The Sovereignty of God

Table of Contents

• Part 1: God’s Sovereign Nature
  • Sovereignty Defined and Explained
  • Exposition of 1 Chronicles 29:11-13
  • God’s Sovereignty and His Attributes
  • Omnipotence and Omniscience
  • Chart on God’s Knowledge and Power
• Part 2: God’s Sovereign Dominion
  • In Creation
  • In Providence
  • Applying God’s Providence
• Part 3:  God’s Sovereign Purposes
• Part 4:  God’s Sovereign Salvation
  • Testimony of Church History
  • Pelagius and Augustine 
  • Luther and Erasmus
  • Calvin and Arminius
  • Calvin, Arminius, or the Bible
  • Calvinism and Arminianism Defined
  • Teaching of Scripture
  • Human Inability
• Part 5:  Our Response to God’s Sovereignty
• Charts and Diagrams

  Note:  All Scripture references are from the NASB (1977) unless otherwise noted.  

The Sovereignty of God
Part 1:  God’s Nature

God’s Sovereignty Defined

God is Sovereign.  But what does this mean?  The word “sovereignty” means Supreme Authority.  In the earthly realm, it speaks of one who holds the highest place of authority such as a monarch, president, or ruler of a province or territory.  However when this term is applied to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, it takes on a much fuller meaning.  God rules from heaven over the world He created out of nothing by His own power; He also sustains everything in the world by His powerful Word.  Scripture describes God as The Sovereign King above all earthly and heavenly powers and authorities.

Psalm 103:19: The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And
His sovereignty rules over all.

God possesses absolute dominion and authority over all things.  So He is said to sit on a “throne” in heaven!  Just think how ridiculous it would be to say that God created the universe but is not in control of what takes place in it.  Scripture teaches that God not only controls nature and history, but literally sustains the entire universe by His power, and orders the events of His entire creation to accomplish His own purposes and plans.  Friends, we must understand that all world events happen at the express purpose and will of God, who rules the world and all who are in it.  He is “Lord of Heaven and Earth” (Acts 17:24).  Everything that happens in the world happens because God has permitted, indeed has decreed, it to happen (The Decrees of God).  Even the evil in the world, which God hates, exists because it is necessary to achieve His eternal purposes, which will certainly come to pass. God not only permits the events of human history, but has ordained them from eternity past (Foreordination). Furthermore, He is actively involved in seeing that they all come to pass (Providence) so as to fulfill all of His plans and purposes.

Proverbs 16:4:
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

It is unthinkable that God’s divine purpose could meet with frustration, for then it could not be God’s divine purpose! Failure of God’s purpose would be failure of His sovereignty.  God cannot be God and be less than sovereign.  Scripture is very clear that a less-than-sovereign God would NOT be God.

Ephesians 1:11:  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Even Satan was created by God to achieve the very purpose for which God made him.

Isaiah 10:15:  Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it?  Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?  That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood. Isaiah 54:16: Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, And brings out a weapon for its work; And I have created the destroyer to ruin.

Question #1:  What does the word “sovereignty” mean in a worldly sense?

  Question #2:  How does the Bible use the word “sovereignty” in relation to God?

  Question #3:  How does God’s sovereignty relate to the accomplishment of His divine purpose?

  Question #4:  How does a good understanding of God’s sovereignty help us explain the existence of Satan and evil?

  Question #5:  Why is sovereignty a necessary attribute of God?

 

Exposition of 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Let us closely examine how this Scripture passage describes the Sovereignty of God.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13:11
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. 12Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. 13Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.

→Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty: What words can describe the greatness of God and His power?  We cannot fully understand or describe the greatness of God because He is infinite and we are finite.  Listen as Scripture speaks of His greatness:  His is the powerand glory and victoryandmajesty.
God is the source of all power.

Jeremiah 32:17:  Ah Lord God!  Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee,

God’s is the glory.

Revelation 15:3-4: 3And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations. 4“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?  For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed.”

God will always prevail in victory against His enemies.

Isaiah 42:13:  The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies .

God’s authoritative majesty is the most regal and beautiful, stately and splendid, awesome and magnificent  grandeur of all.

Psalms 96:4-9: 4For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. 6Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Question #6:  According to the above Scripture passages, how is the greatness of God reflected in the demonstration of His power, glory, victory, and majesty?

 

→indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord:
The Scripture plainly declares that God created all things and is the Possessor of everything. Since God is the creator of all things, He also is the rightful owner and proprietor of all things. He, therefore, has the sovereign right or prerogative to do as He pleases.

Exodus 9:29: And Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.

Exodus 19:5: Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;

Deuteronomy 10:14:  Behold,
to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it .

Job 41:11: Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.

Psalm 24:1:�
The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Psalm 89:11: The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine; The world and all it contains, Thou hast founded them.

The Scripture plainly declares that God rules and does as He pleases with everything He has made.  God is totally free of external constraint.

Daniel 4:34-35: 34But at the end of that period I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:  For
His dominion is an everlasting dominion , And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35And 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 earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, “What hast Thou done?”

Psalms 135:5-6: 5For I know that
the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.  6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

Question #7:  How do the above Scripture passages justify God’s freedom to do as He pleases?

→and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all: The Scripture plainly declares that God is the highest authority and that He is the One who establishes all other authority in heaven and earth.

 

Romans 13:1: Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

God is highly exalted above everything.  Therefore, God exalts Himself above us and commands that we worship Him.  It is right and proper for Him to do so.  Let’s consider the appropriateness of God’s action.  Would it be right for some other being to occupy God’s great seat of authority? Would it be proper for a creature to somehow be exalted above the One who created it?  Indeed these questions must be answered, “No.”  If they could be answered “Yes,” God would not be God. This is why idolatry is the great sin of mankind.  Idolatry gives God’s proper place to something other than God when God alone must be exalted as King and Sovereign over us. This is high treason against the greatest majesty that exists.  Who can fully express how great a sin unbelief truly is?  Who can describe the folly and shame of idolatry?  Dare we slap the hand that feeds us?  Dare we raise clinched fists against the One who holds our life’s breathe in His hands?  God rightly exalts Himself above us and commands that we worship Him, because it is right and proper.  It is, in reality, the highest good of the creature to worship and praise the Creator.

Psalm 97:9: For Thou art the Lord Most High over all the earth; Thou art exalted far above all gods.

Exodus 20:2-3: 2I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  3You shall have no other gods before Me.

Isaiah 2:11-12: 11The proud look of man will be abased, And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. 12For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty, And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be abased.

Question #8:  On what basis should Christians submit to human governing authorities?

 

Question #9:  What is idolatry?

 

Question #10:  Why is idolatry the most terrible of sins?

 

→Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone:  God in His Sovereignty dispenses what He pleases to all the peoples of the earth.  Here the Scripture says that God, the Ruler of all, gives riches to the rich and honor to the honorable.  Here the Scripture explicitly states that God has the power and the might to raise up or exalt people and give them strength.  Obviously the inverse is also true.  If God decides to abase people and make them weak, that is His prerogative. This fact resounds throughout Scripture.  God rules His creation, including the earth and men and angels, by His mighty Providence.  God is Sovereign over the prosperity and poverty of everyone.

Exodus 4:11: And the Lord said to him, “
Who has made man’s mouth?  Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?

Isaiah 45:7: The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these .

1 Samuel 2:7-9: 7
The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts . 8He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He set the world on them. 9He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.

The
Scripture plainly declares that God is Sovereign over the life and death of every creature. God determines the length of our days, and His limits cannot be adjusted.  No one lives unless God decrees it; and no one dies unless God decrees it.  He is the Author, Giver, and the Sustainer of every living thing.  He holds in His hand the lives of both His beloved ones and His enemies.  Even Satan, the father of lies, the destroyer, owes his next breathe to the Almighty.

Job 14:5: Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with Thee, And his limits Thou hast set so that he cannot pass.

Deuteronomy 32:39:  See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life.  I have wounded, and it is I who heal; And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

1 Samuel 2:6:
The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Job 12:9-10:  9Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, 10In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?

Matthew 10:29-30: 29Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

The Scripture plainly declares that
God Sustains and maintains all things which He has created .

Hebrews 1:3:  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.

Job 34:14-15: 14If He should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

Question #11:  What is the ultimate answer to the question, Why are things the way they are?:

 

Question #12:  How does this brief look at God’s total control over His creation affect your sense of security in this world?

 

Question #13:  Does this brief look at God’s total control over His creation raise some questions in your mind?  If so, write them out and look for answers to them as you continue this study:

 

→Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name:  Now here is a proper response to the knowledge of God’s Sovereignty.  We should first acknowledge His greatness and power, and then humbly thank Him for WHO He is and what He has given us.  More than this we should praise His glorious name!

Psalm 106:1:
Praise the Lord!  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 33:1:Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.

Question #14:  What are some practical ways in which you might acknowledge God’s greatness and power, thank Him for who He is and what He has given you, and praise His glorious name?

 

Summary We have seen that the Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign over all His creation.  We have also seen that the nature of this sovereignty is absolute and supreme authority, exercised over all things He has created.  Our dear brother Charles Hodge defines sovereignty well in his work entitled, Systematic Theology: “Sovereignty is not a property of the divine nature, but a prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being.  If God be a Spirit, and therefore a person, infinite, eternal, and immutable in his being and perfections, the Creator and Preserver of the universe, He is of right its absolute sovereign.  Infinite wisdom, goodness, and power, with the right of possession, which belongs to God in all his creatures, are the immutable foundation of his dominion.”  Dear reader, hear now the word of the Lord!

Deuteronomy 4:39: Know therefore today, and take it to your heart,
that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other .

Application How do we apply this doctrine to our life; that is, how must it affect us in our thinking and our living?

• We must recognize Him as the sovereign authority in our lives by humbly submitting to His will.  (Deuteronomy 4:39-40, 27:10; Job 2:10; Lamentations 3:37-41; Jeremiah 44:23; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 11:28)
• We must love God in His sovereignty and find our joy in the fact that the goodness of God rules over our lives, decisions, and everything that we are and all that we have.  (Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:12)
• We must realize that trust in God’s sovereign and gracious hand allows us to rest in amazing security.  (Romans 8:28,31)

Why is this doctrine important?

• The truth of God’s sovereignty explains the being, nature, essence, and destiny of all things. (Revelation 14:6-7)
• The truth of God’s sovereignty gives meaning and significance to the way we live our lives. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 147:11, 112:1)
• Since sovereignty is “a prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being,” rightly understanding God’s sovereignty equips us to think rightly about Him and His Kingdom.  All theological heresy flows from misunderstanding the character and nature of God.  (Proverbs 9:10)

Why is this doctrine controversial? The basic nature of sin is rebellion against God’s sovereignty.  From the time Adam and Eve first decided to disobey God’s commandment in the Garden of Eden, their descendants have sought to exalt their own autonomy in resistence to God’s authority.  Sinful humanity is naturally repulsed by the idea of submitting to Someone of higher authority and continually seeks to usurp God’s authority.  This is the highest crime against God and worthy of death.  (Proverbs 29:15; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-18; 8:7-8)

 

Question #15: How will your study thus far immediately impact your typical thoughts, words, attitudes and actions?  (Be very specific in your answer.)

Thoughts:

 

Words:

 

Attitudes:

 

Actions:

 

 

Sovereignty and God’s Attributes

God’s sovereign authority works in perfect harmony with all of His attributes to manifest God’s perfection in every way.  Consider just a few examples:

Sovereignty and Wisdom:  God uses His authority in accordance with perfect wisdom.  God always makes decisions and executes His authority in ways that fulfill the eternal counsel of His will.  Everything He does fulfills the purpose for which He planned it.

Jeremiah 10:12:  It is He who made the earth by His power,
Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens .

Sovereignty and Love:  God’s authority is always dispensed with concern for those He loves.  God’s motivation, in the exercise of His authority, is to benefit and bless those to whom He obligates Himself by covenant – indeed to all who fear Him and call upon Him.

Psalm 103:11-13:  11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So
great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him .  12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.  13Just as a father has compassion on his children, So
the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him .

Sovereignty and Power:  God has the ability to bring to pass whatsoever He pleases; thus, the exercise of His authority cannot be effectively resisted.  God brings to pass whatever His wisdom and love decide.  If He could not do what He wills and perform all His pleasure, He would not be God!

Isaiah 46:9-11:  9Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;  I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, “My purpose will be established, And
I will accomplish all My good pleasure ”; 11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Sovereignty and Knowledge:  God uses His authority with perfect knowledge because He is the source of perfect knowledge.  Nothing escapes the attention of God nor does anything invalidate His purposes.  God’s authority is always exercised with complete knowledge of what has happened, is happening, and will happen as a result.  God never errs, never changes, and never overlooks anything.

Isaiah 40:14: With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?  And
who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge , And informed Him of the way of understanding?

Sovereignty and Holiness:   God’s use of His authority is always motivated by His hatred of sin, spotless purity, and zeal for His own honor.  He expects His creatures to revere His holiness and issues serious warnings and threats to those who fail to honor Him.  God must be zealous for His own honor because He is truly honorable and most worthy of praise and glory.  A failure to revere and honor God’s holiness is the very definition of sin itself.

Revelation 14:6-7: 6And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

1 John 3:10:  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious:�
anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God , northe one who does not love his brother.

Sovereignty and Righteousness:  The foundation of everything God does is justice.  All of His judgments are morally perfect and upright. In fact, God Himself is the very standard of what is just and righteous. God’s authority is always executed in perfect righteousness.  Whatever is right, is right because it is approved by God.

Deuteronomy 32:4:  The Rock!  His work is perfect, For
all His ways are just ; A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He .

Since all of these things are true of God, who is the highest authority, we have grounds for tremendous security and exceeding joy.  We can rest in the security of God’s righteous judgment and find in Him a refuge and strength in every adversity we face.

Psalm 5:11: But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And mayest Thou shelter them, That those who love Thy name may exult in Thee.

Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Question #16:  Carefully consider what you have just studied about God’s sovereignty and His attributes.  How does Scripture’s teaching on this subject encourage you to trust God completely and serve Him boldly?

God’s Power – Omnipotence (having absolute power and supremacy; all-powerful)

Consider how God’s absolute power and supremacy is related to His Sovereignty.  If God is all-powerful, then He has the ability to freely do as He pleases and is therefore by default the

Supreme Authority.

