Christ's Role in God's Sovereign Decree
Christ's Role in God's Sovereign Decree
The concept of Christ's role in God's sovereign decree is rooted in biblical teachings and has been explored by various Christian traditions. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's decrees are "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition" [1]. Christ is central to this decree, particularly in his role as the Messiah, anointed for his redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King [2].
The Bible portrays Christ as integral to God's plan from the beginning. In Psalms 2:7, Matthew Henry notes that the kingdom of the Messiah is founded upon an eternal decree of God the Father, emphasizing Christ's role in the divine plan from eternity [5]. This eternal decree is further underscored by Christ's designation as "the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth" in Revelation 1:5 [4].
Christ's role in God's decree is multifaceted. As the Son of God, he is the power of God, and as man, his power is from the Father [3]. This dual nature of Christ is highlighted in Luke 1:32, where Adam Clarke comments on the greatness of Christ Jesus due to the union of human and divine nature, and his consequent role as the everlasting Head and Sovereign of his Church [6].
The decree of God, in which Christ plays a pivotal role, is characterized by its eternity, unchangeability, and sovereignty. It encompasses all things, including the salvation of humanity through Christ. As Adam Clarke notes on Hebrews 10:10, the sovereign Will of God is that Jesus should be incarnated, suffer, and die for every man, and that all should believe on him and be saved [7]. This underscores Christ's central role in the execution of God's decree.
The relationship between Christ and God's decree is also reflected in the concept of Christ as the High Priest over the house of God. According to Adam Clarke on Hebrews 10:21, Christ governs his Church, offering his own blood and the prayers and praises of believers, emphasizing his active role in the governance and salvation of his people [8].
The unity of God's will across the old and new covenants is another aspect of Christ's role in God's decree. The song of Moses and the Lamb in Revelation 15:3 signifies this unity, highlighting God's almighty power, justice, and truth as foundational to human integrity and the ultimate triumph over evil [9].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christ — Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Acts 17:3; 18:5; Matt. 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince." The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Ge”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 1:5 (ASV) — and from Jesus Christ, who isthe faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 2:7: We have heard what the kings of the earth have to say against Christ's kingdom, and have heard it gainsaid by him that sits in heaven; let us now hear what the Messiah himself has to say for his kingdom, to make good his claims, and it is what all the powers on earth cannot gainsay. I. The kingdom of the Messiah is founded upon a decree, an eternal decree, of God the Father. It was not a sudden resolve, it was not the trial of an experiment, but the result of the counsels of the divine wisdom and the determinations of the divine will, before all worlds, neither of ”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 1:32: He shall be great - Behold the greatness of the man Christ Jesus: 1st. Because that human nature that should be born of the virgin was to be united with the Divine nature. 2dly. In consequence of this, that human nature should be called in a peculiar sense the Son of the most high God; because God would produce it in her womb without the intervention of man. 3rdly. He shall be the everlasting Head and Sovereign of his Church. 4thly. His government and kingdom shall be eternal. Revolutions may destroy the kingdoms of the earth, but the powers and gates of hell and deat”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 10:10: By the which will we are sanctified - Closing in with this so solemnly declared Will of God, that there is no name given under heaven among men, by which we can be saved, but Jesus the Christ, we believe in him, find redemption in his blood, and are sanctified unto God through the sacrificial offering of his body. 1. Hence we see that the sovereign Will of God is, that Jesus should be incarnated; that he should suffer and die, or, in the apostle's words, taste death for every man; that all should believe on him, and be saved from their sins: for this is the Will o”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 10:21: A high priest over the house of God - The house or family of God is the Christian Church, or all true believers in the Lord Jesus. Over this Church, house, or family, Christ is the High Priest - in their behalf he offers his own blood, and their prayers and praises; and as the high priest had the ordering of all things that appertained to the house and worship of God, so has Christ in the government of his Church. This government he never gave into other hands. As none can govern and preserve the world but God, so none can govern and save the Church but the Lord J”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 15:3: 15:3-4 The song of Moses and the Lamb signifies that God’s will is united in the old and new covenants. 15:3 The Lord God, the Almighty (see also 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:7; 19:6; 21:22): For persecuted Christians, the message that God is all-powerful provides great comfort and security. • The truth that God is also just and true is the foundation of human integrity in the midst of a confused, unjust, and dishonest world. • God is the supreme, universal King of the nations, not a localized deity attached to one nation or to a human monarch with limited authority.”