Getting A Right Focus (8)

What is “Sovereignty?”

Last week we answered this question, “What is ‘sovereignty’?” and we said that...

Sovereignty is God’s right to do what He want s with what is His.

Matthew 20:15 KJV 1900

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

We then took the time to answer the question...

What is the Extent of God’s Sovereignty?

We saw, from the Bible that...

God controls the universe.

God controls the plant and animal creation.

God controls all nations.

God controls the length of a man’s life.

God controls all things for His glory.

Is God’s Sovereignty Limited?

He couldn’t erase the image…of a world that drove people to despair. A self-indulgent world of opulence that ignored the have-nots.A dying world of disease that apparently seized its victims at random…A broken, hurting world in desperate need of God’s message of love and forgiveness. A world coming apart at the seams. There are not many happy campers out there. How did we get to be like this? What does it all mean? What role does God play in things? Isn’t He supposed to be in control? Patrick Morley, The Rest of Your Life

Those words were written in 1992 but they are just as true today, some 27 years later...

What role does God play in things? Isn’t He supposed to be in control?

​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.

If man could limit God in any way, He would cease to be God. But God in His sovereignty may impose upon Himself certain limitations. Bible Doctrines for Today, Abeka

It is clear from Scriptures that man may limit God if God allows him that privilege.

Psalm 78:41 KJV 1900

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.

God did not determine sin’s existence, but He allowed it in the universe.

James 1:13 KJV 1900

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.

Romans 1:21 KJV 1900

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.

Romans 1:24 KJV 1900

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.

Genesis 20:6 KJV 1900

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.

Job 1:12 KJV 1900

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.

Job 2:6 KJV 1900

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!

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

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.

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

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.

Hebrews 4:15–16 KJV 1900

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.

Psalm 76:10 KJV 1900

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Romans 9:17 KJV 1900

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.

Joel 2:25 KJV 1900

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

Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. - J. Omoregie

Ryrie’s Basic Theology L. Sovereignty

The sovereignty of God seems to contradict the freedom or actual responsibility of man. But even though it may seem to do so, the perfection of sovereignty is clearly taught in the Scriptures, so it must not be denied because of our inability to reconcile it with freedom or responsibility.

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.

Mark 7:13 KJV 1900

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Matthew 23:37 KJV 1900

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.”)

We must be careful that we do not overemphasize God’s sovereignty to the point where man’s free will is obliterated.

If you go to that extreme, then God ultimately becomes the author of sin and wickedness.

Also, there are those who 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. They are only “free” to choose what God has already predetermined for them.

Free agency we may believe in, but free will is simply ridiculous. Charles Spurgeon

Man is a free agent. But man has no free will. George Bishop

Ladies and gentlemen, you cannot have “free agency” if you do not also have “free will.”

However, it is a wonderful truth of Scripture that mankind has a free will and 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.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900

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.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

…I do not really think 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

Last...

The Privilege of Prayer

This “limitation” is wonderfully illustrated for us in Genesis chapter 18.

Turn to and read Genesis 18:17-26.

Without reading the entire account, we know how this encounter turns out.

Genesis 18:32 KJV 1900

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

God has allowed Himself to be influenced by the prayers of His children. This is not a privilege which the Christian can demand. God has allowed us this wonderful privilege. If it were not possible to alter a given circumstance, all of God’s commandments to pray would be ludicrous, “a stupendous farce, a colossal and cruel satire.” Marvin R. Vincent

With this knowledge, how will use your “free will?” Will you use it to serve yourself and your own interests or will you use it to serve God?

How will you use the privilege of prayer?