"..no plan [of God's] can be thwarted." Jb. 42:2 (NIV)
Truth demands to know, "Who is so great a God as
our God?"Psa.77:13. "The great, the Mighty God, the
Lord of hosts is His name."Jer.32:18. God, as the
Hebrews saw Him was "the Lord of all the earth"
(Josh,3:11), the supreme sovereignty, "Yahweh", the Self
existent One. Jehovah God wills to be all that He is and
in His choice, is all that He wills to be. God, also ever
successfully, does all that He wills to do--always without
hindrance or chance of failure.
Failure is not possible nor present in His nature and
therefore not possible in His ways and His acts. He
cannot be made to fail by any creature. These are very
basic principles of some great biblical truths. Truth is
perfect in God and God is perfect in all truth. Christ was
the natural and divine expression of God's word and
truth-Jn.14:6; 17:17.
Biblical truth declares that GOD IS PERFECT. "His
love is perfect" (1Jn.4:12), "His work is perfect"
(Deut.32:4), and "His way is perfect" 2Sam.22:31;
Psa.18:30. It could therefore be said of a truth, that His
way of love is a perfect work. It is a work that cannot in
any way fail to accomplish its intended results.
"In the beginning" (Gen,1:1), God, the way of perfect
love and work, and the "wise Masterbuilder" (1Cor.3:10)
of all that was to be, formulated (Isa.44:10) a perfect and
regal plan of works in His creation, that was to
increasingly manifest the existence of His infinite power
and glory in a majestic and mysterious way. This
wondrous plan and purpose of the ages (Eph.3:11),
was to include perfectly executed and divinely unique
stages of advancing development in creation (Jn.1:3;
Prv.26:10), in regeneration and redemption (2Cor.5 :14,
15), and finally in the total universal restoration and
reconciliation of all imperfect things remaining in the
creation-Col.1:20; Eph.1:10; 1Cor.15:28.
In Gen. chapter one , we observe this plan being put into
motion, and as Christians, we see it presently being
carried out and being perpetuated through "the Prince of
Life "(Ac.3:15; 5:31), even our Lord Jesus
Christ-Jn.1:4,9. The true "church" and body of Christ,
plays a major role, and is an integral part in the
implementation of this plan.
There is none like our God in His ways or works,
"declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient
times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY
COUNSEL (plan, purpose, determination) SHALL
STAND (rise and abide, continually accomplish,
succeed, uphold) AND I WILL DO ALL MY
PLEASURE."Isa.46:10. It is the Almighty One who has
deliberately purposed and spoken the pleasure of His
counsel into being, and promises He will fulfill every
intention of His plan-Isa.46:11.
Known only unto God " are all His works from the
beginning of the world (ages)." Ac.15:18. His
omnipotent working power is found in the precious
Lamb who was slain for all mankind before the
foundation of the earth (Rev.13:8), and His purposes are
being accomplished even now, through "hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world unto our
glory."1Cor.2:7; Prv.21:30. More importantly, it is also
unto His glory-Eph.3:21; 1Cor.1:29-31.
Amazingly, many still liken God's plan, including His
wisdom and foresight, like unto the man who intends to
build something great, but does not count the cost
whether he has sufficient resources to finish it. Then,
after he has laid the foundation, he is not able to finish
it-Lk.14:28-30.
The vast majority of Christ's church today is still
limiting God to the boundaries of their own intellectual
wisdom and their own carnal doctrines, especially those
concerning "resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment."Heb.6:2. In doing so, they are denying the
efficacy and total effectiveness of the cross and the blood
of Christ by trying to qualify and limit the power of God
in fulfilling all His purposes and intentions. Although it
may be unintentional, they are demeaning the absolute
sovereignty and immutable effectiveness of God's
supreme power by believing in an ultimately ineffective
and impotent God, whose plan, because of rebellious
man's resistance, is destined to fail and fall far short of its
original purpose and goals. In other words, somehow
they believe in a God who is perfect in all His ways and
works and absolute in power, yet whose divine counsel
shall have failed in completing all the work He set out to
do. This means, among other things, that "the many" [all]
who were made sinners (Rom.3:23) shall not be made
righteous (Rom.5:19) ; all who die in Adam shall not be
made alive in Christ (1Cor.15:22); God will not "have all
men to be saved" (1Tim.2:4), will never draw all men
unto Him (Jn.12:32), and therefore most certainly will
also never be able "to reconcile all things unto Himself."