Job 23:13:  But He is unique and who can turn Him?  And what His soul desires, that He does.

Isaiah 43:13:  Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?

Psalm 115:3:  But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

Scripture speaks of God’s mighty power and describes Him as omnipotent or all-powerful.
Scripture plainly declares that God can do anything and nothing is too hard for Him.

Jeremiah 32:17: Ah Lord God!  Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for Thee,

Matthew 19:26:And looking upon them Jesus said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Job 42:1-2:1Then Job answered the Lord and said, 2“I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.

God had the creative power to make the universe from nothing, and He sustains it by His power.  He made the world for His own pleasure and by His own will.

Revelation 4:11:  Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for
Thou didst create all things, and
because of Thy will they existed, and were created.

His creation is a small example of His mighty power.  In the creation of the universe, God’s resources were not depleted in any way, for they are infinitely vast.  Since God created all things, He transcends them; His power and dominion are infinitely greater than everything He created.  God is actively sustaining everything in creation.  He exercises His power continually, bringing to pass “all His good pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10).  He made all things by His purposeful will.  He possesses the power to execute His divine will and bring His intentions to perfect completion.  He alone created all things out of nothing.  Because of this great truth He is known as “The Almighty.”

Isaiah 40:26,28:  26Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power Not one of them is missing. . . .  28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. John 1:1-3: 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2He was in the beginning with God.�
3All things came into being by Him , and
apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being .

Colossians 1:16-17:  16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him.  17And He is before all things, and
in Him all things hold together.

This truth affirms that all power in the creation comes from God.  Since God made everything out of nothing, then power must, by necessity, be delegated by God.  In fact the Scripture plainly declares that God’s power is far above all earthly powers.

Ephesians 1:18-21: 18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is
the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion , and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.

If someone were more powerful than God, he or she would have authority over Him.  Scripture teaches, however, that this is impossible. Therefore, because God is omnipotent, He is also

Sovereign.

Question #17:  List several scriptural truths that affirm God’s omnipotence:

 

Question #18:  How does God’s omnipotence affirm that He and He alone is God?

 

 

God’s Knowledge – Omniscience (all-knowing)

God knows everything.  Since God is the source of all things (making everything from nothing), He is therefore the source of all knowledge and wisdom.  A. W. Tozer helps us understand how complete God’s knowledge is with this definition of omniscience:

[God] knows all that can be known.  And this He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn.

We might add that God also knows every possible cause and effect, feeling and desire, creature, event, and every other thing that can be named. His knowledge is complete and eternal. The
Scripture plainly declares that God knows everything.

1 John 3:19-20:  19We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him 20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things .

Isaiah 40:28: Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable.

Psalm 147:5: Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

People rarely argue that God does not know the past, but people do sometimes argue that God does not know the future. Scripture, however, plainly declares that God does know the future.  He must know it, because the future is the outworking of God’s decrees, which were made before He created the world.  He knew in eternity past the entire record of history for all time. Predictive prophecy in the Bible proves this again and again.  God speaks about future events before they come to pass, and multitudes of biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled!

Isaiah 46:9-10:  9“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10
Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done , Saying, “My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”; Isaiah 44:7-8: 7And who is like me?  Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time I established the ancient nation.  And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place.  8
Do not tremble and do not be afraid.  Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it ?  And you are My witnesses.  Is there any God besides me, Or is there any other Rock?  I know of none.

Nothing escapes God’s notice; and nothing is hidden from Him.  He is aware of past, present, and future events just as if they were all laid out before Him.  His knowledge is as perfect as His being.  Since God is perfect in knowledge, He is all-knowing and can never be confused, misled, or surprised.

Hebrews 4:13: And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but
all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Nothing escapes the attention of God.  He sees all things, even the inner thoughts of man. Jesus said that the hairs of our heads are all numbered (Luke 12:7) and that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice (Matthew 10:29).  “No creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare” before the Lord (Hebrews 4:13).  He knows our thoughts (Ezekiel 11:5) before we even express them.  Indeed, there is no place where we can hide from God.  He sees everything in full view; and He understands “the thoughts and intentions of our hearts” (Hebrews 4:12) better than we do.  He is God!

1 Kings 8:39: then hear in heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart Thou knowest, for Thou alone dost know the hearts of all the sons of men,

1 Chronicles 28:9:  As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Proverbs 5:21:  For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.
Psalm 139 speaks of God knowing our thoughts and words “before there is a word on our tongue.”

Psalms 139:2-4:  2Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar .  3Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.  4
Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all.

A. W. Pink describes God’s knowledge of our sins: “Neither the darkness of night, the closest curtains, nor the deepest dungeon can hide any sinner from the eyes of Omniscience. The trees of the garden were not able to conceal our first parents. No human eye beheld Cain murder his brother, but his maker witnessed his crime. Sarah might laugh derisively in the seclusion of her tent, yet was it heard by Jehovah. Achan stole a wedge of gold and carefully hid it in the earth, but God brought it to light. David was at much pains to cover up his wickedness, but ere long the all-seeing God sent one of His servants to say to him, “You are the man!” And to writer and reader is also said, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23).

Proverbs 15:3:  The
eyes of the Lord are in every place , Watching the evil and the good.

Job 34:21-22:  21“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.  22There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Psalms 90:8: Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, Our secret sins in the light of Thy presence.

S. Lewis Johnson summarizes God’s knowledge like this:

• Intuitive:  God knows everything by default, His knowledge exists within Himself
• Simultaneous:  God knows everything in one simple act, instantaneously, not            gradually
• Independent:  God knows everything apart from any learning, He cannot learn, because He knows all things from eternity, His knowledge comes from Himself
• Distinct: God knows everything clearly, without ambiguity, specifically not generally, absolute
• Infallible:  God’s knowledge is unfailing, certain, accurate in every detail
• Immutable:  God’s knowledge never changes because He has never learned a new fact, it is not subject to anything outside of Himself
• Complete:  God’s knowledge is infinite, the scope or extent of it is exhaustive, He knows all things actual and possible, all events, all creatures of the past, present and future.

Consider how God’s knowledge is related to His Sovereignty.  Since God is all-knowing, nothing can escape His attention or surprise Him.  He is intimately aware of everything at all times, knowing it all from before the creation of the world. God knows everything freely because He has both willed everything to be and providentially brought it about.

Ephesians 1:9-11:  9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined
according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will ,

Summary –  See chart on God’s Knowledge and Power

Question #19:  Study the chart, “God’s Knowledge and Power,” on page 17.  Then briefly  describe the connection between omniscience and omnipotence.

 

 

Question #20:  Why are omniscience and omnipotence necessary elements of sovereignty?

 

 

The Sovereignty of God

Part 2: God’s Dominion – In Providence

The Providence Of God Defined

Although the doctrine of God’s providence is one of the great mysteries of the Bible, it is found on almost every page of Scripture. It is, in fact, constantly assumed and implied by the biblical writers.  So what does “God’s providence” mean, and how is it described in the Bible?  Wayne Grudem provides an excellent definition in his textbook entitled, Systematic Theology:

“God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) Preservation -keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) Concurrence – cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) Government – directs them to fulfill his purposes.”

This is a profound statement we should consider carefully.  Let’s begin by looking at the biblical evidence for each of its parts (which he has called preservation, concurrence, and government.)

Question #25:  Look up the words preservation, concurrence, and government in an English dictionary and write them out:

 

Preservation:

 

Concurrence:

 

Government:

 

Question #26:  Do the definitions of these words help you understand any parts of Grudem’s definition?  If so, explain.

 

Preservation: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them.  God’s providence includes His continual involvement with all created things.  God has not left the world to spin of its own power but is constantly maintaining its activity by His own hand.

Hebrews 1:1-3: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world . 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and
upholds all things by the word of His power .

Here the Scripture says of God that He “upholds all things.”  Could there be a clearer statement of His “continual involvement?” Consider Colossians 1:17.

Colossians 1:16-17:16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created by Him and for Him .  17And He is before all things, and
in Him all things hold together.

These Scriptures, understood in their immediate context, affirm that God is not merely holding the planets in orbit, but that He also created and preserves people and angels.

Acts 17:28:  for in Him we live and move and exist,

Job 34:14-15: 14If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

When we think about God’s providence over His world, we should think of it as continual involvement.  God is separate and distinct from His creation, yet He is governing it by His mighty power.  God does not simply intervene occasionally in the events of history when He thinks it is appropriate.  He is the glue that holds it all together and the motor that keep it all moving.  Without His constant work, the universe would disintegrate.  God is not the creation (as is taught by Pantheism), nor has God abandoned His creation to run by itself (as is taught by Deism).  Rather, as Wayne Grudem rightly teaches from Scripture, God “keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them.”

Question #27:  Reread the Scripture passages quoted above.  What specific words or phrases describe God’s continual involvement with His creation in ways that preserve it?

 

Question #28:  In what specific ways does knowledge of this aspect of God’s sovereignty encourage and comfort you?

 

Concurrence: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he . . .(2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.  Here we see that although God is separate and distinct from everything He has made, He oversees everything He has made in a directive way.  In theological terms, this is called concurrence.  When we use this term, we are referring to God’s ultimate control over nature and history.  This idea is supported by the testimony of Scripture.

God’s Control of Nature

When we speak of God’s control of nature, we are referring to His control of planetary movements, weather patterns, animals, people, angels, and demons – in other words, everything He has made.  At God’s command, the great springs of the deep burst forth in the days of Noah. His voice opened the heavens and ordered rain to pour down for forty days and nights.  Tornados and tempests, lightning and thunder, winds and waves … all are God’s servants sent to do His bidding and perform all His good pleasure.  No maverick storm has ever raged through God’s creation outside of God’s ruling hand of Providence!

Job 37:1-13:  1At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.  2Listen closely to the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.  3Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, And His lightning to the ends of the earth.  4After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice;
And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.  5God thunders with His voice wondrously, Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.  6For to the snow He says, “Fall on the earth,” And to the downpour and the rain, “Be strong.”  7He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work .  8Then the beast goes into its lair, And remains in its den.  9Out of the south comes the storm, And out of the north the cold.�
10From the breath of God ice is made , And the expanse of the waters is frozen.  11Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.  12And it changes direction, turning around by His guidance, That it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.  13Whether for correction, or for His world, Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

Psalm 135:6-7:  6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.  7He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings for the rain; Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

Mark 4:38-41:  38And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40And He said to them, “Why are you so timid?  How is it that you have no faith?”  41And they became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Job 38:12-13:  12Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place; 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

Psalm 103:20:  Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!

Question #29: From the Scriptures quoted above, list specific words (verbs) that describe God’s and Jesus’s involvement with nature.

 

Question #30:  In each case, what happened as a result of God and Jesus’s involvement?

 

Question #31:  According to Psalm 103:20, how do angels relate to God?

 

Question #32:  Summarize in your own words what are these Scriptures teach about God.

 

Question #33:  Describe your mental and emotional reaction to this teaching.

 

 

God’s Control of History

Not only does God control nature, but also the events of history.  The Scripture plainly declares that God is the primary cause behind every historical occurrence.

Lamentations 3:37-38:  37Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? 38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth?

Isaiah 45:7:  The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.

Consider these words of Jonathan Edwards:  “God decreed from all eternity all the evil that He ever does permit, because God’s permitting is God’s forbearing to act or to prevent. It can be made evident by reason that nothing can come to pass but what is the will and pleasure of God should come to pass.” God’s control over the events of history is plainly evident in Scripture. The Bible consistently testifies to the fact that God is providentially working His will in all things to accomplish His purposes for the display of His own Glory, exalt His Name, and affirm His Power.

Ephesians 1:9-11: 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a
view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth . In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined
according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will ,

Many examples of God’s control over the events of history can be cited from the Old Testament. Here are just a few:

• The creation account  (Genesis 1-2)
• The flood (Genesis 6-8)
• The confounding of human languages at Babel:  (Genesis 11)
• The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: (Genesis 19)
• The plagues of Egypt: (Exodus 7-12)
• The Exodus, parting of the Red Sea, giving of manna and water from the                 rock: (Exodus14-17)
• Giving of the Law at Sinai: (Exodus 19-20)
• Defeat of Sihon and Og:  (Numbers 21)
• Conquest of Canaan:  (Joshua)
• Numerous divine interventions: (Judges)
• Defeat of Sennacherib and 185,000 Assyrians:  (2 Kings 19)

Question #34:  Read two or three of the passages referenced above.  For each one that you read, describe how God’s control over the events of history is clearly affirmed.

 

The Old Testament is literally riddled with accounts of concurrence i.e.,examples of God’s constant cooperation “with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.”Scripture plainly declares that God: (1) controls the events of history to achieve His own purpose and will; and (2) exercises His providence over the nations themselves as well as the economic and religious systems of the world.  He is sovereign over the wise and the foolish, the strong and the weak.

Isaiah 40:22-25:  22It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  23He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.  24Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble.  25”To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?” says the Holy One.

Job 12:16-22:  16With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him.  17He makes counselors walk barefoot, And makes fools of judges.  18
He loosens the bond of kings, And binds their loins with a girdle. 19He makes priests walk barefoot, And overthrows the secure ones.   20He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders. 21He pours contempt on nobles, And loosens the belt of the strong.  22He reveals mysteries from the darkness, And brings the deep darkness into light.  23
He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.  24He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth’s people, And makes them wander in a pathless waste.  25They grope in darkness with no light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Romans 11:32:  For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.

Psalm 22:28:  For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.

Psalm 82:8:  Arise, O God, judge the earth!  For it is Thou who dost possess all the nations .

Psalm 47:7-8:  7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.  8God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.

Here we have irrefutable testimony that God is Sovereign over the nations of the earth!  These passages affirm that when a nation becomes great and powerful, it is God’s doing.  They affirm that when a nation is destroyed, it is God’s doing.  Even the spiritual darkness of the nations is said to be God’s doing.  All the nations belong to Him.  They exist for His purposes and His good pleasure.  The
Old Testament plainly declares that God providentially directs the rise and fall of nations and is constantly directing the affairs of human history.

Question #35:  From the verses quoted above, describe several examples of concurrence.

 

Question #36:  How do these examples of concurrence encourage and comfort you as situations in the world tempt you to be worried and fearful?

