Sermon Tone Analysis

How do we reconcile man’s freedom and God’s Providence?

Man has freedom to make choices throughout the day.

Yet, we also believe that God orders and governs all things in creation.

Intro

Luck has become such a normal term in our vernacular that godly Christians use it without hesitation.

Do we believe in fortune or chance?

Is Luck a biblical doctrine?

No, we believe in the sovereignty of God.

Calvin:

I reply: Basil the Great has truly said that “fortune” and “chance” are pagan terms, with whose significance the minds of the godly ought not to be occupied.

We believe in God’s providence.

GOD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,b from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge,e and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.g

Calvin says:

At the outset, then, let my readers grasp that providence means not that by which God idly observes from heaven what takes place on earth, but that by which, as keeper of the keys, he governs all events.

We believe in God’s Eternal Decrees

GOD from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,b nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

Principles of Faith

GOD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,b from the greatest even to the least

But faith ought to penetrate more deeply, namely, having found him Creator of all, forthwith to conclude he is also everlasting Governor and Preserver—not only in that he drives the celestial frame as well as its several parts by a universal motion, but also in that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for, everything he has made, even to the least sparrow [cf.

Matt.

10:29].

God Governs our calendar

Illus: Showed up to work last week and sat down with a plan for the day.

Looked at the calendar and laid out my day.

Then the phone rang and didn’t stop.

We all live by a calendar don’t we

Google calendar

Jesus -

GOD from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,b nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

But faith ought to penetrate more deeply, namely, having found him Creator of all, forthwith to conclude he is also everlasting Governor and Preserver—not only in that he drives the celestial frame as well as its several parts by a universal motion, but also in that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for, everything he has made, even to the least sparrow [cf.

Matt.

10:29].

Concurrence says that actions of two or more parties occurring at the same time can dovetail or converge without the intent or role of the parties being the same -Sproul

Illus: Job’s cattle being stolen.

and the Chaldeans

While God’s providence, God did not steal Job’s cattle.

The Chaldean’s did this.

They were men who made profit from stealing other peoples property.

Yet, God allowed Satan to stir them up.

And, God allowed this evil to be done to job.

Three differing purposes, God - for his glory, Satan - to discredit job and disprove God, Chaldean’s - profit from stolen goods - evil

Yet, all of these things worked together as God ordained them and governed them, without sinning.

God Governs our calling

Paul took a vow.

Unknown

Yet, probably a form of a nazarite vow

This represents Paul’s submission to God’s providence.

He does this because he knows that God governs his calling

His purpose in this world is for God’s purpose

Gal

Yet, God allowed Paul to freely choose to follow and obey his commitments.

Paul saw this divine concurrence (A mystery) and lived in faith

Joseph and his brothers -

1st Cause - God

2nd Cause - man

God works above our evil works to make good, which is his purpose to His glory

Our calling in this life is God’s doing, even when we aren’t even sure where we are or how we got here.

Give glory to God in your calling

God Governs our travel

“I will return if God wills . .

.”

Paul made plenty of travel plans and set sail for many cities.

This is his freedom

Yet, he knew that only God could ultimately govern all circumstances so that he could do what he wanted to do.

This again, places God in control and above all our own planing and purposes

This does not mean we become fatalists, idle, anxious or worried.

These are results if we live a life of chance or fortune

Luke 12:22-

God Governs our relationships

Priscilla and Aquila went with him

He left them in Ephesus

He did not choose these companions, God did

Remember they showed up in Corinth who were exiled from Italy

They met there and went on this missionary journey together

We don’t get to choose who we are fellow members with

God calls people of all race, creed, class, country, etc . . .

our society and nations are segregated.

America is the closest thing we have to heaven, melting pot

Yet, humans naturally segregate

Example of how our actions are evil and are motivated by comfort

Yet, God calls men from all tongues, nations and tribes.

We have no idea what God is doing, but the folks who share a membership with us in this church are fellow heirs called by the same name we are called:

“If you see your neighbor in sin, don’t look only at this, but also think about what he has done or does that is good, and infrequently trying this in general, while not partially judging, you will find that he is better than you.”

— St. Basil the Great, Conversations, 20

But faith ought to penetrate more deeply, namely, having found him Creator of all, forthwith to conclude he is also everlasting Governor and Preserver—not only in that he drives the celestial frame3 as well as its several parts by a universal motion, but also in that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for, everything he has made, even to the least sparrow [cf.

Matt.

10:29].

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Conclusions

What we have here is a very mysterious and hard to explain doctrine.

God’s providence rules all things, yet he allows humans the freedom to make choices in this life.

Somehow those all work together, for God’s glory and His purpose.

For this reason we should put our faith and trust in him.

We should again rest confidently in his sovereignty.

AnythingI do, which will always be evil, can and will be overcome by an all powerful and Soverign God.

Nothing Satan or anyone else can do will change this