Col.1:20. Amazingly, such is the doctrinal belief of the
majority of the church today.
Let us examine this a little closer. Does the written
word of truth, which includes the overall works, as well
as many specific acts of our Creator, anywhere indicate
that our perfect God is in any way fallible or subject to
any kind of failure? Does truth indicate He is faulty,
incompetent, inept, or in any way deficient in
compassion, mercy or justice? Is He lacking or limited in
ability, mutability, competence, desire, determination,
will, power, expertise, desire, determination, purpose or
effectiveness? Looking at the Bible through clouded,
limited vision, rather than through the telescopic eyes of
the spirit, many have unwittingly, yet erroneously, come
to this conclusion.
Such shortsightedness really only serves to elevate
mankind's abilities and powers of self determination into
a position more powerful than that of God Himself. So,
here we have a self will creation (man), who can forever
revel in his own will and inevitability, contrary to the
omnipotent will of the supposedly Almighty Creator, who
is to be somehow forever limited in fulfilling to the
uttermost, His own predestined and predetermined plan.
God forbid!
If His plan is faulty and insufficient to accomplish its
intended purpose, and is liable to defectiveness and defeat
by anything in the creation, human volition included, then
much of the Bible's declared ultimatums are only a
fallacious hope. Even our own salvation could be in
jeopardy. But I wish to declare to those of you beloved
who hold to these kind of views--that God cannot and
will not ultimately fail, in even one jot nor tittle in
anything that He has ever purposed, planned or willed.
There are absolutely no aspects of God's perfect,
faultless plan which are subject to any error or omissions
from outside sources of influence. There is no absolutely
no unsoundness or weakness in His plan of creation from
beginning to end, for God has no weaknesses. It is as
infallible as His own Spirit and as certain of total
completion as are all His trustworthy promises. God's
plan is perfect. It is perfectly fail-safe because He is a
perfect God. He is flawless and could only have devised
a flawless plan.
Most Christian theologians agree that God is
omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent in the power
of His own Being. For what other reason might this be,
than to ensure perfection, both for Himself, and for the
ideal execution of His plan of creation unto its full
consummation?
God is also immutable. His word, and the reality of
its effects, are unalterable in truth, and divinely fixed in
the operation of fulfilling every purpose and
determination of God. His ultimate purposes have no
more possibility of alteration or failure to reach their
designated, God-willed and God desired fulfillment, than
does His written decreed word. Neither are they subject
to falling short of their full intentions. God, in His
infinite and omnipotent power, is not subject to failure.
His will, just as His word, is infallible!
The Bible asks these pertinent questions..."Who hath
the power to disannul His purposes?" Isa.14:24-27;
Rom.4:16,21."Who hath resisted His will?"Rom.9:19.
Furthermore, "Who shall let (hinder) it?" Isa.45:13;
Jb.9:12; 11:10. I ask, how can anyone or anything really
invalidate, much less resist or hinder God's work, if it be
true that "God worketh all things after the counsel
(decree, purpose) of His own will." Eph.1:11;
Psa.135:6. Included in God's omnipotent will, is the
overall truth that His purposes shall stand and He will do
all His pleasure-Isa.46.10. Why do so many find this so
hard to believe?
God shall not ultimately fail to experience fullness of
satisfaction and pleasure in the travail of His
soul-Isa.53:10,11. Some must necessarily believe this
satisfaction will be found in the eternal torment of most of
his creation. But John was not speaking of a perverted
pleasure when he penned, "Thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure, they are and were created."
Rev.4:11; 5:13.
