God's Plan - J.I. Packer
"The Bible’s dominant conviction about God, a conviction proclaimed from Genesis to Revelation, is that behind and beneath all the apparent confusion of this world lies his plan. That plan concerns the perfecting of a people and the restoring of a world through the mediating action of Christ. God governs human affairs with this end in view. His plan cannot be thwarted by human sin, because God made a way for human sin itself to be part of the plan. The cross of Christ is the supreme illustration of this principle. At Calvary God overruled human sin, which he foresaw, as a means of salvation of the world. Thus it appears that human lawlessness does not thwart God’s plan for his people’s redemption. Rather, through the wisdom of omnipotence, it has become the means of fulfilling that plan."J.I. Packer – Hot Tub Religion
posted by Doug E. @ 8:16 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
That was very well presented. I like this bit.
His plan cannot be thwarted by human sin, because God made a way for human sin itself to be part of the plan.
You could apply this to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
.. human lawlessness does not thwart God's plan for his peoples redemption...
This reminded me of Zaccheus when Jesus as if off the cuff says come down for I will have dinner at your house.
Jesus would know him to be a lawless man but when did these lawless deeds phase Jesus or even get bought up? Jesus brings salvation in an instant and Zaccheus is giving away money he had cheated as if it meant nothing to him. For a new treasure came along.
Hey Doug, I am wondering what you would think about my newest blog entry about how the post-reformation scholastics significantly diverged from Calvin and Luther on the critical doctrine of assurance of salvation. Your comments would be appreciated!
Calvin vs. the Calvinists
It is appreciated!
Antonio
wow, what a deep thought. i'm going to have to think about that one for a little while...
Where does the Bible say that is God's plan?
Hot Tub ..in a title by JI Packer..I LOVE IT!
I love that quote. J. I. Packer seems to be really good. I haven't finished his "Knowing God." yet but I'm love it so far...
I think it's important to remember the goal of his plan: To make Himself great...
Dyspraxic,
I guess I'm not completely sure what you are asking. Are you asking where does it talk about God having a plan, or the fact that His plan is to redeem a people to himself? Or is there some third question I missed completely.
God Bless,
Doug
"The Bible’s dominant conviction about God, a conviction proclaimed from Genesis to Revelation, is that behind and beneath all the apparent confusion of this world lies his plan. That plan concerns the perfecting of a people and the restoring of a world through the mediating action of Christ. God governs human affairs with this end in view."
What makes you think that this is the domminant theme of the Bible? Are there any passages that identify this as the domminant theme?
Every Blessing in Christ
Matthew
Dsypraxic,
Regarding God redeeming a people we have…
-Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
-Luk 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
-Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Regarding this being a predetermined plan we have…
-Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
-1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
-Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Regarding all things being used for his purpose even sin we have…
-Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
-Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
I will keep it short and end with these. I do not want to give and exhaustive list of verses because I am not completely sure what your point of contention is.
What do you think His plan was?
God Bless,
Doug
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