Getting a Right Focus (7)
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Turn to and read Matthew 20:1-16.
What is “Sovereignty?”
What is “Sovereignty?”
What is “Sovereignty” as it relates to God?
Often we say, “God is in control!” And, that’s a fairly good way to describe “sovereignty” as it relates to God.
Sovereignty is God’s right to do what He want s with what is His.
Sovereignty is God’s right to do what He want s with what is His.
Sovereignty is a matter of ownership.
Sovereignty is a matter of ownership.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
What is the Extent of God’s Sovereignty?
What is the Extent of God’s Sovereignty?
Have you ever felt as though you were out of control? When have you felt as though you were out of control?
God controls the universe.
God controls the universe.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof;
We have been told that, because of climate change, we don’t have much time left here on this planet.
Greta Thunberg, the young teenager who had a “meltdown” at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit said...
We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth - how dare you!
In fact...
Professor Stephen Hawking thinks the human species will have to populate a new planet within 100 years if it is to survive. He said...
“With climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, our own planet is increasingly precarious.”
Biblically, though, we must keep in mind that God is in control!
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Yes, one day this earth will be destroyed. 2 Peter 3:10 tells us that...
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
But, it will not be because of climate change. Why? Because God is in control!
God controls the plant and animal creation.
God controls the plant and animal creation.
The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their meat from God.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
God sustains all of physical creation that we see around us. And, if God cares for the plants and animals that He has created, doesn’t it stand to reason that He cares for you, O ye of little faith?
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
God controls all nations.
God controls all nations.
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Benjamin Franklin famously said...
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men.
History is His story. It is not the story of any one nation or people group.
History is a story written by the finger of God.
As we see the mess that the governments of this world have gotten themselves into - ours included, it can produce a lot of anxiety within us. However, we can take comfort in knowing that God is sovereign; He is in control!
Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:
God controls the length of a man’s life.
God controls the length of a man’s life.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
You might say, “Well, that’s just scary!” However, think of it in this way. You have a purpose in this life and God will make sure that you accomplish that purpose!
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
God controls all things for His glory.
God controls all things for His glory.
Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, The man that executeth my counsel from a far country: Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
If God controls all things for His glory, shouldn’t we desire to do all thing for His glory?
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Is God’s Sovereignty Limited?
Is God’s Sovereignty Limited?
Ryrie’s Basic Theology L. Sovereignty
Ultimately God is in complete control of all things, though He may choose to let certain events happen according to natural laws that He has ordained.
It is clear from Scriptures that man may limit God if God allows him that privilege.
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.
Also, God may, in His sovereignty, impose upon Himself certain limitations.
God’s sovereign will permits things to happen that God does not desire to happen, or that He even commands not to happen. - George Bryson, The Dark Side of Calvinism
The limitations that God has placed upon Himself are primarily in three areas: the existence of sin, the free will of man, and the privilege of prayer.
The existence of sin.
The existence of sin.
God did not determine sin’s existence, but He allowed it in the universe.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Ryrie’s Basic Theology L. Sovereignty
Even though God hates sin, for reasons not revealed to us, sin is present by His permission.
God could have made man without the ability to sin (as He will in heaven some day), but that was not His plan for earth. (He has given man a free will.) God wanted many to love Him by choice, not force.
The Bible teaches five lessons about God’s relationship to sin:
God permits some sin to fully manifest itself.
God permits some sin to fully manifest itself.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
God prevents some sin.
God prevents some sin.
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
God determines the limits to which Satan may go in tempting or trying an individual.
God determines the limits to which Satan may go in tempting or trying an individual.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
This truth should bring comfort to each of us, especially when we are going through a severe trial or test. Even though we may question, “Why,” we should remember that God is still in control!
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In temptation, God makes a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it. Even in temptation, God has a purpose.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
But, I will not try to minimize or trivialize the tribulations and temptations that you may be going through.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
In temptation, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ “…was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” For that reason, we can go to Him to “…find grace to help in time of need.”
God can overrule every expression of sin for His glory.
God can overrule every expression of sin for His glory.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
God can restore the wasted years of a sinful life.
God can restore the wasted years of a sinful life.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, The cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.
This should bring comfort to those who may have been saved later in life.
The Free Will of Man
The Free Will of Man
Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. - J. Omoregie
What is “free will” as it relates to man?
The free will of man and the sovereignty of God would seem to be at odds with one another. However, remember that we stated earlier that the free will of man was one area in which God has chosen to limit Himself.
God does not lose any control when a man rebels. God is just as sovereign over the wicked as He is over the righteous. - George Bryson, The Dark Side of Calvinism
Ryrie’s Basic Theology L. Sovereignty
Sovereignty/freedom forms an antinomy (“a contradiction between two apparently equally valid principles or between inferences correctly drawn from such principles”). Antinomies in the Bible, however, consist only of apparent contradictions, not ultimate ones. One can accept the truths of an antinomy and live with them, accepting by faith what cannot be reconciled; or one can try to harmonize the apparent contradictions in an antinomy, which inevitably leads to overemphasizing one truth to the neglect or even denial of the other. Sovereignty must not obliterate free will, and free will must never dilute sovereignty.
Turn to and read Mark 7:1-13.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
If, because of their seeming “contradiction” we begin to overemphasize one versus the other, we can get into some theologically deep waters that we might have a difficult time getting out of. (I would remind you of what Charles Ryrie said, “Sovereignty must not obliterate free will, and free will must never dilute sovereignty.”)
Such is the case of Reformed Theology or Calvinism. Calvinism overemphasizes God’s sovereignty to the point where man’s free will is obliterated and thus they believe and would teach that, because of God’s sovereignty, individuals have already been predetermined by God to either heaven or hell and there is nothing that they can do about it.
However, it is a wonderful truth of Scripture that a sovereign God can determine to give man a free choice in the matter of his personal salvation. God did not have to give man this privilege, but the Bible indicates that He did. God never forces Himself upon an individual.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
…I do not really thing it is all that difficult to accept either the concept that God is absolutely sovereign or that man is responsibly free (and therefore morally responsible for a whole host of important and even eternal matters).
The fact that you may not be able to articulate your convictions in precise theological or philosophical terms makes little or no difference in your day-to-day living.
Most Christians simply do not have trouble reconciling sovereignty and free will because they see no natural conflict between them. - George Bryson, The Dark Side of Calvinism
The Privilege of Prayer
The Privilege of Prayer