The Lord has decreed all the major intentions and
desires of His plan to mankind, through His recorded
word, the holy Bible-2Tim.3:15,16. "Thou shalt also
decree a thing, and it shall be established unto
thee."Jb.22:28. Specifically, He has desired, willed and
determined in His expressed, decreed word of truth, to
eventually perfect all of mankind in His likeness and
image, by redeeming all men (Jn.3:17; 1Tim.2:4) from sin
and death, ultimately reconciling back unto Himself all
things, in both the natural and spiritual
universe-Col.1:20; Eph.1:10; Rom.11:36. He is now in
the midst of this wondrous process of making all things
new-Rev.21:5. Shall He fail? "Hath He said, and shall
not He do it?" If God has spoken, "Shall not He make it
good?"Num.23:19; Isa.46:11. "He is the Lord, God. Is
there anything to hard for Him?"Jer. 32:27. The truth is
no, simply because, "What His soul desireth, even that
He doeth."Jb.23:13; 42:2.
If He desires that all men be saved, His immutable
word declares that He will do it! His will plainly is, "that
all should come to repentance."2Ptr.3:19. These things
surely are "the intents of His heart", and have been a
predestined and determined part of God's cosmic plan
from its divine conception wherein "that that is
determined shall be done."Dan.11:36. His counsel shall
prevail.! He shall not fail! Carnal men continually
declare things that are wrong and contrary to God's word,
but He who cannot lie (Tit.1:2) says, "I declare things
that are right."Isa.45:19. His counsel alone, shall stand!
Let us more confidently trust and believe God that
"His word is ordered in all things and sure" (2Sam.23:5)
and "Shall accomplish that which He pleases."
Isa.55:11. He has sworn by His word of oath, and the
word has gone out of His mouth in righteousness, that,
unto Him "every knee shall bow, every tongue shall
swear" (Isa,45:23) and "confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father" Phil.2:10,11;
Rom.14:11. Let us be assured that God is ever active,
watching over the performance of His word (Jer.1:12),
"until He have done it; and until He have performed the
intents of His heart" (Jer.30:23,24)...until He has
completed the unfailing performance of "fulfilling His
word." Psa.148:28.
What God does, or does not do, in the intermediate
process of the ages, remains ever within the infinite scope
and design of His own determined will. Man may try, but
he cannot limit nor prevent the unfaltering workings of
His plan-Isa.45:13. Because of this fact, it is
written..."the scripture cannot be broken." Jn.10:35. It is
only the rebellious and insubordinate workings of man
that can, and shall be broken. God's own counsel is
immutable. Heb.6:17.
God , has by His own perfect oath, and by the placing
of His own perfect holy nature and works within His
covenant, guaranteed the fulfillment of every decree,
purpose, and promise, found in His holy book of
life-Heb.6:13-20; 10:23; Rom.9:6; Psa.93:5. No
thoughts, words, willed purposes nor intentions of the
Lord can be restrained nor hindered, unless God Himself,
in sovereign timing and wisdom, so permits it to appear
this way-Jb.42:2; Isa.43:13; Lam.3:37. Really now, who
are we that we can withstand God? Ac.11:17. "He doeth
whatsoever pleaseth Him." Eccl. 8:3; Psa.135:6.
God has many communicable, and some non
communicable attributes which exist in His divine nature.
Among the greatest of those that are transferrable to man,
are love, faithfulness, mercy, justice and holiness.
Through the divine agency of grace, He does unselfishly
share these with his creatures. In the true experience of
God's attributes, the man of God is being better equipped
to intimately know Him, as well as to know His
ways-Prv.4:18; Rom.8:29,30.
The divine love and divine faithfulness of our
"faithful Creator" (1Ptr.4:19) and "faithful high priest"
(Heb.2:17), insures us He is unfailingly true and
trustworthy in all the performance of His designated
word, and in the fulfillment of covenants, promises,
decrees and duties. He alone is trustworthy of belief, that
He will perform to the uttermost, both in His
intermediate, as well as His ultimate will. Our Lord, by
virtue of His holy nature of faithfulness, is truly worthy to
be considered loyal, devoted, staunch, and unerringly
steadfast in finally completing His own decreed cause. He
which hath begun a good work in us and in all creation,
"will perform it..." Phil.1:6; Isa.43:13. "Faithful is He
that calleth you.." 2Ths.5:24.