 

Many examples of God’s control over the events of history can also be cited from the New Testament. Here are just a few: 1.  From the life and ministry of Jesus Christ: 

• His virgin birth: (Luke 1-3)
• His calming of the raging sea:  (Matthew 8:23-27)
• The lame walk:  (John 5:1-47, note in particular, vs 17, 19 & 30)
• The blind see:  (John 9:1-41, note in particular, vs 3-5)
• The dead live again:  (John 11:1-44, note in particlar, vs. 4, 41-42)
• His resurrection: (Matthew 28:1-20, note in particular vs 2-7, 18-20)

2.  From other places in the New Testament:

• The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: (Acts 2:1-21)
• Numerous signs and wonders done by the Apostles:  (throughout Acts)
• Peter’s deliverance from prison: (Acts 12:1-11)
• The conversion and calling of Saul of Tarsus:  (Acts 9:1-22)
• The death of Herod:  (Acts 12:18-23)
• The trumpet and bowl judgments: (Revelation 7-11,16)
• The Judgment of the Beast and the False Prophet:  (Revelation 19:19-21)

Question #37:  Read two or three of the passages referenced above.  For each one that you read, describe how God’s control over the events of history is clearly affirmed.

 

The following passages specifically demonstrate how God mysteriously works in the free choices of men to accomplish His purposes.

Acts 2:22-24:  22Men of Israel, listen to these words:  Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Acts 4:27-28:  27For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.

Question #38:  In these two situations from Acts, how do you see concurrence at work?

 

The
New Testament plainly declares and explicitly teaches that God is constantly directing all the affairs of human history.

Two Related Questions:        Does God cause or ordain evil?

Is everything that happens God’s will?

 

Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology, wisely answers the first question like this:

If God does indeed cause, through his providential activity, everything that comes about in the world, then the question arises, “What is the relationship between God and evil in the world?”  Does God actually cause the evil actions that people do?  If he does, then is God not responsible for sin?             In approaching this question, it is best first to read the passages of Scripture that directly address it.  We can begin by looking at several passages that affirm that God did, indeed, cause evil events to come about and evil deeds to be done. But we must remember that in all these passages it is very clear that Scripture nowhere shows God as directly doing anything evil, but rather as bringing about evil deeds through the willing actions of moral creatures.  Moreover, Scripture never blames God for evil or shows God as taking pleasure in evil, and Scripture never excuses human beings for the wrong they do.  However we understand God’s relationship to evil, we must never come to the point where we think that we are not responsible for the evil that we do, or that God takes pleasure in evil or is to be blamed for it.  Such a conclusion is clearly contrary to Scripture.             There are literally dozens of Scripture passages that say that God (indirectly) brought about some kind of evil.  I have quoted such an extensive list (in the next few paragraphs) because Christians often are unaware of the extent of this forthright teaching in Scripture. Yet it must be remembered that in all of these examples, the evil is actually done not by God but by people or demons who choose to do it.             A very clear example is found in the story of Joseph. Scripture clearly says that Joseph’s brothers were wrongly jealous of him (Gen. 37:11), hated him (Gen. 37:4, 5, 8), wanted to kill him (Gen. 37:20), and did wrong when they cast him into a pit (Gen. 37:24) and then sold him into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 37:28). Yet later Joseph could say to his brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5), and “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”(Gen. 50:20). Here we have a combination of evil deeds brought about by sinful men who are rightly held accountable for their sin and the overriding providential control of God whereby God’s own purposes were accomplished. Both are clearly affirmed. The story of the exodus from Egypt repeatedly affirms that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh: God says, “I will harden his heart” (Ex. 4:21), “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Ex. 7:3), “the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh” (Ex. 9:12), “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Ex. 10:20, repeated in 10:27 and again in 11:10), “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Ex. 14:4), and “the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Ex. 14:8). . . .             What was God’s purpose in this?  Paul reflects on Exodus 9:16 and says, “For the scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth’” (Rom. 9:17). Then Paul infers a general truth from this specific example: “So then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills” (Rom. 9:18). In fact, God also hardened the hearts of the Egyptian people so that they pursued Israel into the Red Sea: “I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen” (Ex. 14:17). This theme is repeated in Psalm 105:25: “He turned their hearts to hate his people.” . . . Later in the Old Testament narrative similar examples are found of the Canaanites who were destroyed in the conquest of Palestine under Joshua.  We read,  “For it was the Lord’s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be utterly destroyed” (Josh. 11:20; see also Judg. 3:12; 9:23).  And Samson’s demand to marry an unbelieving Philistine woman “was from the Lord; for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel”  (Judg 14:4).  We also read that the sons of Eli, when rebuked for their evil deeds, “would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the Lord to slay them” (1 Sam. 2:25).  Later, “an evil spirit from the Lord” tormented King Saul (1 Sam. 16:14). . . . Still later in David’s life, the Lord “incited” David to take a census of the people (2 Sam. 24:1), but afterward David recognized this as sin, saying, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done” (2 Sam. 24:10), and God sent punishment on the land because of this sin (2 Sam. 24:12–17). However, it is also clear that “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel” (2 Sam. 24:1), so God’s inciting of David to sin was a means by which he brought about punishment on the people of Israel.  Moreover, the means by which God incited David is made clear in 1 Chronicles 21:1: “Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel.” In this one incident the Bible gives us a remarkable insight into the three influences that contributed in different ways to one action: God, in order to bring about his purposes, worked through Satan to incite David to sin, but Scripture regards David as being responsible for that sin. . . .              In the story of Job, though the Lord gave Satan permission to bring harm to Job’s possessions and children, and though this harm came through the evil actions of the Sabeans and the Chaldeans, as well as a windstorm (Job 1:12, 15, 17, 19), yet Job looks beyond those secondary causes and, with the eyes of faith, sees it all as from the hand of the Lord: “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). The Old Testament author follows Job’s statement immediately with the sentence, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). Job has just been told that evil marauding bands had destroyed his flocks and herds, yet with great faith and patience in adversity, he says, “The Lord has taken away.” Though he says that the Lord had done this, yet he does not blame God for the evil or say that God had done wrong: he says, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” To blame God for evil that he had brought about through secondary agents would have been to sin. Job does not do this, Scripture never does this, and neither should we.             Elsewhere in the Old Testament we read that the Lord “put a lying spirit in the mouth” of Ahab’s prophets (1 Kings 22:23) and sent the wicked Assyrians as “the rod of my anger” to punish Israel (Isa. 10:5). . . .             In many of the passages mentioned above, God brings evil and destruction on people in judgment upon their sins: They have been disobedient or have strayed into idolatry, and then the Lord uses evil human beings or demonic forces or “natural” disasters to bring judgment on them. . . . Therefore, when God brings evil on human beings, whether to discipline his children, or to lead unbelievers to repentance, or to bring a judgment of condemnation and destruction upon hardened sinners, none of us can charge God with doing wrong. Ultimately all will work in God’s good purposes to bring glory to him and good to his people. Yet we must realize that in punishing evil in those who are not redeemed (such as Pharaoh, the Canaanites, and the Babylonians), God is also glorified through the demonstration of his justice, holiness, and power (see Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:14–24).”

Question #39:  Summarize your understanding of Grudem’s teaching in three or four sentences.

 

Question #40:  Did Grudem’s teaching generate any questions in your mind?  If so, record them here:

 

 

 

Distinctions in God’s Will – Is everything God’s will?

Armed with this understanding of God’s control over and use of evil, we will now turn to the second question:
Is everything that happens God’s will ?   As we have seen, God’s will must be seen as the final authority behind and ultimate reason for everything that happens. God’s providential permitting or preventing determines whatsoever comes to pass (Isaiah 14:24).  Does this mean, however, that everything that happens is God’s will?  Answering this question requires us to distinguish between God’s
sovereign will and His
moral will .�
Scripture clearly reveals that God often permits His moral requirements to be violated by the free choices of men and women.  This reveals that God’s
sovereign will clearly includes certain violations of His moral will.  God’s
moral will is discerned by simply reading His
precepts and
commands regarding human conduct. God’s
sovereign will is discerned only when the
secret counsel of God is
revealed as events actually happen. Whatever comes to pass is what He has sovereignly planned and
decreed from all eternity.  Thus, we answer questions like, “Is it God’s will for me to do this or that,” by simply looking to God’s revelation of His moral will in Scripture.  But as events actually occur, we come to know God’s sovereign will, i.e., what He has ordained and then approved, permitted or prevented.  When discussing these matters, therefore, we must clearly distinguish between Two Wills of God.  The following Table will help us do that.

Question #41:  In your own words, distinguish between God’s sovereign will and His moral will.

 

Question #42:  How would you explain the difference between God’s sovereign will and His moral will to a young child?

 

Examples of the two wills of God are clearly seen in Scripture and in the world around us.  When we see evil take place, we know that, although it is a violation of His moral will (His revealed will, commanded will, or will of precept), God permitted rather than prevented it by His sovereign will (His will of decree or secret will) which He determined from all Eternity.

Consider the following: Joseph and his brothers:

Genesis 50:20:  And as for you, you meant evil against me, but
God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

The murder of Jesus:

Acts 2:23: this Man, delivered up
by the predetermined plan and foreknow-ledge of God , you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Genocide in War 9/11/2001:  The Attack on the Twin Tower

How can we explain such things in the light of God’s absolute sovereignty?  Jonathan Edwards well states what is taught in Scripture:  “God decreed from all eternity all the evil that He ever does permit, because God’s permitting is God’s forbearing to act or to prevent.”

Simply stated, God permits the existence of evil in His world, which He hates, to accomplish higher purposes in His world which he loves. Question #43:  Formulate a short response to someone who asks you, “How can a good God allow all this evil to exist in our world?” (This response should briefly answer the question from a biblical perspective while serving as a foundation for further discussion.)

Government: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he . . .  (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes.” Grudem further defines this third aspect of God’s Providence by saying, “God has a purpose in all that he does in the world and he providentially governs or directs all things in order that they accomplish his purposes.”

The
Scripture plainly declares that everything happens ultimately under the sovereign authority of God as He directs them so that in the end His purposes are fulfilled.

Psalm 103:19:  The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And
His sovereignty rules over all .

Paul affirms that God works “all things after the counsel of His will” and to His “ends.”

Ephesians 1:11-12:  11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to
His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12to the end
that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Romans 8:28:  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 11:36:  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

The Scripture plainly declares this same truth in the Old Testament.

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14:  13Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?  14In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other So that man may not discover anything that will be after him.

Daniel 4:34-35:  34But at the end of that period I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:  For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.  35And 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 earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, “What hast Thou done?”

Psalms 135:5-6:  5For I know that
the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.  6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

The Scripture plainly declares that everything in the universe, seen and unseen, is under the sovereign authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son.

1 Corinthians 15:27: For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

Ephesians 1:19b-22:  19bThese are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.  22And
He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.

Philippians 2:9-11:  9Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Question #44: Based on your reading of the above Scriptures, describe in your own words the effectiveness of God’s providential governing of His creation.

 

 

Question #45:  Based on your reading of the above Scriptures, how do you think God’s government of His creation relates to human governments?

 

(If necessary, see also Proverbs 21:2 and Romans 13:1-7.)

 

Summary We have seen that the Bible clearly teaches that: 1) God providentially implements His sovereign rule over all of creation; and 2) He is directing nature and history to fulfill His own purposes.  His Providence displays His sovereign authority in clear and unmistakable ways.  Dear reader, hear now the word of the Lord!

Deuteronomy 4:39:  Know therefore today, and take it to your heart,
that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other .

As we struggle in our human frailty to understand the profound truth of God’s providence Wayne Grudem helpfully reminds us to bow in humility before its great mystery:  “What if we cannot understand this doctrine fully? – Every believer who meditates on God’s providence will sooner or later come to a point where he or she will have to say, ‘I cannot understand this doctrine fully.’ In some ways that must be said about every doctrine, since our understanding is finite, and God is infinite . . . . But particularly is this so with the doctrine of providence: we should believe it because Scripture teaches it even when we do not understand fully how it fits in with other teachings of Scripture.”

Question #46:  Are you willing to bow in humility before the great mystery of God’s providence and believe it while frankly admitting that you cannot understand it fully?

 

 

 

Application

Applying this doctrine in our lives so that it impacts our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions requires us to:

• Believe God is providential
• Appreciate God’s wise providential purposes and rule
• Humbly submit to God’s will
• Never complain against God’s providence
• Be thankful for God’s providence
• Trust in God’s good promises to His people

Believe God is providential

Chances are good you believe in God’s providence, whether you realize it or not.  Is this not your assumption each time you pray for God’s intervention in your life?  Indeed it is!  When you bow your knee, head, or heart to Almighty God, you acknowledge His sovereign authority (His right and power) to change things even as you humbly request that He do so.  Your prayer reflects your belief that God is almighty and in control of all things as you rest in trusting God.

Isaiah 26:3-4:  3The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee.  4Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

Proverbs 3:5-6: 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Question #47:  Consider you typical prayers.  Do they reflect a belief in God’s providence?  Explain by giving examples.

 

Appreciate His wise providential purposes and rule How wonderful it is to consider that our highly exalted God has created us for the purpose of worshipping Him and enjoying Him forever!  As the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  This statement clearly reflects the great and foremost commandment given to us by Jesus.

Matthew 22:37-38:  37
And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.‘   38This is the great and foremost commandment.”

How can we love God and not love His almighty rule over the world?   How can we adore Him with everything that is within us and not worship and magnify the astounding wisdom displayed in His providencial control over the world?  We can only rejoice and give thanks for the great benefits we have in God’s providence!  Thomas Watson expressed it well: “Without this wise providence of God there would be anxiety and confusion in the whole world, just like an army when it is routed and scattered. The providence of God infuses comfort and virtue into everything we enjoy. Our clothes would not warm us, our food would not nourish us, without the special providence of God.  And does not all this deserve your admiration of providence?” Rightly understanding God’s providence drives us to exalt the honor of His name as we worship Him with holy fear and rejoicing!

Psalm 96:9-13: 9Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.  10Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”  11
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains;  12Let the field exult, and all that is in it.  Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy   13Before the Lord, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness.

God rebukes those who do not adore His mighty providence.

