The God of Order
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was written with the intent to address some issues in the church that were not done in order. Paul admonished the believers to walk in order “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). The case here discussed is one that deals with the wrong use of the gift of tongues. This gift was given to be a sign to unbelievers (verse 22), but when exercised at Corinth, with everyone speaking at the same time, the gift had a confusing negative effect on the non-believers.
Universal Laws
The Creator is the Designer of the Universe (Genesis 1; Collosians 1:16; Revelation 4:11). From the infinitely small to the infinitely great, from atoms to galaxies, the universe runs in excellent order. He upholds all things and keeps them in their appointed paths (Colossians 1:17). And all of this universal order is based on universal laws.
Not only does design appear in inanimate things; it also appears in living things. Science testifies to this. Every living cell has a specific purpose for it to function. It is made up of incredible unique parts that work in perfect coordination with each other and with other cells in the body. This miracle factory also testifies to the Creator’s design.
The Plan of Salvation
The plan of salvation was ordered before the creation of the world. It was then that Godhead purposed to save all those who would cooperate with His plan (Revelation 13:8), that is, all that accept His invitation to choose to place their faith in Christ as their Redeemer. The apostle Paul wrote, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:4).
When Adam and Eve sinned, they would have died at once except for Jesus, who offered to give His perfect life as a sacrifice to pay the death penalty for their sin (Revelation 13:8). For the punishment for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). The Creator required the sinner to bring an animal sacrifice (Genesis 4:3-7; Hebrews 9:22). The sacrificing of animals was necessary to help people understand that without the shedding of blood, their sins could never be forgiven. The sacrificial system taught that the divine Father would give His Son to redeem mankind (1 Corinthians 15:3).
Jesus would become not only man’s Savior, but also his substitute (Hebrews 9:28). John wrote, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; John 1:29). Thus, Christ became the only Mediator between man and the Father (1 Timothy 2:5).
In the Old Testament, people looked forward to the sacrifice on the cross for salvation. In the New Testament, we look backward to Calvary for salvation. There is no other way of salvation (Acts 4:12; Matthew 26:28). Christ is the one Sacrifice through whom we must of necessity seek salvation if we would be saved (John 14:6; 17:3).
The plan of salvation through Jesus Christ: (1) glorifies God as the moral Ruler, (2) upholds the Lord’s moral law as the rule of government, (3) shows the mark of its source in divine revelation, (4) provides, through the vicarious atonement, for the needs of men as sinners, who are otherwise under divine condemnation.
Thus, we see that the Creator orders everything according to His eternal purposes. Nothing occurs by accident. From the forming of the inanimate, the creation of the animate to the plan of salvation, all purposes are carried out according to the divine council of Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 8:6).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
