{"id":896,"date":"2017-12-01T20:50:46","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T20:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/?page_id=896"},"modified":"2018-05-25T15:19:32","modified_gmt":"2018-05-25T15:19:32","slug":"sovereignty-of-god","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/sovereignty-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Sovereignty of God"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\nmark.green {background-color:lightgreen;}<\/p>\n<\/style>\n<div style=\"float: left; padding: 0 10px 10px 0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SoveriegntyCover3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-333\" src=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SoveriegntyCover3.jpg\" alt=\"SoveriegntyCover3\" width=\"250\" height=\"323\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God<\/h1>\n<h3 align=\"center\">Table of Contents<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#godsnature\">Part 1: God&#8217;s Sovereign Nature<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#sovereigntydefined\"><strong>Sovereignty Defined and Explained<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#expo1chron29\">Exposition of 1 Chronicles 29:11-13<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sovereigntyattributes\"><strong>God&#8217;s Sovereignty and His Attributes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#omnipotenceandomniscience\"><strong>Omnipotence and Omniscience<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#chartsgodknowledgepower\"><strong>Chart on God&#8217;s Knowledge and Power<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#godsdominion\">Part 2: God&#8217;s Sovereign Dominion<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#increation\"><strong>In Creation<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#inprovidence\"><strong>In Providence<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#applyingprovidence\"><strong>Applying God&#8217;s Providence<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#godspurposes\">Part 3:\u00a0 God&#8217;s Sovereign Purposes<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#godssalvation\">Part 4:\u00a0 God&#8217;s Sovereign Salvation<\/a><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#fromchurchhistory\"><strong>Testimony of Church History<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pelagiusandaugustine\"><strong>Pelagius and Augustine\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#lutheranderasmus\"><strong>Luther and Erasmus<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#calvinismandarminianism\"><strong>Calvin and Arminius<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#calvinarminiusorthebible\"><strong>Calvin, Arminius, or the Bible<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#calvinismandarminianismdefined\"><strong>Calvinism and Arminianism Defined<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#teachingscripture\"><strong>Teaching of Scripture<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#humaninability\"><strong>Human Inability<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ourresponse\"><strong>Part 5:\u00a0 Our Response to God&#8217;s Sovereignty<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#chartsdiagrams\"><strong>Charts and Diagrams<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp; <strong>Note:\u00a0 All Scripture references are from the NASB (1977) unless otherwise noted. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"godsnature\" align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God<br \/>\n  Part 1:\u00a0 God&#8217;s Nature<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"sovereigntydefined\">God&#8217;s Sovereignty Defined<\/h3>\n<p>God is Sovereign.\u00a0 But what does this mean?\u00a0 The word <strong><em>\u201csovereignty\u201d <\/em><\/strong>means <strong><em>Supreme Authority.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 In the earthly realm, it speaks of one who holds the <em>highest<\/em> place of authority such as a monarch, president, or ruler of a province or territory.\u00a0 However when this term is applied to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, it takes on a much fuller meaning.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Scripture describes God as <strong>The Sovereign King<\/strong> above all earthly and heavenly powers and authorities.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 103:19:<\/em><\/strong> The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>His sovereignty rules over all.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God possesses <strong><u>absolute dominion<\/u><\/strong> and authority over all things.\u00a0 So He is said to sit on a \u201cthrone\u201d in heaven!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <strong><em>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.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>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.\u00a0 <strong><em>He is \u201cLord of Heaven and Earth\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Acts 17:24).\u00a0 Everything that happens in the world happens because God has permitted, indeed has <strong><em>decreed,<\/em><\/strong> it to happen <strong>(The Decrees of God)<\/strong>.\u00a0 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 <strong>(Foreordination)<\/strong>. Furthermore, He is <em>actively involved<\/em> in seeing that they all come to pass <strong>(Providence)<\/strong> so as to fulfill all of His plans and purposes.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Proverbs 16:4:<\/em><\/strong><strong><br \/>\n  <mark>The Lord has made everything for its own purpose<\/mark><\/strong>, Even the wicked for the day of evil.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It is <strong><em>unthinkable<\/em><\/strong> that God&#8217;s divine purpose could meet with frustration, for then it could not be God&#8217;s divine purpose! Failure of God&#8217;s purpose would be failure of His sovereignty.\u00a0 God cannot be God and be less than sovereign.\u00a0 Scripture is very clear that a less-than-sovereign God would NOT be God.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:11:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined <strong><mark>according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will<\/mark><\/strong>,<br \/>\n    Even Satan was created by God to achieve the very purpose for which God made him. <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 10:15:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it?\u00a0 Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it<\/mark>?