In His holy and righteous judgments, "He faileth not"
(Zep.3:15), for the Lord alone is "called faithful and
true." Rev.19:11. Even in every operation of the power
of His just and equitable love, God's charity "hopes all
things, endureth all things, charity never faileth."
1Cor.13:7,8. It is impossible for Him who loves all men,
to ultimately fail any man in his plan of salvation.
"There failed not ought of any good thing which the
Lord God had spoken unto the House of Israel." Josh.
21:45; 23:14. If God did not fail in the past, in any of His
ongoing works of mercy and goodness dealing with His
first chosen, the ever rebellious people of Israel (1Kgs.
8:5,6; Isa.40:26), and if He will not fail in the future
(Rom.chptrs.9 & 11), how can He ever ultimately fail in
obtaining the totally triumphant result of saving grace in
the remainder of mankind? Rom.11:32-36.
Any failure implies some form of inefficiency, loss,
lack of success, and/or disappointment; and suggests
difficulty, or wanting, as in ability, quality, effect, etc. It
also implies incompletion, weakness, fallibility and
inadequacy to carry out something attempted to its
expected and desired end. In short, failure is the result of
inherent imperfection. How can anyone think these
qualities, attributes and characteristics are to be found
within the scope of God's personal power or nature? God
forbid! Is God a carnal man, that He should be subject to
man's inabilities, infirmities or any other imperfections? If
He is, only then could He be subject to any kind of
failure-Mk.10:27; 19:26; Lk.1:37.
It is also erroneous doctrine to even think God could
ever be subjected or caused to fail by any man's carnal
will. On the contrary, it is the creation, by God's own
purpose and design, which is to be subject to His
unfolding resoluteness, which in its negative aspects,
includes a period of travail, vanity and failure-Rom.8:20;
Eccl.1:13; 3:1:1-11. The creation is ever subservient to
the Creator and His will , or He wouldn't really be the
Most High God. God, not man nor devil, has always
been, and always will be, in absolute sovereign control
over the entire plan of the cosmos, even unto its ultimate
consummation in perfection. This comes only by Him,
and through Him, and is for the everlasting glory of all.
Every purpose and promise in this plan of the ages, is
guaranteed to His praise and glory-2Cor.1:28. Surely, in
the end, even the wrath of man shall have been found to
be to His praise (Psa.76:10) and "The Lord shall rejoice
in all His works." Psa.104:31; Eccl.3:11.
UNFAILING OMNIPOTENT POWER
The Lord's plan for humanity cannot fail, because it is
upheld in the loving arms of His omnipotent power. It is
an infinite power (2Chr.20:6), otherwise it would not
be truly omnipotent. All His workings, both in good and
evil, are in perfect harmony and balance (Prv.11:1;
Jb.37:16), functioning secretly in His majestic, non
communicable attributes of Omnipotence, omniscience
and omnipresence. The Almighty has absolute power in,
and over, all of nature-Prv.30:14; Jb.37:6; Jer.10:13 etc.
With Him, in the divine nature of His omnipotence, is
centered all power and dominion of law and authority,
enabling Him to freely manipulate His sovereign will at
His discretion. A few of many scriptures testifying to this
fact are...1Chr.29:11,12; Psa.62:11; 113:4-6; Matt.6:13;
Col.1:16; Rom.13:1; 11:36 etc. He is unhindered and
unlimited by any external subservient dominion, power or
authority-Lk.1:37. This includes of course, the permitted,
but divinely restricted propensity and disposition of
human will.
