content/01/26.md
---
pagetitle: What are the decrees of God?
date: February 19, 2020
prev_url: /westminster-daily/01/25/
prev_date: Jan 25
this_url: /westminster-daily/01/26/
short_date: "0126"
this_date: Jan 26
next_url: /westminster-daily/01/27/
next_date: Jan 27
---
#### Shorter Catechism
<span class="q">Q 7.</span> What are the decrees of God?
<span class="q">A.</span> The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.[^fnref:wsc1]
[^fnref:wsc1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Psalm 33:11</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p19033011.01-1">The counsel of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> stands forever,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>the plans of his heart to all generations.</p> </div> </div><h5>Isaiah 14:24</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23014024.05-2">The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts has sworn:<br /> “As I have planned,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>so shall it be,<br /> and as I have purposed,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>so shall it stand,</p> </div> </div><h5>Acts 2:23</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p44002023.01-3">this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.</p> </div><h5>Ephesians 1:11-12</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49001011.01-4">In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
#### Larger Catechism
<span class="q">Q 12.</span> What are the decrees of God?
<span class="q">A.</span> God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will,[^fnref:wlc1] whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time,[^fnref:wlc2] especially concerning angels and men.
[^fnref:wlc1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Isaiah 45:6-7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23045006.01-1">that people may know, from the rising of the sun<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and from the west, that there is none besides me;<br /> <span class="indent"></span>I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, and there is no other.<br /> I form light and create darkness,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>I make well-being and create calamity,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, who does all these things.</p> </div> </div><h5>Ephesians 1:11</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49001011.01-2">In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,</p> </div><h5>Romans 11:33</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45011033.01-3">Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!</p> </div><h5>Romans 9:14-15</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45009014.01-4">What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”</p> </div><h5>Romans 9:18</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45009018.01-5">So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc2]: <div class="esv"><h5>Psalm 33:11</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p19033011.01-1">The counsel of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> stands forever,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>the plans of his heart to all generations.</p> </div> </div><h5>Isaiah 14:24</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23014024.05-2">The <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts has sworn:<br /> “As I have planned,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>so shall it be,<br /> and as I have purposed,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>so shall it stand,</p> </div> </div><h5>Acts 2:23</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p44002023.01-3">this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.</p> </div><h5>Acts 4:27-28</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p class="same-paragraph" id="p44004027.01-4">for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.</p> </div><h5>Romans 9:22-23</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45009022.01-5">What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—</p> </div><h5>Ephesians 1:4</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49001004.01-6">even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love</p> </div><h5>Ephesians 1:11</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49001011.01-7">In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>