<\/strong>\u00a0 That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood. <strong><em>Isaiah 54:16:<\/em><\/strong> Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, And brings out a weapon for its work; <strong><mark>And I have created the destroyer to ruin<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #1:\u00a0 <\/strong>What does the word \u201csovereignty\u201d mean in a worldly sense?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <strong>Question #2:<\/strong>\u00a0 How does the Bible use the word \u201csovereignty\u201d in relation to God?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <strong>Question #3:\u00a0 <\/strong>How does God&#8217;s sovereignty relate to the accomplishment of His divine purpose?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <strong>Question #4:<\/strong>\u00a0 How does a good understanding of God&#8217;s sovereignty help us explain the existence of Satan and evil?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <strong>Question #5:\u00a0 <\/strong>Why is sovereignty a <u>necessary<\/u> attribute of God?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"expo1chron29\">Exposition of 1 Chronicles 29:11-13<\/h3>\n<p>Let us closely examine how this Scripture passage describes the Sovereignty of God.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>1 Chronicles 29:11-13:<\/em><\/strong>11<strong><br \/>\n<mark>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<\/mark><\/strong>. 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u2192<u>Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty: <\/u> What words can describe the greatness of God and His power?\u00a0 We cannot fully understand or describe the greatness of God because He is infinite and we are finite.\u00a0 Listen as Scripture speaks of His greatness:\u00a0 His <u>is<\/u> the <strong><em>power<\/em><\/strong>and <strong><em>glory <\/em><\/strong>and<em> <strong>victory<\/strong><\/em>and<strong><em>majesty<\/em><\/strong>.<br \/>\nGod is the source of all <strong><em>power<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Jeremiah 32:17: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Ah Lord God!\u00a0 Behold, <strong><mark>Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee<\/mark><\/strong>,    <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God&#8217;s is the <strong><em>glory<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Revelation 15:3-4:<\/em><\/strong> 3And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, \u201cGreat and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations. 4\u201c<strong><mark>Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0 For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God will always prevail in <strong><em>victory<\/em><\/strong> against His enemies.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 42:13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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. <strong><mark>He will prevail against His enemies<\/mark>     .<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God&#8217;s authoritative <strong><em>majesty<\/em><\/strong> is the most regal and beautiful, stately and splendid, awesome and magnificent\u00a0 grandeur of all.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalms 96:4-9:<\/em><\/strong> 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. 6<strong><mark>Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary<\/mark><\/strong>. 7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name<\/mark><\/strong>; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #6:<\/strong>\u00a0 According to the above Scripture passages, how is the greatness of God reflected in the demonstration of His power, glory, victory, and majesty?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2192<u>indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord<\/u>:<br \/>\nThe <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that <strong><em>God created all things and is the Possessor of everything<\/em><\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Exodus 9:29:<\/em><\/strong> And Moses said to him, \u201cAs 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, <strong><mark>that you may know that the earth is the Lord&#8217;s<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Exodus 19:5:<\/em><\/strong> Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, <strong><mark>for all the earth is Mine<\/mark><\/strong>;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 10:14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Behold<strong>,<br \/>\n    <mark>to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 41:11:<\/em><\/strong> Who has given to Me that I should repay him? <strong><mark>Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 24:1:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n    <mark>The earth is the Lord&#8217;s, and all it contains<\/mark><\/strong>, The world, and those who dwell in it.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 89:11:<\/em><\/strong> The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine; <strong><mark>The world and all it contains<\/mark><\/strong>, Thou hast founded them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that <strong><em>God rules and does as He pleases<\/em><\/strong> with everything He has made.\u00a0 God is <strong><em>totally free<\/em><\/strong> of external constraint.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Daniel 4:34-35:<\/em><\/strong> 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:\u00a0 For <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>His dominion is an everlasting dominion<\/mark> <\/strong>, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But <strong><br \/>\n<mark>He does according to His will in the <u>host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth<\/u>; And no one can ward off His hand<\/mark> <\/strong> Or say to Him, \u201cWhat hast Thou done?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalms 135:5-6:<\/em><\/strong> 5For I know that <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.\u00a0 6Whatever the Lord pleases, He does<\/mark> <\/strong>, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #7:<\/strong>\u00a0 How do the above Scripture passages justify God&#8217;s freedom to do as He pleases?<\/p>\n<p>\u2192<u>and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all:<\/u> The Scripture plainly declares that <strong><em>God is the highest authority<\/em><\/strong> and that He is the One who <strong><em>establishes all other authority<\/em><\/strong> in heaven and earth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 13:1:<\/em><\/strong> Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.