Series: 2 Cor
Title: All Things Are of God
Text: 2 Corinthians 5: 18
Date: August 13, 2016
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Our text begins with an all-important statement. If you believe this statement then you will believe everything there is to know about how this world was created, about all things that come to pass in this world and about how sinners are saved out of this world. Here is the statement:
2 Corinthians 5: 18…all things are of God,…
I try to take two or three verses at a time as I preach through a book of the Bible. But sometimes we come to a statement that is so large and so comforting that we are forced to stop and consider the vastness of that one statement alone, apart from the context. That is what I aim to do today. Today, I want us simply to consider this statement—“All things are of God.”
When scriptures says “All things are of God” it includes all things.
First, all things in the creation of this world along with its inhabitants are of God.
Colossians 1: 16: For by him were all things created,…
Secondly, all things that have come to pass in history from the beginning and all that shall come to pass in the future until the end—are of God—that is called “providence”—all providence is of God.
Romans 11: 36: For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Thirdly, and the context of our text is declaring particularly that all things in the salvation of sinners—are of God.
Jonah 2: 9: But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
When scriptures says “All things are of God” it includes all things.
ALL THINGS IN CREATION ARE OF GOD
Understand that all things in creation are of God for the purpose of glorifying the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1: 16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19: For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Isaiah 44:24: Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb,…
The LORD—Jehovah Jesus—is speaking this to you who he has redeemed and formed by his sovereign regenerating grace. This is the word of Jehovah Jesus for the comfort his people.
Isaiah 44: 24…I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Understand, that even in the creation of the world, God the Father entrusted creation to Christ his Son in order to glorify Christ as the Creator of his people in our salvation.
God entrusted the work of creation to Christ alone in order to show us that in salvation God entrusted the work of creating his people anew in righteousness to Christ alone. Christ had no help and needed no help from man in any aspect of creation—“I am Jehovah that stretcheth forth the HEAVENS ALONE; that spreadeth abroad the EARTH BY MYSELF”—to show us that he has no help and needs no help in creating his people anew in every aspect of our salvation.
Also, in the things created Colossians 1 said, “all things were created by him, and for him and he is before all things, and by him all things consist…that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
For instance, Christ created this earth to revolve around the sun to glorify Christ around whom all things revolve in salvation.
Also, we see it in the fact that right now, folks are afraid of the sun in the sense of global warming. But Christ is ruling the sun to make men in our day fearful in order to picture how they ought be much more fearful of Christ the Son—
Malachi 4: 1: For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But Christ made the same sun to arise in the east with its life-giving, warm rays to comfort living things to picture how the same Son of God that will burn up the wicked is the life and comfort all who believe—
Malachi 4:2: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
All things in creation glorifies Christ who made it—either glorifying his justice or his grace. And that is why it was made.
Proverbs 16: 4: The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
So do you see why the devil loves to keep sinners deceived into believing all things evolved? It is because Christ created all things by himself and for himself because God the Father would have all things in creation glorify Christ! And they do! When God saves you then you behold how his creation glorifies Christ. That is one reason the Lord said when you believe “the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Is 55: 12) So glorify Christ in creation—
Revelation 4: 11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
ALL THINGS IN PROVIDENCE ARE OF GOD
Romans 11: 36: For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
All things that have come to pass in history from the beginning and all things that shall come to pass in the future until the end are of God. All providence is of God. Everything that comes to pass in time is God working his secret eternal counsel to glorify his name in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
For instance, God created Satan as an angel then allowed him to rebel against God in heaven? Why? So God could cast him out along with a third of the heavenly host. Why? So that God could permit Satan to enter the garden to take God’s elect captive in sin by Adam’s one transgression. Why? So that God might manifest his sovereign name in the salvation of his elect by the blood and righteousness of his Son in Christ’s obedience on the cross. All things that come to pass are of God to glorify his Son in the salvation of his people! God said,
Isaiah 45: 7: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Be sure to understand, there is no one and no thing that God is not all-powerful over. If he is not, then someone or something would be more powerful than God, and such a god as that is no god at all.
Furthermore, God protects sparrows. Christ said,
Matthew 10: 29: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Why? Christ used this all powerful hand of God in providence protecting worthless sparrows to teach every believer that God is protecting and providing for you in all providence and salvation for the sake of his Son.
Matthew 10: 30: But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31: Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
In addition, God overrules all liars and false teachers (diviners) and all self-ascribed wise men.
Isaiah 44: 25: [I am the LORD] That frustrateth the tokens of the liars and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
God makes their knowledge foolish in the hearts of his people so that God shows that none of his elect shall ever be deceived by them. He makes them fools before his people so that his people see them for what they are and are not deceived by them. God is sovereign in providence over men for the direct preservation and protection of his sheep.
1 Chronicles 16:31: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD IN SALVATION
Jonah 2: 9: But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
Isaiah 44: 26 [I am the LORD] That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
In our text, in context, next time we will go more in depth. But for now, notice that all things are of God:
2 Corinthians 5: 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;…21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
In our redemption from the curse of the law—all things are of God. In making Christ sin for us and making us the righteousness of God in Christ—all things are of God. In reconciling us to himself—all things are of God. In sending his minister with this ministry and making us willing to be reconciled to him—all things are of God. In our regeneration—being made new creations—all things are of God. In making old things pass away and all things become new—all things are of God. This is why every true believer is taught of God in truth and confesses:
1 Corinthians 8: 6: To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
John 3: 27: John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
All these things in salvation are given to us by Christ.
Matthew 11:27: All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Even concerning the graces and gifts that God gives and works in and through his people—all things are of God:
James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
1 Corinthians 12: 6: And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Therefore, since all things in creation, providence and salvation are of God—that means nothing in creation, providence and salvation is of us who are saved. Be sure to understand, we only worship God when we worship the sovereign God who rules over all creation, all providence and all salvation. No man worships a god that is not sovereign; man rules that god. But when you are brought to behold the true God you are brought to behold him as sovereign in all things. Then you bow and worship him in all things. So this is the believer’s testimony:
Psalm 115: 1: Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. 2: Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3: But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 4: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5: They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8: They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 9: O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 10: O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 11: Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 12: The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 13: He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. 14: The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 15: Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
Amen!