Solomon declares that the Lord turns the heart of a king wherever he wants it to go (Proverbs 21:1). What applies to the king certainly also applies to the whole human race. God must direct whatever we conceive of in our minds. If God did not work internally in the minds of people, then Scripture…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.18.1 | Does God Permit or Decree All Things?
Some Scriptures indicate that God uses Satan for his purpose. Not only does God use Satan, but also all the reprobate and wicked. It can be difficult to understand how God remains free of the stain of sin when he uses them for his purpose. He also remains exempt from all guilt, yet he himself…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.12-14 | Does God Change His Mind?
God's providence provides solid instruction and comfort for believers. Yet for those who don't believe, discussions of God's providence will never answer all of their questions or provide satisfying answers for them. So trying to conclusively prove these things to them is probably a fool's errand. Nevertheless, there are some Scriptures which seem to teach…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.9-11 | Life is Misery; Get Happy Knowing God’s Providence
Believers can be very happy even in spite of the hardships of human existence. So many ills trouble human life. Our bodies break down and our susceptible to so many diseases. Death stalks us at every turn. Even the weather being too hot or too cold can threatened us. Wherever human beings turn, they are…
A Theology of Sex and Gender (Part 3): The Fall of Humanity into Sin
Genesis 3 narrates the fall of humanity into sin. The terrible consequences of sin manifest themselves in a broken relationship with God, each other, and created order (3:16-24). Adam and Eve are kicked out of God’s presence in the Garden of Eden (3:24). Enmity and strife makes its way into their relationship (3:16). The world…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.8 | Providence Trains the Godly
If bad things happen to believers, they will immediately begin thinking about God. His hand is the most effective at impressing upon us the need for patience and calm thinking. If Joseph kept thinking about how he was betrayed by his brothers, he could have never forgiven them. Instead, he turned toward the Lord, which…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.7 | God Uses His Providence to Bless His People
The servant of God, who is encouraged by all the Scriptures that speak of God's care for him, will add the passages which teach that all people are under God's power. His power will either encourage their minds or curb their wickedness, preventing them from causing harm. It is the Lord who gives favor, not…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.6 | God’s Providence Extends in a Special Way to the Church
Those who argue that God's providence can be used as a cover for sin can be easily refuted by meditating on God's providence. Meditating on his providence produces the best and sweetest fruit in our lives. Therefore, Christians will always direct their eyes to God as the principle cause of events because they know that…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.5 | God Uses Evil, but is Not Stained with Evil
Some people class past events as belonging to simple providence. They believe that whatever happened in the past, whether theft or adultery or murder happened without God's intervention. Therefore, they ask, "Why should the thief be punished for robbing a person for whom the Lord chose to punish with poverty? Why should the murderer be…
Blogging the Institutes | 1.17.4 | Providence Does Not Rule Not Human Choice
Regarding future event, king Solomon easily reconciles human choice with divine providence. While Solomon derides anyone who would presume to do anything without God, as if they were not ruled by his hand, he also says, "A man's heart devises his ways but the Lord directs his steps" (Prov 16:9). What Solomon means is that…
Raising Lazarus 