\u00a0 For <strong><mark>there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God is highly exalted above everything.\u00a0 Therefore, God exalts Himself above us and commands that we worship Him.\u00a0 It is right and proper for Him to do so.\u00a0 Let&#8217;s consider the appropriateness of God&#8217;s action.\u00a0 Would it be right for some other being to occupy God&#8217;s great seat of authority? Would it be proper for a creature to somehow be exalted above the One who created it?\u00a0 Indeed these questions must be answered, \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 If they could be answered \u201cYes,\u201d God would not be God. This is why idolatry is the great sin of mankind.\u00a0 Idolatry gives God&#8217;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.\u00a0 Who can fully express how great a sin unbelief truly is?\u00a0 Who can describe the folly and shame of idolatry?\u00a0 Dare we slap the hand that feeds us?\u00a0 Dare we raise clinched fists against the One who holds our life&#8217;s breathe in His hands?\u00a0 God rightly exalts Himself above us and commands that we worship Him, because it is right and proper.\u00a0 It is, in reality, the highest good of the creature to worship and praise the Creator. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 97:9:<\/em><\/strong> For Thou art <strong><mark>the Lord Most High over all the earth; Thou art exalted far above all gods<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Exodus 20:2-3<\/em><\/strong><em>:<\/em> 2I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.\u00a0 3<strong><mark>You shall have no other gods before Me<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 2:11-12:<\/em><\/strong> 11The proud look of man will be abased, And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And <strong><mark>the Lord alone will be exalted in that day<\/mark><\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #8:<\/strong>\u00a0 On what basis should Christians submit to human governing authorities?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #9:<\/strong>\u00a0 What is idolatry?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #10:<\/strong>\u00a0 Why is idolatry the most terrible of sins?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> \u2192<u>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:<\/u>\u00a0 God in His Sovereignty dispenses what He pleases to all the peoples of the earth.\u00a0 Here the Scripture says that God, the Ruler of all, gives riches to the rich and honor to the honorable.\u00a0 Here the Scripture explicitly states that God has the power and the might to raise up or exalt people and give them strength.\u00a0 Obviously the inverse is also true.\u00a0 If God decides to abase people and make them weak, that is His prerogative. This fact resounds throughout Scripture.\u00a0 God rules His creation, including the earth and men and angels, by His mighty Providence.\u00a0 God is Sovereign over the prosperity and poverty of everyone.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Exodus 4:11:<\/em><\/strong> And the Lord said to him, <strong>\u201c<br \/>\n    <mark>Who has made man&#8217;s mouth?\u00a0 Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind?\u00a0 Is it not I, the Lord?<\/mark><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 45:7:<\/em><\/strong> The One forming light and creating darkness,<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these<\/strong><\/mark>   . <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Samuel 2:7-9:<\/em><\/strong> 7<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts<\/strong><\/mark>     . 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&#8217;s, And He set the world on them. 9He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; <strong><mark>For not by might shall a man prevail<\/mark><\/strong>.    <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The<br \/>\n  <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that <strong><em>God is Sovereign over the life and death of every creature<\/em><\/strong>. God determines the length of our days, and His limits cannot be adjusted.\u00a0 No one lives unless God decrees it; and no one dies unless God decrees it.\u00a0 He is the Author, Giver, and the Sustainer of every living thing.\u00a0 He holds in His hand the lives of both His beloved ones and His enemies.\u00a0 Even Satan, the father of lies, the destroyer, owes his next breathe to the Almighty. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Job 14:5:<\/em><\/strong> Since <strong><mark>his days are determined, The number of his months is with Thee, And his limits Thou hast set so that he cannot pass<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p> <strong><em>Deuteronomy 32:39<\/em><\/strong><strong>: <\/strong>\u00a0See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; <strong><mark>It is I who put to death and give life.\u00a0 I have wounded, and it is I who heal<\/mark><\/strong>; And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Samuel 2:6:<\/em><br \/>\n    <mark>The Lord kills and makes alive<\/mark><\/strong>; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 12:9-10:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, 10<strong><mark>In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind<\/mark><\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 10:29-30:<\/em><\/strong> 29Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And <strong><mark>yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father<\/mark><\/strong>. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.    <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Scripture plainly declares that <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>God Sustains and maintains all things which He has created<\/mark> <\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Hebrews 1:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and <strong><mark>upholds all things by the word of His power<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 34:14-15:<\/em><\/strong> 14If He should determine to do so<strong>,<br \/>\n    <mark>If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #11:<\/strong>\u00a0 What is the ultimate answer to the question, <em>Why are things the way they are?<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #12:<\/strong>\u00a0 How does this brief look at God&#8217;s total control over His creation affect your sense of security in this world?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #13:<\/strong>\u00a0 Does this brief look at God&#8217;s total control over His creation raise some questions in your mind?