The Father’s Decree: God’s Will Before the World Began

Series: God the Father: Knowing the First Person of the Trinity

Before the First Light, There Was Purpose

Creation did not begin with a question—it began with a decree. Before there were atoms or angels, time or space, the will of God the Father stood eternal and absolute.

Ephesians 1:11 says:

“In Him we have obtained an inheritance… according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

God is not a responder. He is not caught off guard. He is not piecing history together as it unfolds. He is the eternal Planner whose every decree is wise, holy, and good.

What Is the Decree of God?

The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines it this way:

“The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His own will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.”

Put simply: everything that happens does so by the will of the Father. Nothing is accidental. No event escapes His plan.

This is not fatalism or cold determinism. God’s decree includes real means, real decisions, and real responsibility. But behind all of it is the unseen hand of the Father, working all things for His glory and His people’s good.

The Bible’s Testimony to the Father’s Will

Scripture repeatedly affirms the Father’s sovereign purpose:

• Creation: “Let there be light”—spoken according to His eternal will.

• Redemption: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” (Eph. 1:4)

• Providence: “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.” (Ps. 103:19)

• Crucifixion: “This Jesus… was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” (Acts 2:23)

The cross was not an emergency response—it was the centerpiece of an eternal plan.

The Decree of the Father and the Trinity

The Father is the source of the divine decree, but He does not act alone. The decree involves all three Persons of the Trinity:

• The Father plans.

• The Son accomplishes.

• The Spirit applies.

All of this happens in perfect unity. There is no disagreement, no contradiction. The Triune God acts with one will and one purpose: the glory of the Father in the Son through the Spirit.

Predestination and the Father's Love

The doctrine of predestination is often misunderstood. But when viewed rightly, it is one of the most comforting truths in all of Scripture.

Romans 8:29–30 assures believers that:

“Those whom He foreknew He also predestined… those He predestined He also called…”

This is not arbitrary selection—it is loving foreordination. The Father did not look down the corridors of time to react—He set His love on His people from before time began.

“In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons…” (Eph. 1:4–5)

If you are in Christ, it is because the Father chose you. Not because of anything you did—but because of His sovereign grace.

Why the Father’s Decree Matters Today

1. It Produces Humility

If everything is by grace, there is no room for boasting. Salvation is not our achievement—it is the fruit of the Father’s eternal will.

2. It Gives Assurance

If the Father has purposed your salvation, then no sin, no suffering, and no enemy can undo it. What He began, He will complete.

“My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.” (Isa. 46:10)

3. It Encourages Worship

The Father’s eternal purpose should not lead to speculation—but to adoration. The more we understand His sovereign goodness, the more we respond in awe.

Responding to the Mystery

God’s decree is not fully graspable. Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us:

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us…”

We are not called to unravel every thread. We are called to trust, worship, and obey.

The doctrine of God’s eternal will is not meant to make us passive—it is meant to make us confident, hopeful, and reverent.

A Personal God with a Perfect Plan

Behind the beauty of creation, the order of providence, and the mystery of salvation is the heart of the Father. He is not distant. He is not cold. He is the wise and holy God who has decreed the end from the beginning.

When life feels chaotic, this truth is an anchor.

When suffering shakes your faith, this truth is a refuge.

When doubt clouds your mind, this truth is a light.

Conclusion: Before the Beginning, God Willed

Before there was time, before there were stars or seas or souls, the Father willed. His purpose cannot fail, His plan cannot be thwarted, and His love cannot be reversed.

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36)

Rest in this: your life is not random. It is the unfolding of an eternal decree—issued by the Father who knows you, called you, and will keep you forever.