Sign In. Purposeful Action The term sovereignty does not contain the idea of purposeful action, but the term providence does. The Building Blocks of Providence Why was the English word providence chosen to capture this biblical teaching? Podcast: Complementarianism Is Not about Competency John Piper November 25, John Piper discusses complementarianism, with both personal and practical implications, and how we should think about it in the MeToo era.
The Intersection of the Natural and the Supernatural in Preaching John Piper May 09, How do the supernatural and the natural intersect in the act of preaching? Expository Exultation. John Piper. Asking the Right Questions. Matthew S. God is the sole ruler of the world Job His will governs all things Psalm ; Job ; Isaiah ; ; Sirach ; Esther He loves all men Wisdom , 27 , desires the salvation of all Isaiah ; Wisdom , and His providence extends to all nations Deuteronomy ; Wisdom ; Isaiah He desires not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent Ezekiel ; ; Wisdom ; for He is above all things a merciful God and a God of much compassion Exodus ; Numbers ; Deuteronomy ; Psalm ; ; ; Sirach Yet He is a just God , as well as a Saviour Isaiah Hence both good and evil proceed from Him Lamentations ; Amos ; Isaiah ; Ecclesiastes 7 ; 15 ; Sirach , good as a bounteous gift freely bestowed Psalm ; Ecclesiastes ; 1 Chronicles , evil as the consequence of sin Lamentations ; Joel ; Amos , 11 ; Isaiah , 5.
For God rewards men according to their works Lamentations ; Job ; Psalm ; Sirach , 13 ; ; 1 Samuel , their thoughts, and their devices Jeremiah ; ; Psalm From His anger there is no escape Job ; Psalm , 17 ; Wisdom ; and none can prevail against Him Sirach ; Wisdom ; Proverbs ; Psalm ; ; Judith , If the wicked are spared for a time Jeremiah ; Job ; Psalm ; Ecclesiastes , they will ultimately receive their deserts if they do not repent Jeremiah ; Job , 18 ; ; while the good, though they may suffer for a time, are comforted by God Psalm ; Isaiah , who will build them up, and will not cease to do them good Jeremiah sq.
For in spite of the wicked, God's counsels are never changed or thwarted Isaiah ; ; ; Psalm ; Evil He converts into good Genesis ; cf. Psalm ; and suffering He uses as an instrument whereby to train men up as a father traineth up his children Deuteronomy ; Psalm ; Wisdom , 2 ; so that in very truth the world fighteth for the just Wisdom The teaching of the Old Testament on Providence is assumed by Our Lord , who draws therefrom practical lessons both in regard to confidence in God Matthew ; ; ; Mark ; Luke ; John , 27 and in regard to the forgiveness of our enemies Matthew ; Luke ; while in St.
Paul it becomes the basis of a definite and systematic theology. To the Athenians in the Areopagus Paul declares: that God made the universe and is its supreme Lord Acts ; that He sustains the universe in its existence, giving life and breath to all things verse 25 , and hence, as the source whence they all proceed, must Himself lack nothing nor stand in need of any human service; that He has directed the growth of nations and their distribution verse 26 , and this to the end that they should seek Him verse 27 in Whom we live and move and have our being, and whose offspring we are verse Being therefore the offspring of God , it is absurd for us to liken Him to things inanimate verse 29 , and though God has borne with this ignorance on man's part for a time, now He demands penance verse 30 , and, having sent Christ, Whose authority is guaranteed by His Resurrection , has appointed a day when the world shall be judged by Him in justice verse In the Epistle to the Romans the supernatural character of Divine Providence is further evolved, and the doctrine of Providence becomes identical with that of grace.
Nature manifests so clearly the power and the divinity of God that failure to recognize it is inexcusable Romans Hence God in His anger verse 18 gives man over to the desires of his heart verse 24 , to a reprobate sense verse Some day He will vindicate Himself ii, , rendering to every man according to his works ; cf.
Christians , moreover, having already received the grace of redemption v, 1 , should glory in tribulation, knowing that it is but a trial which strengtheneth patience and hope v, 3, 4. For the graces that are to come are far greater than those already received v, 10 sq.
Life everlasting is promised to us v, 21 ; but unaided we can do nothing to gain it vii, It is the grace of Christ that delivers us vii, 25 and makes us co-heirs with Him viii, Yet we must also suffer with Him verse 17 and be patient verse 25 , knowing that all things work together for good to them that love God ; for God in His Providence has regarded us with love from all eternity , has predestined us to be made conformable to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren, has called us 2 Thessalonians , has justified us Romans ; 1 Corinthians , and even now has begun to accomplish within us the work of glorification Romans , 30 ; cf.
Ephesians sq. This, the beneficent purpose of an all-seeing Providence, is wholly gratuitous, entirely unmerited Romans ; It extends to all men Romans ; 1 Timothy , even to the reprobate Jews Romans sq. The testimony of the Fathers The Testimony of the Fathers is, it need hardly be said, perfectly unanimous from the very outset.
Clement, "I Epis. God governs the whole universe [Aristides, "Apol. Cyprian "Lib de idol. John Chrysostom , "Ad eos qui scandalizati sunt", V in "P. Augustine , "De gen. Gregory the Great , "Lib. It extends to every individual, adapting itself to the needs of each St. John Chrysostom , "Hom. All things are created and governed with a view to man, to the development of his life and his intelligence, and to the satisfaction of his needs Aristides, "Apol.
Augustine , "De div. The chief proof of this doctrine is derived from the adaptation of means to an end, which, since it takes place in the universe comprising a vast multitude of relatively independent individuals differing in nature, function, and end, implies the continuous control and unifying governance of a single supreme Being Minucius Felix , "Octavius", xvii in Halm, "Corp.
John Damascene , "De fid. Again, from the fact that God has created the universe , it shows that He must also govern it; for just as the contrivances of man demand attention and guidance, so God , as a good workman, must care for His work St. If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? One of the oldest sayings of the ancient church summarizes the essence of the relationship between God and His people: Deus pro nobis.
If God is for us, who can be against us, and who can separate us from the love of Christ? If you live in an agricultural or farming society, he can send rain. If you live in an ocean society, he can send fish. If you live in a capitalist society, he can provide jobs and opportunities. I know many times when chaos erupts in society, a question that pops into our minds is this — Is God still in control?
Consider what God told Noah after the flood:. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. To understand why we can have faith , I want to turn your attention to two Scriptures:. If you truly believe that God loves you, then you must believe that he has nothing but the best planned for you. This is the destiny that God has prepared for you and he will carefully watch over it until it comes to pass. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.
Well jury, I have my presented my case as to what divine providence is and whether it is in the Bible. I hope I have done a good job of helping you understand its meaning and its relevance. At the heart of the matter is how much God loves you.
Because of his great love , his divine providence is something that can be embraced and trusted. He has planned nothing but the best for you.
Remember he is the Alpha, which means he has the first word, and the Omega, which means he has the last word. As I close my case here is the last word on the subject:.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Clarence L.
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