\u00a0 If so, write them out and look for answers to them as you continue this study:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> \u2192<u>Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name<\/u>:\u00a0 Now here is a proper response to the knowledge of God&#8217;s Sovereignty.\u00a0 We should first acknowledge His greatness and power, and then humbly thank Him for WHO He is and what He has given us.\u00a0 More than this we should praise His glorious name!\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 106:1:<\/em><br \/>\n    <mark>Praise the Lord!\u00a0 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good<\/mark><\/strong>; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 33:1:<\/em><\/strong>Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; <strong><mark>Praise is becoming to the upright<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #14:\u00a0 <\/strong>What are some practical ways in which you might acknowledge God&#8217;s greatness and power, thank Him for who He is and what He has given you, and praise His glorious name?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong> We have seen that the Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign over all His creation.\u00a0 We have also seen that the <em>nature <\/em>of this sovereignty is absolute and supreme authority, exercised over all things He has created.\u00a0 Our dear brother Charles Hodge defines sovereignty well in his work entitled, <em>Systematic Theology<\/em>:<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\"> <\/a> <em>\u201cSovereignty is not a property of the divine nature, but a prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Dear reader, hear now the word of the Lord!\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 4:39:<\/em><\/strong> Know therefore today, and take it to your heart,<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>that the Lord<\/strong><strong>, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other<\/strong><\/mark> .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Application How do we apply this doctrine to our life; that is, how must it affect us in our thinking and our living?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We must recognize Him as the sovereign authority in our lives by humbly submitting to His will.\u00a0 <strong>(Deuteronomy 4:39-40, 27:10; Job 2:10; Lamentations 3:37-41; Jeremiah 44:23; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 11:28)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>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.\u00a0 <strong>(Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:12)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>We must realize that trust in God&#8217;s sovereign and gracious hand allows us to rest in amazing security.\u00a0 <strong>(Romans 8:28,31)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why is this doctrine important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The truth of God&#8217;s sovereignty explains the being, nature, essence, and destiny of all things. <strong>(Revelation 14:6-7)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The truth of God&#8217;s sovereignty gives meaning and significance to the way we live our lives. <strong>(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 147:11, 112:1)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Since sovereignty is \u201ca prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being,\u201d<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\"> <\/a> rightly understanding God&#8217;s sovereignty equips us to think rightly about Him and His Kingdom.\u00a0 All theological heresy flows from misunderstanding the character and nature of God.\u00a0 <strong>(Proverbs 9:10)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why is this doctrine controversial?<\/strong> The basic nature of sin is rebellion against God&#8217;s sovereignty.\u00a0 From the time Adam and Eve first decided to disobey God&#8217;s commandment in the Garden of Eden, their descendants have sought to exalt their own autonomy in resistence to God&#8217;s authority.\u00a0 Sinful humanity is naturally repulsed by the idea of submitting to Someone of higher authority and continually seeks to usurp God&#8217;s authority.\u00a0 This is the highest crime against God and worthy of death.\u00a0 <strong>(Proverbs 29:15; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-18; 8:7-8)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #15:<\/strong> How will your study thus far immediately impact your typical thoughts, words, attitudes and actions?\u00a0 (Be very specific in your answer.)<\/p>\n<p>Thoughts:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Words:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Attitudes:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Actions:<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"sovereigntyattributes\">Sovereignty and God&#8217;s Attributes<\/h3>\n<p>God&#8217;s sovereign authority works in perfect harmony with all of His attributes to manifest God&#8217;s perfection in every way.\u00a0 Consider just a few examples: <\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Sovereignty and Wisdom<\/u><\/strong>: \u00a0God uses His authority in accordance with perfect wisdom.\u00a0 God always makes decisions and executes His authority in ways that fulfill the eternal counsel of His will.\u00a0 Everything He does fulfills the purpose for which He planned it.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Jeremiah 10:12<\/em><\/strong><em>:<\/em>\u00a0 It is He who made the earth by His power, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><u>Sovereignty and Love<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 God&#8217;s authority is always dispensed with concern for those He loves.\u00a0 God&#8217;s motivation, in the exercise of His authority, is to benefit and bless those to whom He obligates Himself by covenant \u2013 indeed to all who fear Him and call upon Him.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 103:11-13<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0 11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him<\/mark> <\/strong>.\u00a0 12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.\u00a0 13Just as a father has compassion on his children, So <strong><br \/>\n<mark>the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><u>Sovereignty and Power<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 God has the ability to bring to pass whatsoever He pleases; thus, the exercise of His authority cannot be effectively resisted.\u00a0 God brings to pass whatever His wisdom and love decide.\u00a0 If He could not do what He wills and perform all His pleasure, He would not be God!