"Him (Jesus), being
delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by wicked
hands have crucified and slain." Acts
This text plainly states that
Jesus Christ was predestinated! That must be a sobering statement to those who
deny the doctrine of predestination. By his unalterable counsel and eternal
plan, God made it absolutely certain that his holy and beloved Son would be
taken by wicked, lawless, and malicious men who would bring upon him misery,
shame, humiliation, and death.
Yes, we do fully believe our text. The death of
Christ was no mistake. The men who crucified him were doing exactly what God's
hand and counsel determined must be done. Though they were maliciously
fulfilling the lusts of their own depraved wills, they fully executed God's
purpose, without the slightest deviation. One very clear proof of this is the
fact that they were not permitted to break one bone in his body. Yet, this was
standard procedure in crucifixion. Why could they not break his bones? The
reason is just this, God had said, "He keepeth all his bones: not one of
them is broken." Read again, the accounts of our blessed Redeemer's
betrayal, his arrest, his mock trial, and his crucifixion. You will find that
every detail was accomplished exactly according to the prophecies God had given
in the Old Testament. Nothing happened except what God had determined would be
done.
As all the events at Calvary took place in exact
conformity to God's sovereign decree, the Word of God teaches us that all
things which come to pass in time are in accordance with God's holy, wise, and
just purpose. Perhaps you rebel against this truth, many do. But this is not
the mind of Christ. Our Lord rejoiced that it was so. And, in all things, he
submitted to his Father's sovereign will. This is what all the saints must do.
We submit to God's purpose and we rejoice in his goodness.