God's Sovereignty in the Cross

As we reach the climax of John, the cross raises many questions:

Was this God’s plan?

Did God know this would happen?

Why would God allow this?

This raises a concern over Open Theology (the idea that God is not sovereign)

It is the idea that God changes

Breaking it down farther it carries the idea that God works in cooperation with human freewill, but does not dictate the outcome

In other words, the future is “open” for us to change

But if God is sovereign then we are put into a confusing situation as it raises the question “why did God create Adam and Eve, knowing they would sin?”

In today’s “church world” the message of salvation is often summed up in a love God has for us being so great that He was “forced” to create a plan to save us

We see this especially in modern worship music. Take the line “He didn’t want heaven without us” (What a beautify name, by Hillsong)

It has a sentimentality about it that boils salvation down to us being so valuable to God that He could not live without us

Sounds sort of junior high relationship to me

While, Christ’s love for us is part of the salvation story, it is not that we are so valuable to Him that He loves us, but that He is so loving that in spite of our wretchedness He loves.

This is Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It’s not that we are worthy of His love, but that His love is so who He is, that He created the world for the sole purpose of showing His love.

The Meta-Narative of Scripture

Creation:Fall:Redemption

Everything God does, from Genesis 1- Revelation 22 is to show us who He is.

It is best summed up in the Shorter Catechism’s 1st question:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever. [b]

We are to Glorify God, through this story of Creation Fall Redemption

We were made for salvation, salvation was not made for us!

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

Exodus 12:13 “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

Psalm 22:1–2 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”

Psalm 22:18 “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Isaiah 50:6 “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.”

Isaiah 53:4–5 “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

The Jews Were Unwavering (1-6a)

Pilot Wanted to Release Jesus, But the Jews Would not Allow It (6b-10)

Pilot’s Authority Comes From God (11)

Pilot Hesitantly Sends Jesus to be Crucified (12-16)

Why would God do this?

Romans 9:22–23 “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—”

It is important that we understand that we benefit from the cross, but it is not that His love for us was so great, but that His glory so needed to be show.