The Lord governs and directs, in and by, the highest
laws of His Spirit. His ascendant, intervening powers,
cannot be controlled by the lower nature, laws or
workings of men-Rev.19:6. He has the necessary powers
to enforce His given laws and procedures at any given
time, and to ensure the completion of His plan for
creation-2Chr.25:8; Matt.28:18. Almighty God always
had absolute power of volition, to institute and resolve
His plan for humanity, in the way that He sovereignly
purposed and designed from the beginning. He is in the
process now, of mysteriously using His omnipotent
power, in order to ensure a perfect conclusion according
to the predetermination of His will and good pleasure.
Man's sovereign Potentate uses His omnipotent power
exactly as suits Him, according to His desire and
pleasure-Psa.115:3; 135:6; Isa.46:10; Rev.4:11 etc. "None
can stay His hand, or say to Him, what doest Thou."
Dan.4:35. His power moves only when He wills-Lk.1:20;
Gal.4:5; Eph.1:10. Out from Him flows the omnipotent
power in creation--the power of natural life, the power of
spiritual life, the power to destroy, the power to resurrect,
and the power to restore. All "power belongeth unto
God" (Psa.62:11) and "by Him, all things consist [hold
together]." Col.1:17. All His power is perfect, insuring
cardinal, completed objectives.
The vast range of God's unfathomable power prevails
from the minutest microcosm, to the furthest remote
regions of our immense universe. It is present in the
lowest depths of hell and extends to the highest apex of
the heavens. It is carried forward from the dawn of
creation's design, unto the final culmination of His
predestined universal consummation. The full efficacy of
the power of the cross shall be found flawless in obtaining
its goal. All proper and appropriate things are possible
through this Almighty power -Matt.19:26. Though God
cannot sin, lie, nor deny Himself-- He can, and does, have
the power to create and institute evil, in the sense of
calamity, tribulation, death, hell, judgment etc.; and He
does allow and tolerate the sin of his creatures to an
extent. He can use and/or direct, guide, instruct, enjoin
or prohibit, at His divine discretion, all manner of evil, to
adapt and conform to His obscure, but noble purposes--
for there is no iniquity in Him-2Chr.19:7.
The Lord Jesus manifested both the power of God and
the weakness of man, by being crucified through
weakness (2Cor.13:4; 1Cor.15:43) and raised in power,
thus becoming the Christ, the power of God-Rom.1:4;
1Cor.1:24. Even now, the gracious resurrecting power of
the cross is steadily flowing, as the blood of Calvary, unto
all of mankind. It is still being spilled, in the semblance
of the holy Ghost, descending in ever increasing drops,
into the dry dust of humanity. Has God prepared your
vessel to receive and contain it? You'll know if you've
been granted the power to receive it , for you will
embrace it and confess it as your so great
salvation-1Cor.1:18.
HIS OMNISCIENT POWER
This means God has extensive, infinite and perfect
knowledge-Jb.36:4; 37:16. He is all knowing in all
things-Prv.15:3; 1Jn.3:20; Col.2:3; Ac.1:24. There is no
limit to the Lord's knowledge and
understanding-Psa.145:3; Jb.37:16; 147:5. His
knowledge directs His omnipotent power, and His perfect
wisdom ensures the right and proper use of His
knowledge, in order to obtain every one of His specific
goals-Prv.8:14; Jb.14:13. Through His perfect
knowledge, wisdom and understanding, God has divine
insight into the how, where, when, and why, of all
things-Jb.42:2. This results in perfect timing in all His
manifest acts.
God's omniscience, includes the necessary divine
foreknowledge of everything and everyone, from the
beginning of the creation, to the end of the ages, and into
the timelessness beyond-Ac.15:18; 2:23; 4:28; Eph.1:4-6;
Heb.4:3; Gen.17:21; 21:22; Jb.31:4; Psa.33:13; 139:1-5;
Prv.5:21; 1Sam.2:3 etc. "Wisdom and might are His."
