The Doctrine of God: God's Eternal Plan and Purpose.

The Divine Decrees

See <http://www.theopedia.com/decrees-of-god> for a full treatment of this subject.Also

see<https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/divinedecrees.html> by William G.T. Shedd

Questions for Research and Review. L.B. 49

1. What is the Divine Decree?
2. Why do we sometimes speak of Decrees in the plural?
3. What are the Characteristics of the Divine Decree?
4. What is the nature of God’s Decree concerning sin?
5. What objections are raised against the Doctrine of the Decrees?

Other questions for further study:

1. Is foreknowledge the same as foreordination or predestination? Acts 2:23; Romans 8:29; 11:2; 1 Peter 1:2
2. How does the Bible indicate that Christ was also an object of Predestination? Ps 2:7; Isaiah 42:1; 1 Peter 1:20; 2:4; In what sense is this to be understood?
3. What indications do we have that the Angels were also objects of Predestination? 1 Tim 5:21. How should we conceive of this?

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 7 defines the decrees of God to be “his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his own will, whereby he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.” God does not act until he has decided to act, and his decision is free and voluntary. Hence, the actions of God can no more be separated from the decrees of God than the actions of a man can be from his decisions. W. Shedd