Jeremiah 5:22-23: 22“Do you not fear Me?” declares the Lord. “Do you not tremble in My presence?  For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.  Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.  23’But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed.”
And He commands us to tremble and praise Him because He is highly exalted.

Psalm 99:1-3:  1The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! 2The Lord is great in Zion, And
He is exalted above all the peoples.  3Let them praise Thy great and awesome name; Holy is He .

God’s providence is worthy of our admiration and praise.  Rightly understanding it benefits us while intensifying our worship of God in many ways, including the following.

• Increases our gratitude to God

Psalm 75:1: 
We give thanks to Thee, O God , we give thanks, For Thy name is near;
Men declare Thy wondrous works .

• Increases our trust in God.

Psalm 65:5:  By awesome deeds Thou dost answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, T
hou art the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea.

• Changes the way we view our world

Psalm 102:25-27: 
25Of old Thou didst found the earth; And the heavens are the work of Thy hands.  26Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure ; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed.  27
But Thou are the same, And Thy years will not come to an end . 

• Helps us understand that evil is not outside of the control of God but that He is using it for the ultimate end of all of His good purposes.

Proverbs 16:4:  The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

• Causes us to rest in God’s promises as we consider future events, knowing that even if we face dreadful suffering, God will work it for our good.

Romans 8:28,31:  28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. . . . 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Psalm 23:3-4: 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.  4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

• Encourages us to anticipate the accomplishment of God’s ultimate end in everything: He will destroy evil forever, and we will lie down in peace.

Isaiah 14:24, 27:  24The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will be. . . . 27For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?  And as for His outstretched hand, who can turn it back?”

Isaiah 11:6-9:  6And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them.  7Also the cow and bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox.  8And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.  9They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.

• Affirms that God’s providence is the foundation of our hope for a future day of glorious rest and eternal happiness.

Revelation 21:3-4:  3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, 4and
He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Oh Christian, consider how His eye is on the sparrow and He watches over you!  Yours is a special providence, being in the company of God’s dearly beloved and chosen people.

Romans 8:28: And we know
that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose .

Thomas Watson further teaches us:  “God’s providence reaches to all persons, especially the persons of the godly, who in a special manner are taken notice of. God takes care of every saint in particular, as if he had none else to care for. ‘He careth for you,’ 1 Peter 5:7. i.e., the elect in a special manner. ‘The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him; to preserve them from death, and to keep them alive in famine.’ Ps 33:18,19. God by his providential care shields off dangers from his people, and sets a life-guard of angels about them. Ps 34:7. God’s providence keeps the very bones of the saints. Ps 34:20.  It bottles their tears. Ps 56:8.  It strengthens the saints in their weakness.  Heb 11:34.  It supplies all their wants out of its alms basket. Ps 23:5. Thus Providence wonderfully supplies the wants of the elect.”   Let us therefore appreciate God’s providence enough to worship and magnify God’s great name because of it.  Let us do this while always seeking to acknowledge His invisible hand of guidance and care.

Question #48:  At this particular time in your life, what do you most appreciate about God’s providential purposes and rule?

 

Question #49:  In what specific ways should you demonstrate (in your thoughts, actions, attitudes, and speech) your appreciation of God’s providential purposes and rule?

 

 

Humbly submit to His will

We rightly acknowledge God’s good providence by humbly submitting to it.  Are we happy that God is in control?  Then let us also be happy with what He gives and also with what He takes away.  Remember God’s good promise to never give us more than we can bear and to bring us safely to His heaven.

1 Corinthians 10:13:  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

2 Timothy 4:18:  The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 1:3-5:  3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 10:27-29:  27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Consider the example of the saints who have gone before us.  Even though they faced great trials and the hand of God seemed against them at times, yet they trusted Him and humbly submitted to His will.  Watson elaborates, “God is to be trusted
when his providences seem to run contrary to his promises.   God promised to give David the crown, to make him king; but providence ran contrary to his promise.  David was pursued by Saul, and was in danger of his life, but all this while it was David’s duty to trust God.  Pray observe, that the Lord by cross providences often brings to pass his promise.  God promised Paul the lives of all that were with him in the ship; but the providence of God seemed to run quite contrary to his promise, for the winds blew, the ship split and broke in pieces.  Thus God fulfilled his promise; upon the broken pieces of the ship they all came safe to shore.  Trust God when providences seem to run quite contrary to promises.”

Abraham:  Faithful to God in severe trial while trusting in God’s promise to bless.

Hebrews 11:17-19:  17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”  19He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead; from which he also received him back as a type.

Job:  Worshipped God in the midst of terrible suffering and pain.

Job 1:20-21:  20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.  21And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord. ”

Job 13:15a:  Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.

Joseph:  Faithful to God in the midst of terrible hardships and suffering.

Genesis 50:19-21:  19
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.  21So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.”   So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Daniel:  Faithful to God in the midst of great suffering and severe temptation in a pagan culture.

Daniel 1:1-9:  1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah in to his hand , along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels in the treasury of his god.  3
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, . . . . 6Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. . . . 8
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the kind’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.  9Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials .

Paul:  Persevered to the end despite tremendous suffering and persecution.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28:  23Are they servants of Christ?  (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.  24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  28
Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.

Question #50:  Which of the above examples are most helpful in encouraging you to submit to God’s will?  Explain how they are encouraging to you.

 

Question #51:  Describe one or more specific situations in which you need to submit to God’s will.  Then list specific actions you must take in order to submit to God’s will in this (these) situations.

 

Question #52:  Make a specific step-by-step plan that you will follow to take the actions listed in Q. #51.

 

 

Never Complain against God’s Providence

Would you like to rule the world?  Do you have a wiser plan than God’s?  Would God and His world be better off if you were at the helm?  Such thinking is utter folly, and we all know it.  Why then do we complain disrespectfully against God’s wise providence?  Shall the clay say to the potter, why did you make me like this?  (Romans 9:20-21)  Shall the dog bite the hand that feeds it?  Complaining to God about the circumstances of our lives is sheer folly, but seeking consolation and comfort in His sovereign power, wisdom, and care is wise. Consider the words of Thomas Watson: “Let us be content that God should rule the world; learn to acquiesce in his will, and submit to his providence. Does any affliction befall you?  Remember God sees it is that which is fit for you, or it would not come.”

Philippians 2:12-16: 12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  14Do all things without grumbling or disputing ; 15that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

May we always seek humble submission to God, realizing He knows what we need far better than we do ourselves. The circumstances God has ordered for our lives are those which produce our highest good and God’s greatest glory!

Matthew 6:31-34: 31Do not be anxious then, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?”  32For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek;
for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.    34Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Question #53:  How do Philippians 2:12-16 and Matthew 6:31-34 specifically affirm the great wisdom of submitting to God’s providence without complaint?

 

Question #54:  What particular aspects of your life right now are you most tempted to complain about?

 

Question #55:  How will you apply Philippians 2:12-16 and Matthew 6:31-34 to these particular aspects of your life?

 

 

Be Thankful for God’s Providence

Dear friends, when we consider God’s goodness to us, we must respond with thankfulness! God has promised that every single thing in our lives will ultimately work for our good.  Since He has met our greatest need by not sparing His own Son, He will also give us everything else that we need.

Romans 8:31-32:  31What then shall we say to these things? 
If God is for us, who is against us?   32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

If God will give us a Kingdom when we die, will He not also give us daily bread while we live? If Jesus suffered and died to bring us to Himself, will He not also hear our prayer when we cry to Him for help?  Indeed He will!  And He won’t stop there.  He will also crown us with eternal life and allow us to see His glory forever in Heaven.  What more could we want from the good hand of Providence?  Learn then, that it is fitting for the upright to praise God.  Thanksgiving to God is pure praise! It honors the God who gives us life and breath.

Psalm 50:23:�
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me ; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.

Those who know the goodness of God will respond with the highest praises of our King! Thanksgiving runs through the veins of every God-focused saint.  Praise is the garment that fits handsomely on our backs.

Psalm 145:9-10:  9The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.  10
All Thy works shall give thanks to Thee, O Lord, And Thy godly ones shall bless Thee .

The mouths of the wicked are filled with grumbling, murmuring, and complaining. The wicked cannot praise God; neither are they thankful. The poison of asps is on their lips, and with the tongue they profane the name of God.  But such wicked speech does not befit a saint!

2 Timothy 3:2-4:  2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable,
malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Psalm 33:1-5:  1
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.  2Give thanks to the Lord
with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.  4For the word of the Lord is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness.  5He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Let us therefore give God the thanksgiving and praise which is due Him!  No matter what cup we are called to drink, no matter what bitterness of soul should afflict us, no matter what great trial may befall us—may we stand in the company of God-honoring saints, with the glorious praise of God in our mouth, secure in the knowledge that He gives only what works for our good.  May we do His good will by giving thanks in all circumstances!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:18-20:And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissapation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Question #56:  According to Romans 8:31-32, Psalm 50:23, and Psalm 1456:9-10 33:1-5, on what basis should Christians be characterized by thankful spirits?

 

Question #57:  According to Romans 3:13-14, 2 Timothy 3:2-4, Psalm 33:1-5 how should the speech of believers in Christ differ from the speech of unbelievers?

 

Question #58:  Read and meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Ephesians 5:18-20 .  Then write a hymn or a prayer of thanksgiving to God focusing specifically on your delight in and appreciation of His providence.

 

 

Trust in God’s Good Providence to His People

When we consider the promises which God has made, we should be encouraged to rest in His providence.  Because God is in control, we can rest knowing that He will bring about our good and His glory!  Thomas Watson gives us this challenge:  “Therefore, Christians, believe that God loves you, and that he will make the most cross providences to promote his glory and your good.”   Scripture affirms that God will care for us and meet our needs.

Psalm 37:3-7:  3
Trust in the Lord, and do good ; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  4Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  5
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him , and He will do it.  6And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday.  7
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him ; Do not fret because of him who propsers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Jesus often confronting our fears with, “Do not be afraid,” followed by assurances of His presence with us.  Indeed we have nothing to fear if we love God, everything will work for our ultimate good.

Luke 12:32:�
Do not be afraid , little flock,
for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom .

Question #59: List the commands in Psalm 37:3-7 and Luke 12:32.

 

Question #60:  Now list the promises and affirmations of truth in these passages.

 

Question #61:  How do the promises and affirmations of truth in these passages encourage you to so trust in God’s providence that you delight and rejoice in obeying His commands?

 

The Sovereignty of God

Part 3: God’s Purposes
Divine Sovereignty and Prayer

Many object to the idea of foreordination, arguing that if all things are decreed or ordained from the beginning there is no reason to pray, since God’s decree cannot be changed.  This objection cannot stand, however, because it misunderstands the fundamental purpose of prayer.  When God commands us to pray, He is not giving us veto power over His decree.  Rather, prayer is a divinely-ordained means of communicating with Him and bringing His sovereign will to pass. In this section, we will study God’s purpose for prayer as it relates to His sovereignty by considering the following points:

• Prayer is fundamentally an acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty.
• Prayer is a humble expression of our dependence.
• Prayer changes the way we see things in time and space.

Prayer is fundamentally an acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty:  Prayer’s primary purpose is to honor and glorify God.  Prayer fundamentally recognizes God’s sovereignty, acknowledges His power, and submits to His will.  Prayer, as it is defined and illustrated in the Bible: (1) seeks to align human thought and will to God’s divine purposes; and (2) appeals to His power and ability to meet legitimate needs and desires.  Consider, for example, the pattern of prayer given by Jesus to His disciples:

Matthew 6:8-13:  8Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.  9Pray, then, in this way:�
(1) “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name . 10Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done , On earth as it is in heaven. (2) 11
Give us this day our daily bread.  12And forgive us our debts , as we also have forgiven our debtors.  13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever . Amen.”

Question #95: List words and phrases in Jesus’ pattern of prayer that reflect desire to align human thought and will to God’s divine purposes:

 

Question #96:  List words and phrases in Jesus’ pattern of prayer that reflect appeals to God’s power and ability to meet legitimate needs and desires:

 

When we pray according to Jesus’ instructions, we do not tell God how to run His world.  Rather, we humbly acknowledge His Sovereignty, and appeal to His Fatherly willingness to care for us.  When we pray for our needs to be met, it is not for the purpose of informing God of our needs, because Scripture says He already knows them (Matthew 6:8).  All we need to do is acknowledge God’s ability to meet those needs.  God does instruct us to bring our needs and requests to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6) for our benefit.  When we identify our needs and seek His specific provision for them, we entrust ourselves to His perfect care and are blessed with peace beyond all comprehension (v. 7) Furthermore, when we pray for someone to be saved, we acknowledge God’s sovereign authority to save by granting repentance and regeneration (spiritual life) to a sinner who is dead in transgressions and sins.  If we do not believe this but rather believe that God has already done everything needed for people to be saved and is simply waiting for them to respond, praying for God to save people is pointless.

Question #97:  How does praying for God to meet our needs affirm His sovereignty?

 

Prayer is a humble expression of our dependence on God:  In prayer we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our complete dependence upon Him.  We do not dictate to God what His Divine will ought to be.  Rather, we seek to align our thinking with His all-wise and powerful, loving and good will.  Shall we instruct God about what is lacking in His wise plan? Shall a worm crawling through the earth tell the Almighty God how to govern His world? Silliness!

Romans 11:34-36:  34For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor?  35Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again?   36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever.  Amen

Prayer is rather a confession of our weakness, even our inability to help ourselves.  In prayer we appeal to the Almighty for His gracious enablement.  We acknowledge that there is nothing in us to merit God’s favor, but only sin and rebellion that offends His holiness and merits our utter destruction.  Humble prayer expresses submission to His Holy will and utter dependence on His gracious provision of our needs.

The Scripture plainly declares that He supplies our need.

Acts 17:24-25:  24The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things;

Philippians 4:19:�
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus

Consider the prayers of tax gatherer and the Pharisee in Luke 18.  Which was heard?

Luke 18:9-14:  9And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:  10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. 11The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. 12I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13
But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”

James 4:10:  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Scripture plainly declares that God hears and answers the prayers of those who bow before the sovereign authority of God seeking His loving and gracious provision.

Question #98:  In your own words, explain how each of the following passages present prayer as a humble expression of our dependence upon God.

