The Providence of God and the Cross of Christ
PART I
SOME INTRODUCTORY MATTERS
Limitations of this Essay
Some matters which will not be addressed. This essay will not deal with (1) the proof that God does exist, (2) the proof that the Bible is the inspired word of God, (3) the proof that miracles have ceased.
Assumptions of this Study
This essay will assume: (1) that God does exist (although the existence of God can be proved, such effort is beyond the scope of this essay), (2) that God is infinite in all of His attributes, (3) that the Bible is the inspired word of God, (4) that what the Bible teaches to be true is actually true, (5) that it is possible for men to learn (come to knowledge of) what the Bible really does teach (John 8:32).
(1) God. God is the infinite, self-existent, eternal Being who created all that exists other than Himself, who is infinite in all of His attributes, and who, because of His infinite love, grace, power, et al., has provided men with all that they really need.
(2) The Bible. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, all-sufficient (in showing man what to do with himself) word of God.
(3) Providence. Quite simply, the “providence” of God is a word used to refer to what God does in foreseeing and making available to man those things which he really does need (not merely wants). The providence of God necessarily entails God’s infinite knowledge, infinite wisdom, infinite goodness, infinite power, infinite presence, and so on. Thus, providence involves foresight and knowledge of true goals, love, direction, power, care, and so on.
(4) What Providence Is Not
a. It is not miraculous. This means that it is not, for men living today, brought about by the exercise of miraculous power. This is the case in spite of the fact that, during the Old Testament period (as well as the early part of the New Testament period [during the days of the Apostles]), miracles were often used in the providential activities of God in behalf of various people. The Bible plainly teaches that miracles ceased about nineteen hundred years ago.
b. It is not something which “just happens.” It is not merely an accident or a mere happenstance. God is involved in it — and designedly so. This book has, as its main goal, the explanation of this fact (according to the teaching of the Bible). In connection with all of this—in spite of there being no miraculous elements involved, God plans, wills, listens to and answers prayer, makes judgments, protects (by non-miraculous activities), helps in healing, loves, encourages, and on and on. At times, men can “pretty well pin-point” matters which are involved in the providence of God. At other times, it is a very difficult—if indeed not an impossible—thing—to do. It is true, however, that, at times at least, one can truthfully say, “This is the sort of thing that could be the providence of God.”
c. Thus, it can truthfully be said that God is in command of the universe (taking into account the free-will of human beings). This has been the case in the past, it is the case in the present, and it will be the case in the future (cf. Romans 11:36). Note carefully the expressions, “from him,” “through him,” and “to him.” And, then the conclusion, “to whom be glory forever.”
d. So, can it not be truthfully said that the providence of God involves the exercise and the continuance of His power, goodness, and wisdom by which He has created and by which He maintains (preserves) all things and brings about the fulfillment of His eternal purposes (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-2; Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:18; et al.). Thus, even though the era of miracles has passed, God still works in the affairs of men in order to bring about the results which He desires (in compatibility with the free will of men [2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 7:13-14]).
PART II
SOME MORE SPECIFICS REGARDING GOD’S PROVIDENCE
1. The world. God planned the world. He created it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18; Genesis 1:1ff; 2:1ff). God, through the Word, created everything which exists (including the world and man) other than Himself (John 1:1-3; 1:4-14; 17:5; Psalm 33:6; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2; 4:11; John 8:12; 12:46; 3:16-18; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:15-17; Colossians 1:16-23).
2. God provided man with a physical body, a soul, a spirit, intelligence (mind), free will (the ability to decide whether he will choose to do good or to do evil; cf. Matthew 11:28-30; 7:13-29).
3. God provided man with the perfect companion — not another man, but a woman (who was a helper [companion] perfectly fit for him). She provided femininity as a counterpart to his masculinity, beauty to balance his handsomeness, the body with which to express sexual love, the body to provide the means of having children (thus providing the means of having a family), and so on down through the history of man.
Providence and Human Free Will
Of course, all of this involved the necessity of exercising free will. Men and women, having free will, have always had the ability to exercise the free will with which God provided them. Along with this ability from God there has always been responsibility to God. But the man and the woman misused their free will (to either obey or to disobey God) and, as a result, they were cast out of the Garden. But, even so, God had provided them a world in which to live outside of the Garden. Their downfall (in losing access to the Tree of Life) came from having heard a lie, having believed a lie, and having obeyed a lie. (In order for any man or woman living today to gain access to the Tree of Life (in Heaven) he/she must hear the truth, believe the truth, and obey the truth; cf. Romans 10:13-14; Hebrews 5:8-9; et al.).
