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Bro. Otis Fisher
Today, well, first of all, what is the providence of God? What is the providence of God? Dennis? Well, not exactly. David? Move up. Move up here. I can't see you back there at all. All right, I want some verses looked up.
B, take Psalms 37, 31. I think that's Proverbs or Psalms. David, Proverbs 16, 9. I can't. Go to Jeremiah 10, 23. And Dennis, go to Daniel 4, 35. Now, you have to remember, we're looking at everything from God's viewpoint.
All right? B, what is Psalms 37, 31? What does that mean to you? All right? Proverbs 16, 9. What does the word but mean there? What are those two things?
The future and the end. At the same time, all that's going on inside our head. The Lord is directing the actual. All right, hold on to that thought. Jeremiah 10, 23.
Daniel 4, 35. What does that mean to you, Dennis? Still from God's viewpoint. Debbie, did you know, did you realize, were you cognizant of the fact that there is no such thing as being late? Do you really believe that?
Well, I'm glad John doesn't. Does he? Believe it. Do you always remember? No. It's a strange paradox. As David said, we are responsible for what we do. But it's all done by God. Now, only God could arrange something like that.
Now, come some questions. David, I may have asked these before, but if I did, act like I didn't. Can God forgive without satisfaction? And explain your answer. Did his son do this act voluntarily? Yes.
This question came from your sermons. Now, Dennis, you'll have to pay attention and think. Is a foreknowledge of future events, which is not based on the decree, possible in God? Yes. So you're answering yes or no?
No, I want you to think about it. Is it possible? For nothing happened in the past without his knowing it and decreeing it. John, he has decreed everything. What does decree mean? Kind of like law. Yes.
Yes, they do. That's right. That's right. In fact, I took all these questions from your sermons of the last few weeks. Next one. What is the inevitable result of basing God's decree on his foreknowledge rather than his foreknowledge on the decree?
What is the inevitable result of basing God's decree on his foreknowledge? That sounds pretty good to me. You mean God does not respond to John? Well, what would it be like if it was the other way? Foreknowledge.
What is the inevitable result of basing God's decree on his foreknowledge? Did you answer that? All right. Now, what is the inevitable result of foreknowledge on his decree? Just think of foreknowledge as not existing.
The only reason that it was put in the Bible is for man. Debbie, how does the doctrine of the decrees differ from fatalism? All right, let's start there. What is fatalism? Dennis, what is fatalism? I can't use the word in defining the word.
Well, fatality. I just think up these questions. David, tell us what is fatalism. Is that not true? How does the doctrine of decrees differ from fatalism? Is not everything already decreed? Then you're running in front of the truck was decreed.
All right, how does the doctrine of decrees differ from determinism? Dennis, very simple, good answer. If we determine something, that doesn't change God, does it? Does the decree of predestination necessarily exclude the possibility of a universal offer of salvation?
Does the decree of predestination necessarily exclude the possibility of the universal offer of salvation? David, you're up. Well, go ahead. Does the decree of predestination necessarily exclude the possibility of a universal offer of salvation?
Yes. Now, this is from God's viewpoint. That's what I was after. All right. Yes. But they do. Do you all understand what he was saying? I do. Just like I wish everybody was here this morning, but I can readily see why not.
Now, are the decrees of election and reprobation equally absolute and unconditional? Are they equally absolute? Are the decrees of election and reprobation equally absolute and unconditional? That's what David's been talking about.
That's right. Does the decree of election, decrees of election and reprobation equally absolute and unconditional or not? Dennis, what do you think? He thinks they're equal. Debbie, what do you think?
What? Me? Back there behind John. Kim? Kim? Now, you may find yourself in an awful predicament if you follow the crowd. Well, tell us, David. Yes. Both absolute. When he chose you for heaven, he did not choose X, Y, Z just as surely as he chose you for heaven.
He did not choose X, Y, Z. Do you understand? Just as sure as I'm going to heaven when it's all over and I'm in heaven, those in hell, it's just as sure that they're in hell as I am in heaven. All right.
Now, this election and reprobation, are they alike in being causes from which human action proceeds as effects? Debbie? What? All right. Gladly. Are they, meaning this election and reprobation, are they alike in being causes from which human action proceeds as effects?
Dennis, help her out. Oh, you did not. All right. Is the decree of election and reprobation, you know what reprobation is, are they alike, are they the same alike being causes from which human actions proceed?
I'm not sure. I can't see you. All right. But I think so. Dennis? That's the question. All right. Kim? All right. David? What is effect? All right. Dennis? Can I do something that is a cause? Everything I do is an effect.
Whether I think it's a... All right. But really, that's an effect. Just write it down someplace where you can see it. All I do is effects. Now, what does that mean, David? All right. How is the doctrine of predestination related to the doctrine of divine sovereignty?
John? How is the doctrine of predestination related to... Everything. ...to the... What is the cause of an effect? All right. How is it related to the doctrine of total depravity, which belongs to man?
How is it related to the total depravity of man? You want to say something? No. Your hands fly up when you think. Yes. Absolutely. How is the doctrine of predestination related to the doctrine of total depravity, David?
All right. All right. How is this doctrine of predestination related to the doctrine of atonement? Predestination. All right.
David? What is it? It's not a name for those who are predestined. So it is related.
Yes. The method. That's what I was looking for, the method. You know, it's nice to be saved, but it's just as nice to do it his way. In fact, that's the only way, is his way. He did not leave it up to man to decide anything.
All right. How is the doctrine of predestination related to the perseverance of saints? How is the doctrine of predestination related to the doctrine of perseverance of saints? Debbie, how is it related to the doctrine of perseverance of saints?
In fact, there's a temptation. It was, and yet it's not. All right. Lee?
You know what it says? That there is no perseverance of saints. All right.
David? He said that when we preach and act in the way that we preach and act, we use the protocols.
And that when we preach and act, we use the protocols.
You all have passed 100 percent. And I dare say that there are thousands of seminary students, theologians, professors, that could not answer these questions. I'm so proud of you because you think. And that's what I want, to think.
We've got a few minutes. Rather than opening the seventh chapter of Acts, can you think of another question, David? Or do you want to elaborate on any of these? They would struggle with the question, does God think?
Does God make decisions? Does God react? All of the simple things that stumble. All right. Dennis, have you learned anything? Yes. That's the big question. When you get to heaven, you can answer the question, how many were called?
Because that's all that will be there. I've thought a lot this week about my life, what it has meant, what it has not meant. I've come to the decision that I couldn't change any of it, even if I wanted to.
All right, this has been a different class. I think it's good that we take time to touch on some of these things. Anything from anybody? Dennis dismisses, please.