Romans 11:34-36:

 

Acts 17:24-25:

 

Philippians 4:19:

 

Luke 8:9-14:

 

James 4:10:

 

Prayer changes the way we see things in time and space:  The
Scripture plainly declares that God responds to prayer and acts either to grant or deny our requests.

James 4:2b: You do not have because you do not ask.

John 14:13-14:  13And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14
If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it .

Psalm 91:15:  He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.

Jeremiah 29:12:  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Jeremiah 33:3:  Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

2 Corinthians 12:8-9:  8Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  9
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ my dwell in me.

1 John 5:14-15:  14And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  15And
if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Question #99:  According to the above Scripture passages, in what ways does God respond to our prayers?

 

Scripture also reveals that God makes conditional promises based on the prayerful obedience of His people to His commands and or warnings.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14:  13If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or
if I command the locust to devour the land, or
if I send pestilence among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,then
I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This kind of interaction between God and mankind occurs often in Scripture and has generated many questions about how all things can be foreordained. Since both are expressly taught in Scripture, there must be a way to reconcile them.  The best solution is to understand that prayer and free moral choices are a means by which God brings to pass His sovereign will.  God has ordained that our prayers and choices in time and space actually bring to pass elements of His plan for the ages.  Divine sovereignty and free moral agency work harmoniously on the pages of Scripture.  One clear example is the story of Jonah.  Consider how God providentially directed the sea and the weather in the context of Jonah’s disobedience.  The other men in the ship realized this, prayed to God for deliverance, and are saved by throwing Jonah into the sea.  Jonah was, by God’s design, swallowed by a fish and prayed to God for deliverance.  God responded to Jonah’s prayer by causing the fish to spit him up onto dry land.

Jonah 1:4, 14-2:1, 10:  4And
the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. . . . 14Then they called on the LORD and said, “
We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us;
for Thou, O Lord, hast done as Thou hast pleased.”  15So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.  16Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.  17And
the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah , and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.  2:1Then
Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, . . . 10Then
the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

Scripture reveals to us what Jonah himself knew – that God was accomplishing His eternal plan through the willing choices of people who were morally accountable for their actions. In ways unexplained to us, most likely because they are incomprehensible to us, God caused them to make willing choices that accomplished God’s purposes.  The following passages also illustrate this truth.

Genesis 25:21-34: 21And Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.  22But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?”  So she went to inquire of the Lord.  23And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples shall be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.”  24When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  25Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 
26And afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel , so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.  27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.  28Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game; but Rebecca loved Jacob.  29And when Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.”  Therefore his name was called Edom.  31
But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”  33And Jacob said, “First swear to me”;
so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.   34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way.  Thus Esau despised his birthright.

2 Chronicles 33:10-13: The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.  Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.  When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 
When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

Acts 2:22-23:  22Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—23this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Acts 4:27-28:  27For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28
to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.

Question #100:  How do these examples from Jonah, Genesis, and Acts help you understand how God can make conditional promises even though He has foreordained everything that comes to pass?

 

Scripture plainly declares that God’s sovereign purposes are accomplished as He interacts with the prayers and legitimate choices of moral agents.  Divine sovereignty and human moral agency  exist side by side on the pages of Scripture. Oh the wonderful mystery of God’s providential outworking of His eternal purposes through the choices of millions of people everyday!  How evident it is that we should live our lives in humble acknowledgement of God’s sovereign lordship by continually seeking understanding of His will as we lay our requests before Him.  How our prayers should reflect our humble dependence on His gracious love and our deep gratitude for His desire to be our God and meet our needs.  May our whole lives glorify Him in thankfulness for His goodness and mercy!

Deuteronomy 4:39:  Know therefore today, and take it to your heart,
that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other .

Question #101:  Write a prayer thanking our sovereign God for the great privilege of prayer.

 

 

The Sovereignty of God

Part 4: In Salvation

God’s Sovereignty In Salvation

As we consider God’s sovereignty in regard to salvation, we will discuss both the nature of God and the nature of man.  Mankind has fallen into sin and stands in need of salvation.  God’s eternal purpose in Christ is to redeem His people from their sins.  In this section, we will study what the Bible says about the various issues involved in the accomplishment of human redemption.  First and foremost, we will see that God is not only sovereign in creation and in providence, but also in the application of redemption.

Matthew 1:21:  And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.

2 Timothy 1:8-11:  8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the Gospel according to the power of God  9who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

To help us understand what the Bible has to say about the doctrine of salvation, we will look first  at some of the controversy and false teaching surrounding it in church history.

The Doctrine of Salvation in Church History

The many and varied doctrinal controversies throughout the history of the Christian church reflect the blatant war against God’s truth being waged by the great enemy of the church, Satan himself.   Great battles are fought when false teachers, knowingly or ignorantly, distort and pervert scriptural truth.

2 Peter 2:1-3:  1But false prophets also arose among the people, just
as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies , even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

False teachers take advantage of immature Christians who have little knowledge of the Bible.  The Bible describes those who are led astray by false teachers as “children” who “barely escape from the ones who live in error.”  Thus, Scripture clearly instructs that Christians must take responsibility for not being led astray from the truth by false teachers and false doctrines.  We do this by working hard at discerning scriptural truth, so as to grow up in our salvation and in the knowledge of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:18-19: 18For speaking out arrogant words of vanity
they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19promising them freedom
while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

Ephesians 4:11-16:  11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and
some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until we all attain to the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.  14As a result,
we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16from whom the whole botdy, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

We dare not simply ignore the controversies stirred up by false teachers as we study Scripture. As we examine the biblical teaching regarding salvation, we must identify the major issues involved and raised in false teachings and clearly understand and refute them with biblical truth.

Question #102:  According to 2 Peter 2:1-3, 18-19, what tactics do false teachers typically use to lead professing Christians astray?

 

Question #103:  Knowing how false teachers operate and taking to heart the admonition in Ephesians 4:14-16, what steps must we take to defend ourselves against the wiles of false teachers?

 

Pelagius and Augustine

One of the first major controversies regarding the doctrine of salvation was introduced by a man named Pelagius.  Pelagius was an ascetic monk born in England in 354 A.D.  He later became a popular teacher in the church at Rome.  Pelagius was the author of the following false teachings concerning the doctrine of salvation:

• Mankind is not hampered by original sin, i.e., human minds, wills, and emotions were not corrupted by the Fall.
• Mankind has natural ability to obey God’s commands, i.e.:
  • • humanity is not in bondage to sin;
    • we can attain Heaven by good works (salvation was by Law or Gospel)
• Divine grace is not necessary for salvation.
• Sinless perfection can be attained.
• God’s choice of which sinners would be saved was based on His foreknowledge of their response to the Gospel  (the prescient view of predestination).
• Christians can lose their salvation.

The chief antagonist of these Pelagian doctrines was Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo.  Augustine taught that Adam’s fall into sin corrupted the nature of all his progeny.  Thus, all people are born sinners and continue to live in bondage to sin (being dead in transgressions and sin), unless and until they are regenerated by God’s divine grace, which is necessary for salvation.  Augustine taught that salvation was totally God’s work and that He was thus due the glory for it.  The chart below pictures the contrast between the two teachings.

Many in the early church held to the doctrinal system of Pelagianism.  But close scrutiny by many official church councils led to its official condemnation by the Councils of Carthage in 416 and 418.  These Councils were assembled to assess the validity of the teachings of Caelestius, a disciple of Pelagius.  After due deliberation, they denounced the Pelagian doctrines of human nature, original sin, grace, and perfectibility; and fully approved the contrary views of Augustine.  Likewise, the second Council of Orange (529 A.D.), in upholding Augustine’s view of the inability of the natural will, repudiated the semi-Pelagian doctrine that the human race, though fallen and possessed of a sinful nature, is still “good enough” to lay hold of the grace of God through an act of unredeemed human will.  Pelagianism, as a structured heretical movement, ceased to exist after the 6th century.  Unfortunately, its essential ideas have generated disputes and controversies throughout the history of the Church and even today.

Question #104:  In your own words, briefly describe the basic distinction between the teaching of Pelagius and the teaching of Augustine.

 

 

Luther and Erasmus

The German Reformer Martin Luther had a profound affect on the Church.  His efforts, along with those of Calvin, Zwingli, and others, spawned the Protestant Reformation. The main issue at stake in Luther’s mind was salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  However, he dealt with many other doctrinal issues during his ministry, bringing much needed reform to almost every area of theology.  Luther disagreed sharply with a Roman Catholic teacher by the name of Erasmus about the doctrines of human nature and freewill.  On September 1, 1524, Erasmus published his treatise On the Freedom of the Will.  Luther responded in December of 1525, with The Bondage of the Will.  Luther defended the position defined by Augustiniantheology which had been the official position of the church for some 1000 years.  This position had been recognized and affirmed at the second Council of Orange  (A.D. 529)  as the clear teaching of the Bible.  Erasmus took a semi-Pelagian position, maintaining that man is morally able to respond to the gospel without the necessity of divine grace.

Discussions of  human freewill focus on the basic issue of man’s nature and the nature of saving grace.  Scripture clearly teaches that in our fallen state we desire autonomy, i.e., to be subject or accountable to no one but ourselves.  Scripture also clearly teaches that God is the supreme authority to whom we are subject and accountable.  Therefore, the following questions typically arise:

• Is man’s will totally free, or is it somehow limited in his ability to make free choices?
• Was man created morally able to do good and evil, and how was this affected by the Fall?
• Can man respond to the Gospel on his own without the need for divine grace or enablement?
• What role does freewill play in predestination?
• Once people are saved or regenerated, are they able to do good and evil?

 

The chart below shows various aspects of this discussion about man’s nature and its freedom in different states.

The controversy over this doctrine still rages on in the Church.  Since the issues involved are inherent in the arguments between Calvinism and Arminianism, we will deal with them in the biblical analysis which follows.

Question #105:  In your own words, distinguish between Semi-Pelagianism and Augustinian-ism.

 

Question #106:  What significant questions are addressed by these two schools of thought?

 

Question #107:  Why, in your judgment, are these questions important?

 

Calvin and Arminius:

As did Luther, the French Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) had a massive impact on the Church.  His ministry was based in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 16th century.  His Institutes of the Christian Religion remains one of the foremost theological works in church history.  In 1559 he founded the Geneva Academy, a Bible school which emphasized the principle of sola scriptura (sole reliance on the authority of Scripture.)  Calvin focused on God as the center of all reality and centered all teaching in the nature of God.  He is recognized as the father of the Reformed Faith and has had a major influence in the development of Protestant Christianity.

The founder of the theological system known as Arminianism was Jacob Arminius (1560-1609). He studied under the strict Calvinist theologian, Theodore Beza, at Geneva and became a professor of theology at the University of Leyden in the Netherlands in 1603.  Arminius gradually came to reject certain Calvinist teachings and attracted some followers.  Controversy resulted and spread throughout Holland, where Calvinists in the Reformed Church held the overwhelming majority.  Forty-six Arminian ministers signed a dissenting creed, formulated in Five Articles labeled “Remonstrance,” and laid them before the state authorities of Holland in 1610.  The Calvinists responded with a Counter-Remonstrance; however, the official Calvinistic response came from the Synod of Dort after considering the Five Articles from November 13, 1618 to May 9, 1619.  The eighty-four members and eighteen secular commissioners released their decision in what has come to be known as The Canons of Dort.  This document is still part of the official confession of the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church.  The Canons of Dort affirm the Five Points of Calvinism in response to the Five Articles of the Arminian Remonstrants.  Thus, the so-called Five Points were not independenly formulated by Calvinists as a summary of Calvinism.  Rather, they emerged in response to the Five Articles presented by the Arminians in opposition to the teaching of Calvin.  The chart below shows the Five Points displayed in the helpful acronym TULIP, which identifies the main doctrines of salvation that relate to God’s sovereign grace

Question #108:  What started the controversy between the Arminians and the Calvinists?

 

Question #109:  What happened at the Synod of Dort and what was the resulting creed that was published?

 

Calvin, Arminius, or the Bible?

Who was Calvin? Who was Arminius? They were simply fallible men who served the church as teachers.  God has blessed the church with faithful teachers who help us clarify and understand doctrinal issues, but no teacher’s word alone can be trusted as the final authority.  It is vitally important that we uphold God’s self-revelation in the Bible as our sole final authority in understanding scriptural truth.  We must also affirm our reliance upon the Holy Spirit for true spiritual discernment.  God’s Word is truth and His Spirit illuminates our minds and hearts to know it rightly.

1 Corinthians 1:12-13:  12Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”  13Has Christ been divided?  Paul was not crucified for you, was he?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 2:10-13:  10For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.  11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him?�
Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.  12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God,
13which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

Confusion often arises when people use the terms “Calvinist” and “Arminian” as labels without clear understanding of the terms and the doctrinal issues at stake.  Such confusion hinders fruitful discussion of biblical doctrine and does not foster understanding of God’s Holy Word.  The issues being discussed when these terms are used tend to be controversial and emotionally charged.  As students of Scripture, we need to resist our natural inclination to get defensive and argumentative while helping one another grow in grace and knowledge of God’s truth.  Much of the animosity in discussions like these springs from simple ignorance of Holy Scripture.  We enter into heated debates armed with our own opinions and prejudices but without having looked closely at all of the relevant Bible references, in their context, to gain a clear understanding of the issues at hand.  When this happens, we are foolishly attempting to grasp supernatural realities with natural faculties.  The resulting discussion (or heated argument!) becomes nothing more than a human appraisal of wisdom and truth, which is a far cry from divine revelation of heavenly light.  The Scripture plainly declares that such matters can only be grasped only by spiritual discernment, not by mere human powers of reason and logic.

1 Corinthians 2:11-14:  11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so
the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.   12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God,
that we might know the things freely given to us by God , 13which things we also speak, not in words
taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words .  14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and
he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised .

Let us, therefore, rely wholly on God’s Word and His Spirit for insight into these high and holy things.  Anyone who has looked deeply into the doctrine of salvation knows the humbling difficulty of working to grasp what Scripture teaches about the deep mysteries of God’s sovereign grace.

Question #110: Describe the way God has blessed the church with faithful teachers.

 

Question #111:  According to the passages quoted above from 1 Corinthians, upon whom must we ultimately rely for accurate understanding of God’s Word?