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Isaiah 46:9-11<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other;\u00a0 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, \u201cMy purpose will be established, And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>I will accomplish all My good pleasure<\/mark> <\/strong>\u201d; 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.\u00a0 <strong>I have planned it, surely I will do it.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><u>Sovereignty and Knowledge<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 God uses His authority with perfect knowledge because He is the source of perfect knowledge.\u00a0 Nothing escapes the attention of God nor does anything invalidate His purposes.\u00a0 God&#8217;s authority is always exercised with complete knowledge of what has happened, is happening, and will happen as a result.\u00a0 God never errs, never changes, and never overlooks anything.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Isaiah 40:14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding?\u00a0 And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge<\/mark> <\/strong>, And informed Him of the way of understanding?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><u>Sovereignty and Holiness<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0 God&#8217;s use of His authority is always motivated by His hatred of sin, spotless purity, and zeal for His own honor.\u00a0 He expects His creatures to revere His holiness and issues serious warnings and threats to those who fail to honor Him.\u00a0 God must be zealous for His own honor because He is truly honorable and most worthy of praise and glory.\u00a0 A failure to revere and honor God&#8217;s holiness is the very definition of sin itself.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Revelation 14:6-7:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a06And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having <strong><mark>an eternal gospel to preach<\/mark><\/strong> to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7and he said with a loud voice, \u201c<strong><mark>Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him<\/mark><\/strong> who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 John 3:10:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious:\u00a0<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>anyone who does not practice<\/strong><strong> righteousness is not of God<\/strong><\/mark>   , northe one who does not love his brother.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><u>Sovereignty and Righteousness<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 The foundation of everything God does is justice.\u00a0 All of His judgments are morally perfect and upright. In fact, God Himself is the very standard of what is just and righteous. God&#8217;s authority is always executed in perfect righteousness.\u00a0 Whatever is right, is right because it is approved by God.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 32:4:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The Rock!\u00a0 His work is perfect, For <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>all His ways are just<\/mark> <\/strong>; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>Righteous and upright is He<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Since all of these things are true of God, who is the highest authority, we have grounds for tremendous security and exceeding joy.\u00a0 We can rest in the security of God&#8217;s righteous judgment and find in Him a refuge and strength in every adversity we face.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 5:11:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0But let <strong><mark>all who take refuge in Thee be glad, Let them ever sing for joy<\/mark><\/strong>; And mayest Thou shelter them, That those who love Thy name may exult in Thee.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 8:28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0And we know that <strong><mark>God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God<\/mark><\/strong>, to those who are called according to His purpose.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #16:<\/strong>\u00a0 Carefully consider what you have just studied about God&#8217;s sovereignty and His attributes.\u00a0 How does Scripture&#8217;s teaching on this subject encourage you to trust God completely and serve Him boldly?<\/p>\n<h2>God&#8217;s Power &#8211; Omnipotence (having absolute power and supremacy; all-powerful)<\/h2>\n<p>Consider how God&#8217;s absolute power and supremacy is related to His Sovereignty.\u00a0 If God is all-powerful, then He has the ability to freely do as He pleases and is therefore by default the<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supreme Authority<\/strong>.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Job 23:13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 But He is unique and who can turn Him?\u00a0 And <strong><mark>what His soul desires, that He does<\/mark><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 43:13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Even from eternity I am He; And <strong><mark>there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 115:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 But our God is in the heavens; <strong><mark>He does whatever He pleases<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Scripture speaks of God&#8217;s mighty power and describes Him as omnipotent or all-powerful. <br \/>\n<mark class=\"green\"> Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that <strong><em>God can do anything and nothing is too hard for Him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Jeremiah 32:17:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Ah Lord God!\u00a0 Behold, <strong><mark>Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm!\u00a0 Nothing is too difficult for Thee<\/mark><\/strong>, <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 19:26:<\/em><\/strong>And looking upon them Jesus said to them, \u201cWith men this is impossible, <strong><mark>but with God all things are possible.<\/mark><\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 42:1-2:<\/em><\/strong>1Then Job answered the Lord and said<em>,<\/em> 2\u201cI know that <strong><mark>Thou canst do all things<\/mark><\/strong>, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God had the creative power to make the universe from nothing, and He sustains it by His power.\u00a0 He made the world for His own pleasure and by His own will.