Dan.2:20. These, and many more scriptures, reveal this
glorious attribute of omniscience. It would not be in
God's wisdom, nature, nor in His creations best interest,
to devise a creative plan wherein He knew that he could
ultimately fail in His counsel of works which would bring
this plan to its expected end-Psa.104:24. Only a foolish
man could conceive such a thing. No, dear brethren, the
gates of hell shall not prevail against Him, for He neither
slumbers nor sleeps as His Spirit governs and influences
the generations of the ages. All things out from Him,
directed through Him, and finally turned, altered and
transformed back unto Him, is all part of His divine
counsel that shall stand complete without fail-Rom.11:36;
Col.1:20.
HIS OMNIPRESENT POWER
God, as a spirit, is present everywhere, at all times.
This ensures divine control, and interposition of
providential care, in judicious wisdom over His entire
universe. Here, in this governorship, He can see all
things, and hear all things; and may speak and act,
whenever, wherever, and in whatever manner He so
chooses, through His many divine agencies--hierarchies
of angels to name just one-Dan.4:31; Psa.139:8; Prv.15:3;
Jer.23:24; Isa.66:1; Ac.17:27 etc. "The great, the Mighty
God" (Jer.32:18), retains the right of all these sovereign
powers, in order that "In all things He might have the
preeminence." Col.1:18. In all of His dominion, "His
greatness is unsearchable" Psa.45:3. However, we are
graciously given to see, that His absolute power and
might insures the completion of all He has ever willed
to do, both in our individual salvation, and in the
universal salvation which He has assured us will
ultimately come.
God has made ample provision through His Son, that
we, as firsfruits, might work together with Him, to
express and fulfill His immutable word. In this
understanding and assurance of His unfailing love for
each of us, and for all mankind, we can begin to cease
from our fleshly striving, take His yoke upon us, and
learn to rest wholly in Him in quietness and confidence.
As early chosen recipients of His powers of grace, let us
be about our business and His, and proclaim the
everlasting gospel of reconciliation that Christ does save,
and will save to the uttermost. Our own ways will
continue to fail but His shall prevail.
Let us wisely and boldly speak of God's mercy and
love, lifting up Christ and the absolute powers that He has
to bring the heathen to nought-Psa.33:10. In Him is
vested all the power of unfailing love wherein His
counsel stands. Above all, let us first be "rooted deeply
in love...practically, through experience for
yourselves-the love of Christ which far surpasses mere
knowledge [without experience]; that ye may be
filled...unto all the fullness of God.....Him Who, by [in
consequence of] the action of His power..within us, is
able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly,
far over and above all that we dare ask or
think--infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires,
thoughts, hopes or dreams."Eph.3:17-20 (Amplif.
Version).
No predetermined plan of God's can be
thwarted-Jb.42:2. That which He has determined will
be done-Dan.11:36. God is not willing that any man
should eternally perish, but is steadfastly determined that
all should come to repentance-2Ptr.2:9. The Lord is not
slack in His promises, nor shall He fail in his purposes.
God will have all men to be saved. In due time,every
man in His own order (1Cor.15:23), shall come to
personally testify of the saving knowledge of this
glorious truth-1Tim.2:4-6.
Love shall not fail.Nothing can resist Him-Rom.9:19.
Nothing can hinder His work-Isa.43:13. All the counsel
of His plan shall stand-Ezk.14:23; Isa.46:10. God's will
in all of His purposes and works, is the same yesterday,
today, and forever, in all the ages-Heb.13:8. In the final
consummation of His unfailing counsels, Christ shall
have experientially proven that He truly is, the Saviour of
all men. He is that same Saviour today, specially made
evident to those that are now given to believe. These
things we command and teach-1Tim.4:10,11. "The
counsel of the Lord standeth for ever. The thoughts of
His heart to all generations." Psa.33:11. "O Lord,
thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy
name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels
of old are faithfulness and truth." Isa.25:1.
"The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have
thought,
so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed,
so shall it stand.."
Isa.14:24
"If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to
nought:
but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it."
Ac.5:39,40
For further revelation in relation to the omnipotence and
sovereignty of God, in creation, redemption, and
restitution, the following literature is available upon
request. These are called "THE SOVEREIGNTY
SERIES."
