God’s Providence

If God controls all things, how can our actions have real meaning? -Wayne Grudem

Omniscience God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple eternal act. Job 37: 16 1 John 3:20 Hebrews 4:13

Omnipotence God is able to do all His holy will. Jeremiah 32: 17 Ephesians 3:20 Matthew 19:26

Omnipresence God does not have size or special dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being, yet God acts differently in different places. Jeremiah 23: Kings 8:27

Eternal God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being and he sees all time equally vividly, yet God sees events in time and acts in time. Psalms 90:2 Job 36:26 Revelation 1:8

Providence is the idea of God’s relationship with His creation

Preservation God keeps all created things existing and maintains the properties with which He created them. (Wayne Grudem)

He carries/sustains His creation Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Gives us life continually Job 34: “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. 11 He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. 12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. 13 Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? 14 If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit [a] and breath, 15 all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.a

He will continue until our final judgement 2 Peter 3:3-7 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly

We will be made new 1 Corinthians 15: 42-44a 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

All creation will be made new Revelation 21: 1-5 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” [a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ [b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”ab 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Concurrence The idea that God uses His creation to accomplish His will

Job 37: He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ 7 So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. [a] 8 The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. 9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. 10 The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. 12 At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. 13 He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.a

Government God has a purpose in everything that He does and providentially governs all creation.

Psalms 103:19 19 The L ORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

1 Corinthians 15:24-27a 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” [a]a

So do our actions mean anything? Are we responsible for what we do?

Yes! God created us with a will to choose, but he also created the laws that determine what happens due to our choices.

Isaiah 64:3-4 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

God does not bring evil, only the consequences

Evil is not an action. It is not even the person committing the action, but rather it is the choice made in man’s heart that is evil.

Jeremiah 17: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the L ORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Revelation 3: “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Our choices determine our final relationship with our God!

If God’s providence is his relationship with his creation and he created you to have choices, how do your choices reflect your relationship with God?