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Revelation 4:11<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>Thou didst create all things<\/strong>,<\/mark> and <strong><br \/>\n<mark>because of Thy will they existed, and were created.<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>His creation is a <strong><em>small example<\/em><\/strong> of His mighty power.\u00a0 In the creation of the universe, God&#8217;s resources were not depleted in any way, for they are infinitely vast.\u00a0 Since God created all things, He transcends them; <strong><em>His power and dominion are infinitely greater than everything He created. <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0God is actively sustaining everything in creation.\u00a0 He exercises His power continually, bringing to pass \u201call His good pleasure\u201d (Isaiah 46:10).\u00a0 He made all things by His purposeful will.\u00a0 He possesses the <strong><em>power to execute<\/em><\/strong> His divine will and bring His intentions to perfect completion.\u00a0 He alone created all things out of nothing.\u00a0 Because of this great truth He is known as \u201cThe Almighty.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 40:26,28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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; <strong><mark>Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power Not one of them is missing<\/mark><\/strong>. . . .\u00a0 28Do you not know? Have you not heard? <strong><mark>The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth<\/mark><\/strong> Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. <strong><em> John 1:1-3<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a01In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u00a0 2He was in the beginning with God.\u00a0<br \/>\n    <mark>3<strong>All things came into being by Him<\/strong><\/mark>     , and <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Colossians 1:16-17<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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\u2014<strong><mark>all things have been created by Him and for Him.<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0 17And He is before all things, and <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>in Him all things hold together<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This truth affirms that all power in the creation comes from God.\u00a0 Since God made everything out of nothing, then power must, by necessity, be delegated by God.\u00a0 In fact the <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that God&#8217;s power is far above all earthly powers.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:18-21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a018I 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 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>the surpassing greatness of His power<\/mark> <\/strong> toward us who believe.\u00a0 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<strong><br \/>\n<mark>far above all rule and authority and power and dominion<\/mark> <\/strong>, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If someone were more powerful than God, he or she would have authority over Him.\u00a0 Scripture teaches, however, that this is impossible. Therefore, because God is omnipotent, He is also <\/p>\n<p><strong>Sovereign. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #17:\u00a0 <\/strong>List several scriptural truths that affirm God&#8217;s omnipotence:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #18:<\/strong>\u00a0 How does God&#8217;s omnipotence affirm that He and He alone is God?<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"omnipotenceandomniscience\">God&#8217;s Knowledge &#8211; Omniscience (all-knowing)<\/h3>\n<p>God knows everything.\u00a0 Since God is the source of all things (making everything from nothing), He is therefore the source of all knowledge and wisdom.\u00a0 <strong>A. W. Tozer<\/strong> helps us understand how complete God&#8217;s knowledge is with this definition of <em>omniscience<\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>[God] knows all that can be known.\u00a0 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.<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\"> <\/a><\/em> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>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<br \/>\n  <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that God knows everything. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>1 John 3:19-20<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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 <strong><mark>God is greater than our heart, and knows all things<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 40:28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Do you not know?\u00a0 Have you not heard?\u00a0 The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired.\u00a0 <strong><mark>His understanding is inscrutable<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 147:5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength; <strong><mark>His understanding is infinite<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>People rarely argue that God does not know the past, but people do sometimes argue that God does not know the future. <mark class=\"green\">Scripture, however, plainly declares<\/mark> that God does know the future.\u00a0 He must know it, because the future is the outworking of God&#8217;s decrees, which were made before He created the world.\u00a0 <strong><em>He knew in eternity past the entire record of history for all time<\/em><\/strong>. Predictive prophecy in the Bible proves this again and again.\u00a0 God speaks about future events before they come to pass, and multitudes of biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Isaiah 46:9-10<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9\u201cRemember 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<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done<\/mark> <\/strong>, Saying, \u201cMy purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure\u201d; <strong><em>Isaiah 44:7-8:<\/em><\/strong> 7And who is like me?\u00a0 Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time I established the ancient nation.\u00a0 And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place.\u00a0 8<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Do not tremble and do not be afraid.\u00a0 Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it<\/mark> <\/strong>?\u00a0 And you are My witnesses.\u00a0 Is there any God besides me, Or is there any other Rock?\u00a0 I know of none.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nothing escapes God&#8217;s notice; and nothing is hidden from Him.