a founder of the Scottish Secession Church.]