Decrees
Notes
Pink includes God’s decrees in The Attributes of God. I agree with Pink that “the decree of God is his purpose or determination with respect to future things.” But I don’t think decrees are an attribute. They are what God thinks and wills and effects, not what he is.
The decree of god is his purpose or determination with respect to future things. We have used the singular number as Scripture does (Rom 8:28; Eph 3:11), because there was only one act of His infinite mind about future things. But we speak as if there had been many, because our minds are only capable of thinking of successive revolutions, as thoughts and occasions arise, or in reference to the various objects of His decree, which being many seem to us to require a distinct purpose for each one. But an infinite understanding does not proceed by steps, from one stage to another: “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18).
Pink, A. W. The Attributes of God. Providence Baptist Ministries, n.d., Ch 2
The decrees of God relate to all future things without exception: whatever is done in time was foreordained before time began. God’s purpose was concerned with everything, whether great or small, whether good or evil, although with reference to the latter we must be careful to state that while God is the Orderer and Controller of sin, He is not the Author of it in the same way that He is the Author of good. Sin could not proceed from a holy God by positive and direct creation, but only by decretive permission and negative action. God’s decree is as comprehensive as His government, extending to all creatures and all events. It was concerned about our life and death; about our state in time, and our state in eternity. As God works all things after the counsel of His own will, we learn from His works what His counsel is (was), as we judge of an architect’s plan by inspecting the building which was erected under his directions.
Pink, A. W. The Attributes of God. Providence Baptist Ministries, n.d., Ch 2
Bible References
[20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20)
[7] I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you. (Psalms 2:7)
[23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (Acts 2:23)
[18] known from of old. (Acts 15:18)
[28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28-29)
[4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (Ephesians 1:4)
[9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ (Ephesians 1:9)
[11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, (Ephesians 1:11)
[11] This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Ephesians 3:11)
[9] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (2 Timothy 1:9)