The Sovereignty of God
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Within Christian circles we hear the phrase “God is Sovereign” very often, but what does this word mean?
Sovereignty means supremacy, which involves the divine will, authority, and power, for God is supreme over all in His being, rights, and ability to reign and accomplish His will.- Joel Beeke
God’s sovereignty is essentially part of what makes God, God.
So lets break down this definition:
God’s Sovereign Will
The primary point of God’s will is that His glory will be shown all through creation.
God is about making Himself known and all creation praising Him.
This is only right because God is the one is worthy of all praise.
Scripture defines two parts of His Will
Prescriptive: The commands of God. God wishes for people to be obedient to Him. (Eph 6:6; Heb. 13:20-21)
not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Decretive: God’s plan for the world. He will what comes to pass in history. (Is. 46:10)
declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
Both of these are best seen in Jesus. God’s law forbids murder, but God knew from eternity past that He would send Christ to die for our sins. It was His will that Jesus die. (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.
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
So we see that God’s will has been decreed since before the foundation of the world, and He will see that it is accomplished, for His glory.
God’s Sovereign Authority
All of the earth belongs to God, and He can do what He pleases with it. (Ps. 24:1-2; Isaiah 45:9)
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
For this reason God also has the right demand obedience from His creation. (James 4:12)
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Any amount of authority that we have in life is completely due to God granting us that authority. That’s why we obey those over us unless they try to cause us to not follow God.
God’s Sovereign Power
There is nothing that God is incapable of doing, thus if God wills for it to be done, it will be done.
And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
His power in infinite, thus when it comes to God’s power we can say:
God can do whatever He wills, that isn’t contrary to His nature.
There is no challenge that is difficult for Him.
He can accomplishes His will through a variety of means.
No power can resist Him.
All creatures can only do what God allows them to do.
When Christians say that God is Sovereign, we are saying that He is the most powerful being in the universe, and that He has the freedom to do what He wishes, all for His glory.
We are simply recognizing God as God.
So what are some practical implications of this doctrine?
Causes us to repent and fear the Lord (Ps.2:1; Ps 33:8-9)
Trust His Promises
Be more humble
Be faithful with what we’re given
Submit and trust Him with our sorrows
Hope for the salvation of others
Boldness in prayer
Discussion Questions:
What does it mean that God is Sovereign? Does this challenge the way you previously thought about God?
Do you think it is right that God does everything primarily for His glory?
Read Isaiah 46:8-10. How does God describe Himself, and what does it mean that God has declared the end from the beginning?