More on Free Will
God gave instructions to Adam and Eve. He meant for them to obey those instructions (just as He means for people living today to obey His instructions [set out in the Bible]). When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God did not just casually overlook their disobedience. He had given them instructions which were very simple (thus, easily understood and obeyed). Yet, they did not properly exercise the free will with which God had endowed them; they ate of the fruit of which He had forbidden them to eat. When this occurred, God cast them out of the Garden into the world which He, knowing they would sin, had provided them. He also gave them insight into the Savior which He would provide for men (Genesis 3:1-19; cf. John 3:15-18; Galatians 3:26-27; Hebrews 5:8-9; John 1:11-14; et al.).
God’s Grace
God provided grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Because of the weakness of the flesh man sinned (Romans 8:1-5). But God provided a means by which he could be forgiven of his sins: the grace of God (Romans 5:8-9; 8:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49). (More will be said in regard to this matter in paragraphs below.)
There is Also the Very Crucial Matter of Justice
Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, declared that the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God, Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). This is in sharp contrast to the grace of God which provides eternal life (which no one can earn; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; 11:6; Titus 2:11). The Bible plainly teaches that all men and women who die without having been saved by the grace of God will be recipients of the wrath of God (eternal punishment), which they will have earned by their sins (Romans 6:23).
God has provided a world (outside of the Garden of Eden) which involves the situation in which human beings (as well as animals) face the possibility of suffering and also of death. But even in such situations it has been said that
You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:19-20). Further, Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15). These words manifest faith in God (cf. Romans 4:20-21).
It is in this world that each man must make the decision as to what he will do with his life. No one can make his decision before he is born into this world. Neither can any one make his decision (in relation to God’s eternal purpose) after he has died (Hebrews 9:27).
Of course, animals do not face God in the judgment, but every responsible human being will face that judgment (Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:46).
PART III
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST
By no amount of good works — no matter how great — could any human being earn (or obtain) the forgiveness of even one sin which he has committed. If man could have been saved by meritorious works, there would have been no need for the grace of God (the unmerited favor of God). God’s gift of His Son on the cross of Calvary is the crowning act of God’s providence in regard to His eternal purpose. It could well be said that what the cross teaches is the very heart of the Bible. It perfectly ties together the eternal purpose of God (in His love, to save every person who truly loves Him in return (John 14:15, 21).
So, let us look at what the cross of Christ tells us about His providence. There are many things that all men need to know. It is surely the case that the things that men need most to know are taught by the cross of Christ. By “the cross” (as used below) I will be referring to the fact that God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that sinners might be saved by the grace of God and not lost according to what they deserve. The cross is deeply involved in the providence of God because of (1) what it does for men and (2) what it teaches those who will properly discern the evidence. Just what does the cross teach that is so important to us human beings? How is it that the cross is God’s supreme declaration to men?
1. The cross is God’s supreme declaration of His own existence. There are many proofs of God’s existence. Among these are (1) man himself (his mind, his body, et al. Psalm 139:14), (2) the heavens (Psalm 19:1-5). But Jesus said, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father (John 14:9). The Father gave the Son so that men might receive eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 8:7-8). There is no greater—there can be no greater—manifestation of the providence of God than the gift of His Son for the sins of the world (Hebrews 2:9). What could not have been provided in any other way was provided when God gave His Son on the cross. The cross declares God gave His Son to provide salvation for sinners who will repent and obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9; Romans 5:8-9).
2. Every human being of accountable age needs to be provided with the message, “You have sinned!” By giving His son to die on the cross, God cried out to every person, “You have sinned!” What wonderful providence.
3. By giving His Son to die on the cross, God provided all men with the message, “God is righteous — infinitely just; He CANNOT tolerate sin.” He thereby declares that, something must be done about your sin. You will be lost forever if you are not forgiven of your sins (Romans 8:1-5; 3:24-27).
4. By giving His Son to die on the cross, God provided man with an essential message, No sinner can be saved apart from the grace of God—through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 8:1-5; 5:8-9; 11:6). While works are necessary to salvation (James 2:24-26), no one can be saved by meritorious works (Luke 17:10).
5. The providence of God is further manifested (in connection with God’s eternal purpose) by the declaration (by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross) that, while you cannot save yourself without the grace of God, God can save you by His grace through the power of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:15-17; Hebrews 7:25; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-47; et al.). The providence of God is manifested in His power to save sinners through the Gospel. This, in effect, argues that if God gave us the greatest gift, we are not to worry about other matters (cf. Philippians 4:4-7).
6. The providence of God (as to His eternal purpose) is further manifested (by the cross), not only by His having the power to save sinners, but also by His willingness (through His love) to save men. He has the power, He wants to use that power, and He will use that power to save those who will love and obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9; John 14:15-21; Mark 16:15-16: cf. Titus 2:11).
