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Having generally introduced the doctrine of salvation and its implications on our preaching, in this article we turn to a specific element in the process of salvation and its significance for preaching. That is, God’s eternal decree regarding the salvation of his people—the divine decree.

Chances are you’ve sat in church for years, hearing hundreds of sermons, yet the phrase “divine decree” is new to you. On the other hand, decree-ing is practiced widely across the continent. Thus clarity around this doctrine is much needed.

In this article, I briefly describe God’s eternal decrees, relative to salvation. Then I’ll argue for the implications that this doctrine has on preaching. For preachers must proclaim what was decreed in eternity, manifested in Christ, and revealed to us through the prophets and apostles. In short, modern day preaching is no different to how Paul understood it in his own day (Ephesians 3:8-10).

The Divine Decree to Salvation

Now, the Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us, “The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he…foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.” Scripture shows that one of the things God ordained in eternity is salvation through his Son Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus’ death was part of this plan (Acts 4:27-28). And God determined in eternity who will be saved Romans 8:28-30).

The divine decrees are God’s eternal purposes to save some.

Ephesians 1:4-7 is even more explicit. Paul writes, “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved.” The divine decrees are God’s eternal purposes to save some, for his glory.

God’s Brings about his Divine Decrees through Preaching

Admittedly, this doctrine raises a lot of questions. And this article won’t be able to answer all of them. Instead, my focus is on its implications for our preaching. Considering the Bible, we see that God has ordained preaching within his plan for salvation. Preachers are merely messengers. God sends them to make known God’s eternal plans and purposes in Christ.

God has ordained preaching within his plan for salvation.

This explains a lot about Paul’s attitude towards his own preaching. Listen to Colossians 1:24-25. Paul writes, “I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (similarly Ephesians 3:7-10).

Paul understood his role as a herald of God’s salvation. He preached what God has already made known in Christ.

Our Preaching and the Divine Decrees

In many African churches, there is little to no witness concerning God’s plan for salvation.

All preachers should imitate Paul’s attitude. But today, in many African churches, there is little to no witness concerning God’s plan for salvation. You will hear almost anything from pulpits. Tragically, divine decrees are rarely among them. Many have moved on to more catchy, trendy, personally profitable, and comfortable topics. The stuff of itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3). We’ve traded in Paul’s message about God’s great plan of salvation, for hollow promises of wealth and health. Prophecies and personalities dominate pulpits. People prefer miracles to the glorious message of God’s gracious salvation. Some preachers more readily espouse ideologies than the inspired truths contained within the Bible.

Why is this the case? I will offer two brief answers.

1. Many Preachers Major in Messages Other Than God’s Gospel

Firstly, the focus of preaching in Africa reflects what we believe God’s plan of salvation is all about. Our messages focus on money, health, and things like these because most of us are convinced that this is what Christ came to resolve. Paul’s writings focus on salvation and sanctification, convinced that this is God’s plan for his people in Christ. Paul makes this clear.

Consider one passage, “God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:27-28).

Paul’s preaching focused on Christ. For he knew that the divine decrees in eternity placed salvation in him. In the Son. And Paul’s preaching focused on holiness, because that is inseparable from God’s plan and work of salvation.“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Ephesians 1:4). Paul fixated on Christ and Christian holiness, since that is fundamental to his plan of salvation. Preaching that doesn’t demonstrate a similar concern might soothe itching ears but it’s unlikely to save its hearers.

2. Many View Preaching as Heralding Hidden Bible Messages

Secondly, the status of preaching in Africa today is a result of our view of revelation. It seems to me that modern day revelations, prophecies, dreams and more, carry the same authority as scripture. Preachers handle the Bible as if it holds some hidden message, reducing preaching to unearthing them rather than majoring in God’s unconditional grace.

The Bible will never mean what it never meant.

The problem with approaching the Bible in search of some or other veiled meaning is that it undermines the meaning God intended communicate, when he first spoke his word. It undermines the message the first audience would have heard when they received God’s word. What helped me was learning that the Bible will never mean what it never meant. This means, when God first communicated his word, he had a specific message and meaning mind. The original audience would have understood this message. Faithful preaching seeks to maintain this message, and then apply it to the modern audience.

Don’t Preach What God Hasn’t Given

In conclusion, God planned salvation in eternity. He reveals this in scripture, as that plan was fulfilled in Christ. He then entrusted this message about the salvation of his people to the church. That is the message that preachers must herald, holding out God’s wonderful plan of salvation in Christ. This is what Paul did. Likewise, it’s every preacher’s task today. We are mere messengers, both equipped and empowered with the gospel of God’s divine decrees. Why would we preach anything else?

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