 

Question #112:  Read Acts 17:11.  How does this verse help you balance appreciation of  faithful teachers with not relying on them too much?

 

Question #113:  How can we best avoid unhelpful heated debates about difficult biblical issues and instead work together to better understand and apply God’s truth?

 

The importance of the issue: What is at stake?

The Calvinist/Arminian controversy has arisen several times over the course of church history. Each time intense debate has increasingly clarified the relevant issues in the light of Holy Scripture.  Church counsels of Bible scholars have been convened for the purpose of affirming confessions of orthodoxy and pronouncing judgments against heretics.  These issues are serious because the truth of Scripture is at stake.  We must guard God’s revelation in His  Word against the schemes of Satan and the false teachers who, knowingly or unknowingly, pervert the teaching of Scripture with destructive heresies (Genesis 3:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1).  Scripture exhorts us to “contend earnestly for the faith” against those who seek to distort the truth.

Jude 3-4:  3Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.  4For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:13-14:  13Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  14
Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to us.

Preserving right understanding of the doctrines of salvation is of grave importance.  The heresies that continue to plague the Church target the very heart of the Gospel itself.  They are not theological or Christological (about God or Christ’s nature) errors, but soteriological (about salvation) distortions.  As such, they misrepresent the work of Christ and how it impacts humanity.  Tragically, a large segment of the modern Church responds with indifference to those who urge clarification and preservation of biblical truth regarding salvation.  Many Christians simply shrug off the need to discuss the doctrines of grace with reasons like these:

• Too controversial:  It is not worth arguing about; better to keep the peace.
• Requires too much study:  It takes too much time and hard thinking to understand.
• Beyond our grasp:  This is one of God’s deep mysteries that we cannot  understand.
• Offensiveness of sovereign prerogative:  Affirming God’s sovereign rights over His created beings threatens human autonomy.

Question #114:  In the light of Jude 3-4 and 2 Timothy 1:13-14, respond to the reasons given above that shrug off the need to discuss the doctrines of grace.

 

Such indifference reflects a severe lack of honor and respect toward God and His Holy Word.  Consider, if God deems these matters of such importance that He speaks volumes about them in Holy Writ, surely it is incumbent upon us to hear, understand, and heed them.  Failure to do so reflects a lack of love for the Word of God, which is God’s revelation of Himself to us.  Dear reader, what has plagued our hearts so severely that we do not earnestly desire to lay hold of God’s awesome and wonderful Word which He has so freely given us?  Should His truth not be the great delight of our hearts? Consider the words of the Psalmist as he describes his relationship to God through Scripture.

Psalm 119:97-104:  97
O how I love Thy law!  It is my meditation all the day . 98Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. 99I have more insight than all my teachers, For Thy testimonies are my meditation. 100
I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts .  101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Thy word.  102I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances,
For Thou Thyself hast taught me .  103
How sweet are Thy words to my taste!  Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth !  104
From Thy precepts I get understanding ; Therefore I hate every false way.

If God’s Holy Word is not worth contending for, then what is?  If we must diligently study and examine the Word to grasp some of its truths, surely that is nothing less than a divine privilege! Let us therefore give ourselves wholly to the task, as studying the Bible can be hard work.  Shouldn’t we expect God’s Word to challenge us as we study it?  Is Scripture not divine revelation requiring the Spirit’s illumination to grasp?  Have we forgotten that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours and that human powers of reason and logic alone cannot comprehend them? When we examine Holy Scripture and there encounter a sovereign God who has made everything (including ourselves) for His own purpose and likens us to clay in the hands of a potter, should we not willingly surrender to His shaping of us into vessels suited to His purpose?  Or shall we protest against the King of Heaven that He has no right over us because we want to be free to do our own will?  Shall the clay argue with the potter about its purpose for existing?  Learn to submit to sovereign authority and to acquiesce to God’s will. Paul answers these questions in Romans 9.

Romans 9:19-21:  19You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?  For who resists His will?”  20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?�
The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?  21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay , to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?

The Enemy loves to convince us that  the great doctrines in the Bible are unclear and confusing so that we will not work hard at discerning God’s truth.  With regard to the doctrines of salvation, he is wrong, however.  The issues themselves are so clear that we must either accept or reject them.  We cannot take a stand somewhere in the middle. Consider:

• Total Depravity:  People are either able to understand and believe the gospel apart from God’s enabling grace or they are not.
• Unconditional Election:  God either elects people to salvation conditionally or unconditionally.
• Eternal Security:  Christians can either lose their salvation or they cannot.

The issues themselves are clear.  The difficulty in studying these issues is not understanding them; it is accepting them.  We want so much to be in charge of our lives and in control of our destinies that we recoil from such blatant affirmations of God’s absolute sovereignty.

Question #115:  Take a few moments to ponder Psalm 119:97-104, Romans 9:19-21, Jude 3-4, and 2 Timothy 1:13-14.  Then write a brief prayer confessing any reluctance you have to contend earnestly for the truth of God’s Word and asking Him to help you overcome that reluctance.

 

Calvinism and Arminianism Defined

When we examine the tenets of Calvinism and Arminianism side by side, the issues at stake in the debate are revealed as vitally important.  The ongoing debate that began with Calvin and Arminius addresses much more than how people get saved.  It also concerns the nature of man, the concept of grace, the character of the church, the necessity of sanctification, the hope of glorification, and the absoluteness of God’s sovereignty – to name just a few. God has revealed volumes of truth about these matters in Scripture; obviously they are important to Him!  For that reason alone, we should pay careful attention to what He has said.  The chart below will help us clarify the issues being debated by the Remonstrants (Arminians) and the Calvinists at the Synod of Dort in 1619 before we begin our examination of what the Bible teaches about these issues.

The Sovereignty of God

Part 4: In Salvation Human Inability

As we examine these matters in the Bible, we will use relevant biblical terms as much as possible.  The Bible is very clear about defining its terms.  When we use biblical terms and their biblical definitions, we have God’s true Word on the subjects we’re studying. It helps us avoid man made labels that confuse the issues and it defines terms with biblical words that come out of the biblical context which hold their truest meaning. TULIP is not the best:  In seeking to use biblical terms to describe the issue at hand, we quickly discover that the acronym, TULIP, is inadequate.  The following terms describe much more accurately what the Bible teaches about the Five Points under discussion.

• Natural Ability or Natural Inability
•  Prescient Election or Sovereign Election
•  Universal Redemption or Particular Redemption/Definite Atonement
•  Human Resistance or Effectual Calling
•  Falling from Grace or Eternal Security

The chart below clarifies these contrasting terms.

Question #116:  Carefully consider the two immediately preceding charts.  Then explain in your own words why the terms used in the chart immediately above are preferable.

 

Let us now look to the Bible for divine insight on these issues.

What Does the Bible Say About Human Inability?

The Bible clearly affirms “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3).  Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18).  We know from observation that people persistently sin against God from earliest childhood through old age.  And the Word of God confirms this observation again and again.  Psalm 51:5 says people are steeped in sin from birth.  Romans 3:23 and 5:12 affirm that human beings in their natural state are sinners who fall far short of God’s required standard.  Humanity fell into sin and darkness when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and transgressed God’s clear commandment (Original Sin).  Their rebellion corrupted their entire being, body and soul (mind, will, emotions); and this corruption was passed to all their descendants (Romans 5:12).  In fulfillment of God’s Word, Adam and Eve died, both spiritually and physically (the aging process began).  Unfettered communion was broken between man and God; we no longer naturally understand the things of God nor do we desire to do so.  Humanity is accurately described in Scripture as “dead in . . .  trespasses and sins” and in need of new life (Ephesians 2:1-5, Colosians 2:13).  The biblical truth is, mankind neither pleases God nor seeks after God.  In our natural state, we do not possess the ability to savingly understand the things of God (that is the spiritual matters of the kingdom of God relating to man’s need to be saved and God’s provision to save Him).

Question #117:  Examine the chart above very closely.  Read the referenced Scriptures and pay close attention to the biblical words used to describe the condition of unredeemed people.  Then write a concise description of natural human inability to respond to God in saving faith.

 

Unable to see, hear, or understand

The Bible speaks of humanity’s fallen nature by using words like cannot.  It is not that we will not but that we cannot understand the Gospel without the work of divine grace. The Bible plainly declares that fallen humanity has a natural inability to see, hear, or understand, the things of God.  Jesus makes it clear that mankind has an inability to See the Kingdom apart from regeneration.

John 3:3:  Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ”

The Apostle Paul affirms the same truth.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4:  3And even if
our gospel is veiled , it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4in whose case the god of this world has
blinded the minds of the unbelieving , that they might not
see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ , who is the image of God.

By saying “our gospel is veiled . . . to those who are perishing,” the Bible affirms that the unsaved are unable to see the gospel.  Veils distort or obstruct our vision and keep us from seeing clearly.  This evil work of veiling the gospel is attributed to Satan (the god of this world):  “. . . the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”  The gospel is veiled to unbelievers because Satan has blinded their minds.  Blinding the mind is a biblical idiom describing an inability to understand.  The “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” is incomprehensible to unbelievers because they cannot grasp who He is and why they need Him.  Apart from God’s enabling grace, the beautiful treasure of Christ, and all that He is and the essential truths about Him, are not seen and understood in their heart and mind.

Likewise, in the passage below, Jesus makes it clear that fallen humanity has an inability to Hear God’s Word.

John 8:43: Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because
you cannot hear My word .

Jesus said, “you cannot hear My word,” to ungodly Pharisees who claimed that Jesus’ witness of Himself was not true (John 8:13).  He affirmed that they could not understand the truth of His words because they were not of God but of their father, the devil (v. 44).  The word “cannot” speaks of their inability.  They “do not understand” because they “cannot hear.”  And they “cannot hear” because they are not of God, but of the devil.  This is a consistent theme in the teaching of Jesus.  In the following passage, He tells His disciples that the reason they understand “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and others do not is that they have been given understanding by God whereas others have not.

Matthew 13:10-13:  10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”  11And He answered and said to them, “
To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted .  12For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.  13Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ”

In the passage below, Paul also affirms that unredeemed people cannot understand the things of God because they have an inability to Understand.

1 Corinthians 2:14:  But a
natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God ; for they are foolishness to him, and
he cannot understand them , because they are spiritually appraised.

Paul, writing inspired Scripture, explains that “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him.”  The “natural man” Paul refers to is a person who is unredeemed and does not have the Holy Spirit living within him (this is in contrast to the spiritual man who has the Spirit, after regeneration, v-12, v-16).  Such a person does not understand spiritual truth.  All thoughts of God, sin, being saved, and reconciliation with God seem foolish to him so he will not accept nor understand that they are true.  His thinking is so corrupted, “he cannot understand” God’s truth.  The word “cannot” speaks of man’s ability, not his willingness, although because he is unable to understand he is therefore also unwilling, as it states, he “does not accept.” Spiritual truth must be “spiritually appraised.”  The natural man “does not accept” spiritual truth because he has no natural ability to “understand” spiritual things.  This is because he does not have the Spirit (given at regeneration) by which he can “appraise” spiritual things. Only those indwelt by God’s Spirit can “appraise” spiritual things. Question #118:  Explain in your own words the significance of the Bible’s teaching that fallen people cannot accept the Gospel by an act of their own will.  In other words, what does this clear biblical teaching reveal about the desperate state of unredeemed people?

Mankind is in rebellion against God and enslaved to sin The Bible plainly declares that mankind is naturally in a state of rebellion against God.

Romans 3:9-12, 18:  9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10as it is written, “
There is none righteous, not even one; 11There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God ; 12All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. . . . 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. ”

Here Paul describes mankind in relation to God.  There are none righteous, none who understand, and none who seek for God.  All have turned aside.  There are none who do good, and none who fear God.  We know these are not general statements about most people, because Paul twice uses the phrase “not even one.”   In doing so, he emphasizes the universality of mankind’s rebellion against God’s sovereign authority, his doing of good before God, and his seeking and understanding of God.

Later in Romans, Paul affirms the thoroughness of mankind’s bent toward evil. He affirms that unregenerate people have neither desire nor ability to submit to God.  Their minds are set on the flesh and they are by nature hostile toward God.

Romans 8:5-8:  5For
those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  6For
the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul says the natural state of all men is “according to the flesh” and that they naturally “set their minds on the things of the flesh.”  Given man’s sinful nature, it makes sense that “the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”  People who live in the flesh are ruled by their sinful nature.  Their fallen minds are “hostile toward God.”  They do not “subject” themselves “to the Law of God”  because they are “not even able to do so.”  Note well that Paul is describing inability here, not unwillingness.  He is not saying they simply don’t desire to obey God; he is saying they cannot obey God—and that the reason they cannot obey God is that they are in the flesh.

The Bible consistently declares that mankind is enslaved to sin.  God declares through the prophet Jeremiah that the fallen human “heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick”  (17:9).  In other words, unredeemed people are bound to sin and naturally prone to evil because they are in the flesh. The following passages reveal that unredeemed people are not free to obey God.  Rather they are in “bondage to sin” and thus unable to obey God with right motives.  Man’s will is not free to obey God, but rather in bondage to sin.

John 8:34: Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.”

Romans 6:5-7:  5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; 7for he who has died is freed from sin.

Romans 7:14:  For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin .

Titus 3:3-7:  3For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This idea is further clarified in passages that state no one who is unregenerate (and therefore a slave of sin) does good (by God’s standard).  Only those who have been cleansed by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit are ableto please God in any sense.

Romans 3:12: All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.

Isaiah 64:6:  For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Romans 14:23: . . .
and whatever is not from faith is sin.

The Bible clearly affirms that the natural person, apart from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (being born again), abides in a state of sin and rebellion in relation to God and is therefore by nature, an object of God’s wrath.

Ephesians 2:3: Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and
were by nature children of wrath , even as the rest.
Consider the following chart in light of the biblical truths we have just studied.

Question #119:  Does Scripture support the idea that man is “naturally able” to understand and believe the Gospel apart from divine enablement?

List specific statements from Scripture to support your answer.

 

The fact is that divine enablement given by God’s grace is necessary to understand and believe the Gospel.  This divine enablement is called regeneration. We will discuss regeneration at length below.

