GOD IS SOVEREIGN

                                                 

The sovereignty of God is a crowning theme in the Bible. God has ultimate power and authority. He owns and rules all that He has created. He is accountable to none and shuts people’s mouths saying, “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.” Job 40:2  

The Bible begins with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…..” He created everything from nothing, which is the meaning of ‘create’ in Hebrew. He created man and woman with freewill, yet accountable to Him. They disobeyed God by choosing to believe Satan, who appeared as a serpent. Fall of man has had serious consequences. All this happened with God’s permission and knowledge, for His own purposes. He does not explain why.

But God had planned for redemption before the foundation of the world. The Bible records how God implemented His salvation plan in history. He chose Abraham and made him a great nation. Through that nation, God sent Jesus Christ as the promised Savior of the world, in His appointed time. Believers in Christ are commissioned and enabled by Him to preach the gospel to the whole world. God is preparing a people for Jesus’ return. In all this, He is exercising His sovereign will in principle and practice.

Jonah gives insight into the extent of God’s control over - wind, sea, fish, plant, worm, and Johan. The Bible teaches how even rulers and nations are raised or abased by God for His purposes.       

GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER CREATION:

The following Bible verses show how God the Creator is in control of all creation.

Proverbs 16:4, “The Lord has made everything for (its) His own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.”

Ephesians 1:11, “…..who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

Isaiah 46:11, “Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

King Nebuchadnezzar says in Daniel 4:35, “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can ward off His hand.”

Romans 13:1, “…..For there is no authority except from God; and those who exist are established by God.”

Psalm103:19, “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”

I Timothy 6:15, “…..He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul says, “If there is any element of the universe that is outside of His authority, then He no longer is God over all. In other words sovereignty belongs to deity. Sovereignty is a natural attribute of the Creator. God owns what He makes, He rules what He owns.”

GOD IS SOVEREIGN IN REDEMPTION:

The following verses highlight God’s sovereignty, in choosing people as He wills, and in initiating and perfecting His saving work in them.

In that great chapter of Romans 9 on God’s sovereignty, Paul says in verse 16, “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”

Paul says in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

John speaking about those who become God’s children says, in John 1:13, “Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

James says in James 1:18, “In the exercise of His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth….”

Acts 11:18, “….glorified God, saying, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” (Repentance granted as a gift)

Acts 13:48, “….and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

Acts 16:14, “….and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

APPLICATION:

Recognizing God the Creator as sovereign Lord and King should cause us to worship Him in true reverence.

Acknowledging Him as Lord of our life should encourage us to serve Him with total allegiance.

Accepting God’s double claim over us as Creator and Redeemer ought to motivate us to be faithful stewards of all that we are and have. God has made us, He has bought us.  

Knowing that God Himself has begun His saving work in us and will perfect it, must promote in us heartfelt gratitude. This attitude should energize us to live for Him with a holy abandon. Having gained all things freely by grace, we have nothing to lose.