Introduction
Election
Introduction Until now, we have considered God's nature in himself—not as though we can think about God apart from what he has revealed in nature and Scripture. In truth, we can only know God because he has made himself known to us. When we speak of God, we must do so as Christians, taught by his Word. Yet, in the previous chapters, we focused on God as he is in himself, learning to know him as the eternal, living God—pure in essence and full of activity. Scripture describes God as one who is always at work, creating, sustaining, and ruling over all things (Genesis 2:3; Psalm 121:3–4; John 9:3–4). His works are perfect, faithful, just, kind, and awe-inspiring, so much so that God delights in them (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 104:31).
God's activity is not just occasional; it is essential to who he is. Jesus said, "My Father is always at his work" (John 5:17). This means God did not begin working only at the time of creation—his works extend from eternity past to eternity future. Within the Trinity, the Father,
Son, and Spirit eternally relate to one another. The Father gives life to the Son, and the Spirit searches the depths of God's being (John
5:26; 1 Corinthians 2:10). These eternal works, called "immanent works," exist entirely within God and have no direct connection to
creation. Yet, they reveal to us that God is all-sufficient and does not need anything from us to be complete (Acts 17:25). He is absolute in himself—perfect and fulfilled without dependence on creation.
God's works that relate to creation, however, are distinct from these immanent works. They can be grouped into two categories: internal decisions and external actions. The internal decisions, often called
"decrees," are part of God's eternal plan. These decrees connect his internal works to his actions in creation and redemption and have three key characteristics.
1. Rooted in God's Knowledge: God's decrees come from his infinite wisdom and knowledge. The world, vast and complex as it is, is only a small expression of God's boundless understanding. Not everything possible is actualized; creation reflects just a fraction of God's eternal wisdom (Matthew 19:26).
2. Founded on Sovereignty: God's decrees are completely free and not compelled by any need. He does not act out of necessity but by his own sovereign will. Everything that exists does so because God willed it to be (Revelation 4:11). Though these decrees are eternal, we distinguish between God's selfknowledge and his knowledge of the world.
3. Realized in Time: What God decrees will come to pass. While God does not need creation, his decrees make the world's existence and preservation part of his plan. This shows God's absolute control over all things while affirming creation's complete dependence on him. This avoids two errors: pantheism, which blurs God and creation, and deism, which separates God from his creation. As Scripture says, "The things we see are not made from what is visible" (Hebrews 11:3)—all things come from God's will and purpose.