The following statements reflect the biblical basis of the Augustinian view of Salvation. Westminster Confession of Faith – Of Free Will 3.  Man, by his Fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. Synod of Dort – ARTICLE 3 Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil , dead in sin, and in bondage thereto; and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, or to dispose themselves to reformation

Not sick, but dead

The Bible plainly declares that unredeemed sinners are thoroughly corrupt in their whole being.  It describes unredeemed humanity as not good, unable to do good, hating God’s truth, drinking in sin like water, defiled in both conscience and mind, and unable to please God or submit to the law of God.

Romans 7:18:  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

Isaiah 64:6:  For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Job 15:14-16:  14What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?  15Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight; 16How much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water!

John 3:19-20:  19And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. 20
For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Titus 1:15:  To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

Romans 8:6-8:  6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because
the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God .

Question #120:  Based on the verses referenced above, write a brief character sketch of a fallen sinner.

 

Sin has thoroughly corrupted the nature of mankind.  It has not simply inflicted serious wounds; it has killed our ability to respond to God.  The Bible plainly declares that, apart from a divine working of new life, we are dead in transgressions and sins and wholly insensitive to spiritual things.

Colossians 2:13-14: 13And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Ephesians 2:1-2:  1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

All Christian believers were dead in trespasses and sins before God gave them new life.  The Lord Jesus Himself frequently refers to unbelievers as “dead” and in desperate need of regeneration.  Without regeneration no one can see the kingdom of God and come to faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:3-6, 6:65). The just consequence of Adam’s original sin was the spiritual death of all his descendants (Romans 5:12-19).  All human beings are physically born spiritually dead and thus live in bondage to trespass and sin.  In that condition, they are unable to hear, understand, and respond to the things of God and His kingdom (1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:5-8).  The Bible speaks clearly and definitively on human depravity, i.e., natural inability to respond rightly to God.

Romans 5:12-19:  12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—. . .17For if
by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one , much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  18So then as
through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righeousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  19For as
through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners , even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

John 5:21-24:  21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but
has passed out of death into life.

Matthew 8:22:  But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me; and
allow the dead to bury their own dead. ”

Luke 15:22-24, 32:  22But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandles on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and us eat and be merry; 24for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” And they began to be merry. . . . 32“But we had to be merry and rejoice, for
this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.”

1 John 3:14:  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love abides in death.

Consider how well this image of physical death corresponds to our sinful state apart from regeneration by the Holy Spirit.  Dead people cannot see, hear, move, talk, think, understand, or respond to any kind of stimulus in any way. They are wholly unresponsive and unable to change.

John 11:43-44:  43And when He had said these things,
He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”  44He who had died came forth , bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Romans 5:6:  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Jeremiah 13:23:  Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.

Consider the statement by Albert Barnes concerning man’s dead condition: “A corpse is insensible.  It sees not, and hears not, and feels not.  The sound of music, and the voice of friendship and of alarm, do not arouse it.  The rose and the lily breath forth their fragrance around it, but the corpse perceives it not.  The world is busy and active around it, but it is unconscious of it all.  It sees no beauty in the landscape; hears not the voice of a friend; looks not upon the glorious sun and stars; and is unaffected by the running stream and the rolling ocean.  So with the sinner in regard to the spiritual and eternal world, he sees no beauty in religion; he hears not the call of God; he is unaffected by the dying love of the Saviour; and he has no interest in eternal realities.  In all these he feels no more concern, and sees no more beauty, than a dead man does in the world around him. Such is, in fact, the condition of a sinful world.  There is, indeed, life and energy and motion.  There are vast plans and projects, and the world is intensely active. But, in regard to religion, all is dead.  The sinner sees no beauty there; and no human power can arouse him to act for God, any more than human power can rouse the sleeping dead, or open the sightless eye-balls on the light of day.  The same power is needed in the conversion of a sinner which is needed in raising the dead; and one and the other alike demonstrate the omnipotence of him who can do it.”

Question #121:  In your own words, describe the meaning and consequences of being dead in trespasses and sins.

 

Plainly stated, mankind is dead and in need of new life.  Correcting our sinful state requires resurrection from the dead, something only God can do.  The Bible plainly declares that salvation is the monergisticwork of God, by which He infuses spiritual life into the spiriutally dead.  The theological term for this is regeneration.

Ephesians 2:4-6:  4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

John 5:21:  For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

Note how the Bible attributes salvation wholly to the work of God by affirming the inability of fallen sinners to come to Christ apart from divine grace.  Note well from these verses that no one can be saved apart from God’s saving work of regeneration.

John 6:44, 65:  44No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. . . . 65And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

Matthew 19:23-26:  23And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  25And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”  26And looking upon them Jesus said to them, “
With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Titus 3:4-7:  4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Note also how the Bible attributes salvation wholly to the work of God by affirming God’s divine enablement to be a monergistic work.

Deuteronomy 30:6:  Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.

Ezekiel 36:26-27:  26Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and
I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  27And
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

1 Peter 1:3:  3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy
has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Matthew 11:27:  All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father;
nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

John 3:27:  John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven .”

Question #122:  In your own words, describe what the Bible teaches about:  (1) man’s inability; (2) God’s monergistic work of conversion.

 

The Sovereignty of God In Salvation

Our Response: Part 5 – Lesson 1

The Sovereign King

God, who created the Universe out of nothing and is even now sustaining all things by the power of His word, reigns as sovereign King above all earthly and heavenly powers and authorities.

Psalm 103:19:  The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And
His sovereignty rules over all .

God possesses absolute dominion over all things.  He is said to sit on a throne in heavens!  God did not simply create the Universe and leave it to run on its own.  He exercises full control over all He has created.  God not only controls nature and history, He sustains the entire universe by his power, and orders all things to accomplish His purpose and plans. Everything that happens in the world happens by God’s design and under His control.

Psalms 47:7-8:  7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. 8God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.

Job 42:1-2:  Then Job answered the Lord, and said, “I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted .”

Acts 17:24-25:  24The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is
Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things;

He is the Lord of heaven and earth and has decreed whatsoever comes to pass (The Decrees of God).  Even the evil in the world, which God hates, He decrees to achieve His eternal purposes.

Psalms 135:5-6:  5For I know that
the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.  6Whatever the LORD pleases, He does , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

God not only permits the events of human history, but has ordained them from eternity past (Foreordination), and is furthermore actively involved in seeing that they all come to pass (Providence), fulfilling all of His plans and purposes.

Proverbs 16:4:�
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

Romans 9:21-22:  21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?  22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?

The very idea that God’s divine purpose could be frustrated is unthinkable.  If it could, it would not be the divine purpose!  Failure of God’s purpose negates His sovereignty.  God cannot be God and be less than fully sovereign.  Scripture is very clear about this!

Ephesians 1:11-12: In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. Psalm 115:3:  But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

Psalm 135:5-6:  For I know that the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.�
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and all the deeps.

God’s sovereignty and providence permeates the entire plan of redemption, bringing great blessing to His church, the faithful in Christ Jesus.  God’s chosen people are freed from slavery and bondage to sin.  Satan, the evil world ruler who has persistently tormented God’s saints will be dashed under their feet.  God’s saints rejoice because He has chosen them out of the world to be brought into an eternal world without sin or sorrow! There in God’s kingdom, they will be united to their husband and king, lie down in peace, and rest forever!

Romans 6:17-18:  17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Romans 16:20:  And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

1 Peter 1:3-5:  3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

God’s sovereign control over the events of life is plainly evident in Scripture.  In fact this theme runs through the whole Bible!  Everywhere we look in Scripture, we see God providentially working in all things to accomplish His purposes for the display of His glory, name, and power!  God is bringing His world to the specific end that He purposed from all eternity.  At the appointed time, all rebellion against His sovereign authority will cease.  His purposes for sin and evil will be fully accomplished.  Everything will be at rest forever in the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 46:9-11:  9“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘
My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure ‘;  11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.  
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, surely I will do it. ”

Isaiah 14:27:  For
the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?   And
as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?

Question #211:Drawing from the Scripture passages cited in this section, explain in your own words why the very idea that God’s divine purpose could be frustrated is unthinkable.

 

A Worthy Respons

How shall we respond to these things?  If God is indeed who He claims to be, the sovereign living Lord of heaven and earth, then our response to His great plans and purposes must be worthy of Him.  Included in such a response would be godly fear, worship, and adoration:

Godly Fear

Since God is the creator and sustainer of all, it is appropriate to fear His great power and majesty!

Revelation 15:3-4:  3And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying “Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations.  4
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?  For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed.”

When the saints of old happened upon a vision of God. they were greatly humbled.  Job, for example, upon seeing a vision of God, exclaimed in reverence and awe:

Job 42:5-6:  5“I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees Thee; 6Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes .”

Isaiah, upon seeing a vision of the thrice Holy God, humbly acknowledged his sins and the sins of his people:

Isaiah 6:5:  Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

The prophet Daniel was overcome by a vision from God and described his experience:

Daniel 8:27:  Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it.

Later, he saw a heavenly messenger and records the encounter:

Daniel 10:7-12:  7Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision;
nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves . 8So I was left alone and saw this great vision;
yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength .  9But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words,
I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground .  10
Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees .  11And he said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me,
I stood up trembling .  12Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.”

Daniel was afraid in God’s presence, and rightly so.  A mere glimpse of Him can kill a man (Exodus 33:20)!  When the Apostle John had a vision of the glorified Christ he responded in terror.

Revelation 1:17-18:  17
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man . And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, “
Do not be afraid ; I am the first and the last, 18and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”

All these who encountered God responded in fear.  We can therefore conclude that anyone who sees himself in the light of God’s holiness will react the same way.  This fear does not spur a desire to run away, however.  It inspires deep respect and reverence, a worshipful trembling before the power, purity and holiness of God.  This happens as we contemplate our sinfulness and the many ways we have sinned against His purity and power.  Were it not for His great mercy toward sinners, we would be consumed by the fire of His wrath!  Knowing this, in deep reverence we express our thankfulness for His great mercy and our respect for His purity, holiness, and power.  Scripture comforts us with its assurance that God delights in these manifestations of genuine humility!

Isaiah 66:1-2:  1Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.  Where then is a house you could build for Me?  And where is a place that I may rest?  2For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “
But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. ”

Psalm 34:15-19:  15The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.  16The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.  17
The righteous cry and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.  18
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit.  19Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 51:15-17:   15O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Thy praise.  16For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering.  17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

Question #212:Drawing on the Scripture passages related to “godly fear” cited above, describe this fear in your own words.

 

Question #213:  Why is godly fear something we should not be afraid of, but actually seek after?

 

Worship and Adoration

Worship entails ascribing value to something.  When we worship something, we treasure it, adore it, and value it; our feelings and attitudes toward it inspire our behavior toward it.  Worship generates action.  When we worship God, we view Him as supremely valuable and worthy of our adoration and service.  In reality, however, to declare God most valuable to us is an understatement.  That’s because He is the ultimate standard defining value.  When we rightly value God, we do not compare Him to any higher standard.  Rather, we esteem Him to be most worthy of our adoration, praise, and worship.

Exodus 15:11:  Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord?  Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Psalm 71:19:  For Thy righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, Thou hast done great things; O God, who is like Thee?
Psalm 86:8:  There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine .

We rightly esteem God above everything else because everything else derives value in relation to Him.  All the things God has created derive their value from fulfilling His divine purpose for them.

Revelation 4:11:  Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.

Psalm 104:5-9:   5He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever.  6Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains.  7
At Thy rebuke they fled; At the sound of Thy thunder they hurried away.  8The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the place which Thou didst establish for them.  9Thou didst set a boundary that they may not pass over; That they may not return to cover the earth.

Job 37:9-13:  9Out of the south comes the storm, And out of the north the cold.  10From the breath of God ice is made, And the expanse of the waters is frozen.  11Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.  12And it changes direction, turning around by His guidance, That it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.  13
Whether for correction or for His world, Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen .

Why is God worthy to receive glory and honor?  Because He created and controls all things. Nothing exists outside the will of God.  Everything exists by His design and sustaining providence.  How can we do anything less than pay Him homage as the high and lofty One? Indeed, anything less is wretchedly sinful, and is, in fact, idolatry—a violation of the first commandment.

Exodus 20:3: 
You shall have no other gods before Me .

Such sin fails to glorify and esteem God properly. In fact, the very nature of sin is pride (self-exaltation). It declares that our willful desires are more important than God’s righteous intent for us.  When we sin, we do not esteem Him as Lord and Master (who He truly is).  Rather, we usurp God’s authority by refusing to esteem Him for who He truly is, Lord and Master of all.  This is, indeed, the very definition of sin: to transgress the law, character, and will of God.

Romans 1:18-21:  18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men , who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even
though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks ; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

It is clearly of great importance to value God for who He is by honoring Him and giving thanks for the gracious gift of life He has given us.  This theme must be stressed, given the way it emphasized in the Scripture.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13:  11Thine, O Lord, is
the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty , indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all.  12Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone.  13
Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name .

Rightly valuing God moves us to worship.  That is, to ascribe value to Him and proclaim His worth.  We proclaim the glory of His great power with the words of our mouths and the thoughts and meditations of our hearts.  His majestic authority is the most regal and beautiful, stately and splendid, magnificent and amazing grandeur of all.  Therefore, we delight in our praises of Him!

Psalms 96:4-9:  For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.  5For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.  6
Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary .  7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  8
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name ; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.  9Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.

We are to praise Him and give Him thanks! We are to treasure Him and adore for His goodness and power! This is what is appropriate for the creature, to give glory and honor and thanksgiving to the Great Creator!

Psalm 106:1:  Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Hebrews 13:15 – 15Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Question #214:  Describe “worship and adoration.”

 

Question #215:  Which of the above passages seem most helpful to you personally as you seek to worship and adore God most appropriately?

 

The Sovereignty of God In Salvation

Our Response: Part 5 – Lesson 2

The Sovereign King

God made the world by His own power out of nothing and is, even now, sustaining everything by His powerful Word.  God is the sovereign king above all powers and authorities.

Psalm 103:19:  The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And
His sovereignty rules over all .

God possesses absolute dominion and authority over all things.  He sits on a “throne in the heavens!”  How ridiculous it would be to say that God created the universe, but does not control what takes place in it.  The truth is that God not only controls nature and history, but He sustains the entire universe by His power, and orders the events of His entire creation to accomplish His purpose and plan.  Everything that happens in the world happens at the express will of this God who rules the world and all who are in it.