7. The providence of God (in connection with His eternal purpose) exalts the truth. The cross declares that the truth is objective (it is not changed by any man’s drawing an opinion as to what it is—human decisions in regard to the truth do not change the truth at all (Acts 23:1). Further, the cross declares that the truth is necessary. In his gracious providence, God has provided with the one—the only—message which can save him from his sins (Galatians 1:6-9). Any man who rejects the gospel will be damned (Mark 16:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). By His gracious providence, God has given man the one and only inspired message—the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The truth is unique; there is no other message which can even compare with it. Just being religious, just believing some religious message will not save one. It is the Gospel of Christ—and only that Gospel—which can save any person. And, may it be emphasized, that truth must not only be believed; it must be OBEYED (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 7:21-23; et al.). In particular (as the culminating act of faith in becoming a Christian) one, as a penitent believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, must be baptized (immersed) in water in the name of (by the authority of) Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; 2 Timothy 2:10; Galatians 3:26-27).
8. It is also the case that the providence of God (in connection with His eternal purpose) provides men with the message (in the Bible) that men must live sacrificial lives in order to be saved eternally (Revelation 2:10; Philippians 1:19-26; Luke 14:26-27; 9:23-26; 2 Peter 1:5-11).
9. The church (the one body of Christ) has been provided by God. It is the body of people who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:8-9; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-32). How marvelous is the providence of God in providing the church!
Two of the greatest needs of man are to grasp the significance of this declaration and to love God with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:34-40).
The cross is God’s greatest declaration of His love for all the world (John 3:16).
PART IV
GOD’S PROVIDENCE AND MAN’S SUFFERING
Jesus said, “In the world ye have tribulation” (John 16:33). This statement is fulfilled almost every day in the lives of each one of us human beings. In each life—some less, some more—tribulation, adversity, pain, suffering, and miseries of various sorts occur. Some people suffer because of illness, some because of tragic accidents, some because of heartbreak within their respective family, some because of the loss of property, reputation, etc., some because of grievous sins.
A little boy cries, “Why did my Mommy die? I prayed for her, but God did not make her well. I do not believe die!”
A mother cries out, “Why was my child born with neither arms nor legs? How could God have allowed this to happen?”
A husband desperately laments, “How could my wife have been unfaithful to me?”
A young mother lying in a hospital bed, desperately ill with cancer, cries out, “How could God have let this happen? How can I leave my two beautiful babies without a mother? How can I leave my husband?”
A man lies on a hospital bed, waiting for the attendants to take him to the operating room. He knows that he is not likely to survive the operation. He knows that he will – if he dies – leave his loving wife and several small children. “Why will not God save me from this horrible situation? Is not God good? If so, why will He not save me?”
Obviously, unless there is some answer from God Himself, there will be no satisfactory solution. Is there an answer from God? Yes, there is. The Bible sets it out in a number of separate passages. The Bible warns (in the beginning chapters of Genesis) that man—having been cast out of the Garden of Eden—will face suffering (some of it will be mild but some of it will be very serious indeed).
The Bible teaches that suffering can be of great value to us if one responds to it as God’s will teaches us to do. Let us look, very briefly, at just a few very crucial passages.
The Psalmist says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I observe thy word” (Psalm 119:67). In the same section, the Psalmist says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:71). It is clear that suffering and affliction can be very helpful in one’s learning and observing the word of God. Thus, it is further clear that suffering can be providential in helping one to walk with God.
From these passages, it is obvious that suffering and affliction can be conducive to bringing one to God. (On the other hand, if one reacts incorrectly [in disobedience], suffering can be severely destructive, spiritually speaking. Suffering can drive one away from God. God intends for His word to be of great light and great protection to people in times of tribulation.
The Holy Spirit guided the Psalmist to say, “For the Lord is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:11-12). This passage makes clear that tribulation might be compared to a very dark and treacherous cave in which one is lost, while suffering from an intense pain, and cannot find his way out of the cave. In such a situation, the person involved needs both light (to guide him out of the darkness) and a shield (to protect from the pain and various dangers). These two figures are especially good to explain what our best reaction to severe suffering should be.
Life is a “battlefield” on which great battles will be fought. For many people those battles will be fought in darkness (they do not see God as a light) and without their having a shield to protect them from individual dangers.
But, no matter how grievous may be the suffering and the dangers, God assures us that His blessings (His providence) will be at work in our lives. Perhaps the sufferings will not always result in the salvation of the one(s) involved, but they will work to save those who react properly to God’s providence.
1. To understand the providence of God, one must have a clear view of the crucial terms which are involved.
2. There are some specifics, as to what God has provided, with what one must be familiar in order to apprehend the heart of the providence of God in the lives of human beings.
3. The cross, with all that it means, with all that it tells men about God, man, sin, grace, salvation, et al., is at the heart of the providence of God.
4. Suffering afflictions and tribulations, like a very sharp knife, can either help or hurt a person, depending upon whether he “grasps it by the handle or the blade” (that is, it depends upon whether one reacts to tribulation in loving faith in God or with faithless resentment of the suffering).
May God help each of us to grow day by day in knowledge of the providence of God as it relates to His eternal purpose.