\u00a0 He is aware of past, present, and future events just as if they were all laid out before Him.\u00a0 His knowledge is as perfect as His being.\u00a0 Since God is perfect in knowledge, He is all-knowing and can never be confused, misled, or surprised.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Hebrews 4:13:<\/em><\/strong> And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him<\/mark> <\/strong> with whom we have to do.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nothing escapes the attention of God.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 \u201cNo creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare\u201d before the Lord (Hebrews 4:13).\u00a0 He knows our thoughts (Ezekiel 11:5) before we even express them.\u00a0 Indeed, there is no place where we can hide from God.\u00a0 He sees everything in full view; and He understands \u201cthe thoughts and intentions of our hearts\u201d (Hebrews 4:12) better than we do. <strong><em>\u00a0He is God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>1 Kings 8:39:<\/em><\/strong> then hear in heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, <strong><mark>whose heart Thou knowest, for Thou alone dost know the hearts of all the sons of men<\/mark><\/strong>,<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Chronicles 28:9:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; <strong><mark>for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Proverbs 5:21<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For the <strong><mark>ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord<\/mark><\/strong>, And He watches all his paths.<br \/>\n    Psalm 139 speaks of God knowing our thoughts and words <em>\u201cbefore there is a word on our tongue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalms 139:2-4<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 2Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; <strong><mark>Thou dost understand my thought from afar<\/mark>   .<\/strong>\u00a0 3Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.\u00a0 4<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>A. W. Pink<\/strong> describes God&#8217;s knowledge of our sins: \u201c<em>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, \u201cYou are the man!\u201d And to writer and reader is also said, \u201cBe sure your sin will find you out\u201d <\/em><em>(Num 32:23).<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\"> <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Proverbs 15:3<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>eyes of the <\/strong><strong>Lord are in every place<\/strong><\/mark> , Watching the evil and the good.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 34:21-22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 21\u201cFor His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.\u00a0 22<strong><mark>There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalms 90:8<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, <strong><mark>Our secret sins in the light of Thy presence.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>S. Lewis Johnson<\/strong><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\"> <\/a> summarizes God&#8217;s knowledge like this:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Intuitive:\u00a0 <\/strong>God knows everything by default, His knowledge exists within Himself<\/li>\n<li><strong>Simultaneous<\/strong>:\u00a0 God knows everything in one simple act, instantaneously, not\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 gradually<\/li>\n<li><strong>Independent:\u00a0 <\/strong>God knows everything apart from any learning, He cannot learn, because He knows all things from eternity, His knowledge comes from Himself<\/li>\n<li><strong>Distinct: <\/strong>God knows everything clearly, without ambiguity, specifically not generally, absolute<\/li>\n<li><strong>Infallible<\/strong>:\u00a0 God&#8217;s knowledge is unfailing, certain, accurate in every detail<\/li>\n<li><strong>Immutable<\/strong>:\u00a0 God&#8217;s knowledge never changes because He has never learned a new fact, it is not subject to anything outside of Himself<\/li>\n<li><strong>Complete<\/strong>:\u00a0 God&#8217;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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Consider how God&#8217;s knowledge is related to His Sovereignty.\u00a0 Since God is all-knowing, nothing can escape His attention or surprise Him.\u00a0 He is intimately aware of everything at all times, knowing it all from before the creation of the world. God knows everything <strong><em>freely<\/em><\/strong> because He has both willed everything to be and providentially brought it about.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:9-11:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 9<\/strong>He 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.\u00a0 In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will<\/mark> <\/strong>,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Summary &#8211;\u00a0 <\/strong>See chart on <strong>God&#8217;s Knowledge and Power<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #19:<\/strong>\u00a0 Study the chart, \u201cGod&#8217;s Knowledge and Power,\u201d on page 17.\u00a0 Then <em>briefly<\/em>\u00a0 describe the connection between omniscience and omnipotence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #20:<\/strong>\u00a0 Why are omniscience and omnipotence necessary elements of sovereignty?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"chartsgodknowledgepower\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image002.jpg\" width=\"585\" height=\"810\" name=\"chartsgodknowledgepower\" \/> <strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God<\/h1>\n<h2 id=\"godsdominion\" align=\"center\">Part 2: God&#8217;s Dominion &#8211; In Providence<\/h2>\n<h3>The Providence Of God Defined<\/h3>\n<p>Although the doctrine of God&#8217;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.\u00a0 So what does \u201cGod&#8217;s providence\u201d mean, and how is it described in the Bible?\u00a0 <strong>Wayne Grudem<\/strong> provides an excellent definition in his textbook entitled, <strong><em>Systematic Theology<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>\u201c<\/strong><em>God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he <strong>(1) Preservation<\/strong> -keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; <strong>(2) Concurrence<\/strong> &#8211; cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and <strong>(3) Government <\/strong>&#8211; directs them to fulfill his purposes<\/em>.