Psalms 47:7-8:  7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.  8
God reigns over the nations , God sits on His holy throne.

He isthe “Lord of Heaven and Earth” (Acts 17:24).  He decreed everything that happens in the world (see “The Decrees of God”).  Even the evil in the world, which God hates, exists to achieve His eternal purposes that will, without a doubt, comes to pass.

Psalms 135:5-6:  5For I know that
the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.  6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

God does not merely permit the events of human history to occur; He ordained them from eternity past (foreordination).  He is also actively involved in bringing them to pass (providence), fulfilling all of His plans and purposes.

Proverbs 16:4:�
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose , Even the wicked for the day of evil.

That God’s divine purpose could meet with frustration is unthinkable.  Failure of God’s purpose would be failure of His sovereignty.  If God’s sovereignty could fail He would not be God. Scripture is very clear about this.

Ephesians 1:11-12:  In Him11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined
according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will , 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

The fact that God controls all events is a main theme of the Bible.  Scripture consistently testifies that God is continually working out His purposes for the display of His glory, name and power.  God is bringing His world to an expected end, which He purposed from all eternity. At the appointed time, all earthly powers and authorities will be brought under His sovereign authority, His purposes will be accomplished, and all will be at rest forever in the Kingdom of God!

Isaiah 46:9-11:  9Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, “
My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure ”; 11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Question #216:From Psalm 103:19, 47:7-8, 135:5-6; Proverbs 16:4; Ephesians 1:11-12; and Isaiah 46:9-11, record specific words and phrases that emphasize God’s sovereign kingship over all things.

 

Question #217:  Prayerfully consider and record how this aspect of God’s being and nature impacts your relationship with Him.

 

A Devoted Love

Because God is infinitely valuable and worthy of worship, our only appropriate response to Him is intense commitment rooted in love and devotion.  Thus, Jesus summed up God’s commandments like this:

Matthew 22:36-40:  36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  37And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38This is the great and foremost commandment.  39The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  40On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 12:28-31:  28And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “
What commandment is the foremost of all?”  29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and will all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 
There is no other commandment greater than these. ”

Jesus identifies the “foremost commandment”—our ultimate responsibility as Christians—as loving God with all our might.  Running a close second is loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.  In other words, says Jesus, this is the meaning and application of the whole Bible for us, to love God! This, says the Lord, is the “great and foremost commandment.” In other words, this is what is MOST important in life, the main thing, the first thing, the great thing, the foremost thing, the thing which is front and above all others. Jesus says “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” The entire Old Testament, all 39 books, all 929 chapters, 23,214 verses, all 590,439 words says Jesus “depend on these two commandments.”

Mark 12:32-33:  32And the scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher, You have truly stated that He is One; and there is no one else besides Him; 33and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself,
is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. ”

Our first priority—more important than all our religious endeavors, more important than anything else in all the world—is to love God.  To love God, says Jesus, is why we exist.  Jesus affirmed this great truth in Luke 14.

Luke 14:25-27:  25Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26“
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple .  27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

God will have no rivals for His esteem and devotion in His kingdom.  Jesus expects to be more important than everything we hold dear, including our families and even our very lives.  Those unwilling to make such a commitment cannot be His disciples.  His commandment requires us to love the Lord our God “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength”  This standard is set extremely high. It demands that we love God with all that we are and all that we have.

• with all your heart:  This speaks of emotion; we are to be wholly devoted to God with strong affection.
• with all your soul: – This refers to life itself; we are to center our lives around His service, devoting ourselves to living for Him with willingness to die at his command.
• with all your mind:  This means loving God with our intellect, bringing memory, thought, imagination, reason, judgment, and all our mental powers under submission to Him in adoration and love.  This requires enjoying His Word and His gospel more than the vain thoughts of our own minds, the entertainment, comedy and communications of the world.  It naturally results in devoting our time to meditation and worship of God.
• with all your strength:  This suggests bringing all the faculties of soul and body to labor and toil for His glory, as the highest priority in our lives.

As we value God because He is supremely valuable, we must love Him with wholehearted devotion.  Good Christian, does your life give evidence of your love for God?  Or does it reveal other things competing with Him for your love and devotion?  Only those who love God with their whole being will be truly satisfied in this life.  Full contentment and fulfillment flow from fulfilling the purpose for which we were made.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13:  12And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but
to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13
and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

Question #218:Based on what Jesus identifies as “the foremost commandment,” what is our highest responsibility as Christians?

Question #219:  List one or more specific ways you can love God:

With all your heart:

With all your soul:

With all your mind:

With all your strength:

Which of these areas are the easiest for you to do?

Which are the hardest?

List one or more ways you can use the areas that are easy for you to strength the areas that are hard for you.

 

A Commitment to Obedience

Since God is the Sovereign, the supreme authority, the Lord of heaven and earth, who has given us high and holy commandments, we are obligated to respond to Him in unwavering obedience.  If a powerful earthly authority gave us a righteous directive, we would obey.  How much more should we honor God with obedience to Him.  Shall we rail against our Maker? Shall we rebel against the King of Kings? God forbid!

Deuteronomy 4:39:  Know therefore today, and take it to your heart,
that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other .

God is the One to whom we will all give an account of our deeds.  Even in times of testing when it seems all the world is against us, we must obey God, regardless of the cost.  The first century Apostles set a righteous example for us.

Acts 5:27-30:  27And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council.  And the high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “
We must obey God rather than men. ” Those who love God will in fact obey Him.  Our obedience reflects our belief that He is the Sovereign Lord who alone is worthy of our adoration and trust.

John 14:15:  If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1 John 5:3:  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

Question #220:Describe the basis of our obligation to obey God unwaveringly.

 

Faith and Trust

Since our Sovereign God is in full control of all things and has our best interests in mind, we are absolutely safe in His care.

Romans 8:28: And we know that
God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose .

Many Christians have a hard time believing that God will do this for them.  They know they are not worthy of such goodness from God, and so they doubt that this promise applies to them. Such doubts fail to grasp the graciousness of God’s promise!  This is not a blessing Christians must earn; it is one we receive by grace and faith and trust His word.  Has not God proven Himself worthy of our trust?  To whom else shall we go?  He is the Sovereign Lord!  The Bible calls us to place our trust in Him.

Psalm 43:5:  Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why are you disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God.

Proverbs 3:5-6:  5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.  6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

How then should we respond to the fact that God is Sovereign in all things and over all things? We should entrust our lives to Him wait upon Him.  He will not leave us nor forsake us!  He is our God who delights in our deliverance and peace

Psalm 37:3-7:  3Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  4Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  5Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.  6And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday.  7Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Psalm 33:18-22:  18Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 19To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.  20Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.  21For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.  22Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in Thee.

Question #221:  What part does faith and trust play in willing obedience?

 

The Sovereignty of God In Salvation:

Our Response: Part 5 – Lesson 3

The Sovereign King

God made the world by His own power out of nothing and is even now sustaining everything by His powerful Word.  God is the Sovereign King above all earthly and heavenly powers and authorities.

Psalm 103:19:  The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And
His sovereignty rules over all .

God possesses absolute authoritative dominion over all things.  That’s why He is said to sit on a “throne in the heavens.”  Scripture affirms the logical connection between God’s creation of the universe and His control over it.  It tells us that God not only controls nature and history, but also sustains the entire universe by His power.  He orders the events of His entire creation to accomplish His purpose and plans.  Friends, we must understand that God rules the world in such an absolute way that every event occurs at His express purpose and will and by His power.

Psalms 47:7-8:  7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.  8
God reigns over the nations , God sits on His holy throne. Acts 17:22-28:  22And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.  23For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’  What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.  24
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things ; 26and He made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,
having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation , 27that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His offspring.’”

He is “the Lord of Heaven and Earth” (Acts 17:24) who permits, indeed decrees whatsoever comes to pass in the world (The Decrees of God).  Although there is much evil in the world, which God hates, He is allows and uses it to achieve His eternal purposes which will come to pass.

Psalm 135:5-6:  5For I know that
the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.  6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

God not only permits, but has ordained, the events of human history from eternity past (Foreordination).  Furthermore, He is actively involved in bringing them to pass (Providence), fulfilling all of His plans and purposes.

Proverbs 16:4:�
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose , Even the wicked for the day of evil.

It is unthinkable that God’s divine purpose could meet with frustration.  Sovereignty is an essential characteristic of Deity.  Failure of God’s purpose would be failure of His sovereignty. Failure of His sovereignty would negate His deity. Scripture is very clear about this.

Psalm 103:19: The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all .

Psalm 47:7-8:  7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.  8
God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne .

Daniel 4:17: This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order the the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes, And sets it over the lowliest of men.

Ephesians 1:11-12: In Him11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12to the end that we who lwere the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

God’s absolute control over all events and circumstances underlies everything in the Bible.  The Bible reveals that God is providentially working out His will to accomplish His purposes for the display of His glory, name and power!  God is bringing His world to an expected end—the end He ordained in eternity past.  At His appointed time, all earthly powers and authorities will be brought into subjection to His sovereign authority, His purposes will be accomplished, and all will rest forever in the Kingdom of God!

Isaiah 46:9-11:  9Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10
Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, “
My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure ”; 11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Question #222:Thoughtfully reread the Scripture passages listed above under “The Sovereign King.”  Then describe in your own words God’s relationship to everything in creation.

 

Question #223:  How does His relationship to everything in creation impact you personally?

 

Blessed Assurance

Just as God saved us according to His kind intention by drawing us to Himself and causing us to be born again, He will surely see us through to the end and bring us safely to heaven!  Jesus has secured salvation for all who respond to the gospel by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Christ!  He has opened the door to God’s presence by meeting the demands of His holy justice.  No wrath remains for those who are in Christ; all of God’s wrath against all the sin of everyone who will ever be saved has been poured out on Christ!  His work on our behalf has secured our salvation.

Isaiah 53:4-5:  4Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.  5But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

Romans 8:1-2:  1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

We have assurance because Christ’s work is perfect.  For this, we praise God!  Our mediator (priest) stands between us and God.  He is the lamb sacrificed to cover our sins.  Dear friends, since God sacrificed His own Son for us, He will bring us safely to Heaven.  He has made us joint heirs with Christ of His eternal inheritance.  All that is Christ’s is now ours as well. This is because the work of Christ in securing our salvation is perfect.  He is a perfect priest and the complete sacrifice, who paid the full price for our sins.  Christ was sent by the Father to do His perfect will in saving the elect.  The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ perfectly accomplished the will of God in redemption.

Ephesians 1:7-8:  7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight

Hebrews 10:14:  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:19-25:  19Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  23Let us
hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

Colossians 1:21-22:  21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach

Simply believing these scriptural truths equips us to rest assured that Heaven is ours, wholly because of what Christ has done!

Question #224:From the Scripture passages above relating to “Blessed Assurance,” write out specific words and phrases that reveal the basis of our assurance that our salvation is eternally secure and cannot be taken away from us or forfeited by our own actions.

 

Question #225:  Describe your personal response to this assurance.

 

Peace and Rest

Knowing that God is Sovereign affords us great peace!

Romans 8:31:  What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?

God controls nature and history.  He is the Lord of time and eternity.  He is the all-knowing, all-powerful King of Heaven.  What could take Him by surprise or prevent Him from blessing His people?  His eye is on the sparrow; how much more the sons and daughters He loves.

Romans 8:38-39:  38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth,
nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God , which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since God has done all this for us in Christ Jesus our Lord, we can and should rest in Him, knowing that He delights to give us eternal life and work all things for our good.  His promises give us rest and great peace!

Psalm 119:165:  Those who love Thy law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Isaiah 26:3-4: 3The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee.  4Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

Jesus often commands fearful saints, “Do not be afraid,” and then assures them of His presence with them.  Indeed we who love God have nothing to fear, because everything will work for our ultimate good.

Luke 12:32:�
Do not be afraid, little flock,
for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Remember that God in His providence is ruling over every detail of your life.  He allows only what He has designed for your good and His glory.  Therefore dear Christian, He invites you to rest in His Son Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30:  28Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  29Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and
you shall find rest for your souls.  30For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.

Question #226:  On what basis do Christians experience peace and rest in this life?

 

Question #227:  Are you currently experiencing this peace and rest?
If not, what is hindering you from experiencing it?

 

Thanksgiving and Praise

Dear friends, consider how we ought to be thankful for God’s goodness to us.  God has promised to ultimately work all things in our lives for our good.  He went so far as to give His own Son for us!  Will He not also give us everything we need?

Romans 8:31-32: 31What then shall we say to these things?  
If God is for us, who is against us?  32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

If God will give His people a Kingdom when they die, will He not give them daily bread while they live?  If Jesus suffered and died to bring me to Himself, will He not also hear my cry for help?  Of course He will!  Even more than that, He has given us eternal life and promised that we will bask in His glory forever in Heaven.  What more could we ask from the good hand of God!  It is certainly fitting for God’s saints to praise and thank Him who gives them life and breath!

Psalm 50:23:�
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me ; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.

Those who know the goodness of God respond in high praise to our King.  Thanksgiving is the lifeblood of every true saint.  Praise is the garment that fits handsomely on our backs.

Psalm 145:9-10:  9The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.  10
All Thy works shall give thanks to Thee, O Lord, And Thy godly ones shall bless Thee .

Scripture affirms that the mouths of the wicked are filled with grumbling, murmuring, and complaining.  The wicked cannot praise God, neither are they thankful. The poison of asps is under their tongues, and their mouths profane the name of God.  The saints of God stand in stark contrast!

Romans 3:13-14:  13Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving, The poison of asps is under their lips; 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Psalm 33:1-5:  1Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.  2Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.  3Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.  4For the word of the Lord is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness.  5He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Let us therefore give God the thanksgiving and praise which is due to Him.  No matter what cup He gives us to drink, no matter what bitterness of soul should afflict us, no matter what great trial befalls us—may we stand in the company of joyous saints, giving God glorious praise, knowing that He gives only what is for our good!  So shall we do His good will of giving Him thanks in every circumstance.

Ephesians 5:18-21: 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Question #228:  Write a brief prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the truths you have learned in this study.

 

Question #229:  With whom might you share what you learned so they can rejoice with you?