\u201d<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\"> <\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This is a profound statement we should consider carefully.\u00a0 Let&#8217;s begin by looking at the biblical evidence for each of its parts (which he has called <strong><em>preservation<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>concurrence<\/em><\/strong>, and <strong><em>government<\/em><\/strong>.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #25:<\/strong>\u00a0 Look up the words <strong><em>preservation<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>concurrence<\/em><\/strong>, and <strong><em>government<\/em><\/strong> in an English dictionary and write them out:<strong><em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Preservation:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Concurrence:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Government:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #26:<\/strong>\u00a0 Do the definitions of these words help you understand any parts of Grudem&#8217;s definition?\u00a0 If so, explain.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Preservation: <\/strong><em>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.\u00a0 <\/em>God&#8217;s providence includes His continual involvement with all created things.\u00a0 God has not left the world to spin of its own power but is constantly maintaining its activity by His own hand.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Hebrews 1:1-3:<\/em><\/strong> 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, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>through whom also He made the world<\/mark> <\/strong>. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and <strong><br \/>\n<mark>upholds all things by the word of His power<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Here the Scripture says of God that He \u201cupholds all things.\u201d\u00a0 Could there be a clearer statement of His \u201ccontinual involvement?\u201d Consider Colossians 1:17.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Colossians 1:16-17<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>16For by Him all things were created, <strong><mark>both in the heavens and on earth<\/mark><\/strong>, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities\u2014<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>all things have been created by Him and for Him<\/mark>   .<\/strong>\u00a0 17And He is before all things, and <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>in Him all things hold together<\/mark><\/strong>.    <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 17:28<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0 <strong><mark>for in Him we live and move and exist<\/mark><\/strong>,<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 34:14-15:<\/em><\/strong> 14If He should determine to do so, <strong><mark>If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>When we think about God&#8217;s providence over His world, we should think of it as <strong><em>continual involvement.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>God is separate and distinct from His creation, yet He is governing it by His mighty power.\u00a0 God does not simply intervene occasionally in the events of history when He thinks it is appropriate.\u00a0 He is the glue that holds it all together and the motor that keep it all moving.\u00a0 Without His constant work, the universe would disintegrate.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 Rather, as Wayne Grudem rightly teaches from Scripture, God \u201c<em>keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #27:<\/strong>\u00a0 Reread the Scripture passages quoted above.\u00a0 What specific words or phrases describe God&#8217;s continual involvement with His creation in ways that <strong><em>preserve<\/em><\/strong> it?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #28:<\/strong>\u00a0 In what specific ways does knowledge of this aspect of God&#8217;s sovereignty encourage and comfort you?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Concurrence: <\/strong><em>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. <\/em>\u00a0Here we see that although God is separate and distinct from everything He has made, He <em>oversees <\/em>everything He has made in a directive way.\u00a0 In theological terms, this is called <strong>concurrence.<\/strong>\u00a0 When we use this term, we are referring to God&#8217;s ultimate control over <strong><em>nature<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>history<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 This idea is supported by the testimony of Scripture.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"increation\">God&#8217;s Control of Nature<\/h3>\n<p>When we speak of God&#8217;s control of nature, we are referring to His control of planetary movements, weather patterns, animals, people, angels, and demons \u2013 in other words, everything He has made.\u00a0 At God&#8217;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.\u00a0 Tornados and tempests, lightning and thunder, winds and waves &#8230; all are God&#8217;s servants sent to do His bidding and perform all His good pleasure.\u00a0 <strong><em>No<\/em><\/strong> maverick storm has ever raged through God&#8217;s creation outside of God&#8217;s ruling hand of Providence!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Job 37:1-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.\u00a0 2Listen closely to the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.\u00a0 3Under the whole heaven <strong><mark>He lets it loose, And His lightning to the ends of the earth<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 4After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice;<br \/>\n    And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.\u00a0 5God thunders with His voice wondrously, Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.\u00a0 6<strong><mark>For to the snow He says, \u201cFall on the earth,\u201d And to the downpour and the rain, \u201cBe strong.\u201d\u00a0 7He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work<\/mark>     .<\/strong>\u00a0 8Then the beast goes into its lair, And remains in its den.\u00a0 9Out of the south comes the storm, And out of the north the cold.\u00a0<br \/>\n    <mark>10<strong>From the breath of God ice is made<\/strong><\/mark>     , And the expanse of the waters is frozen.\u00a0 11Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.\u00a0 12And it changes direction, turning around by His guidance, That it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.\u00a0 13<strong><mark>Whether for correction, or for His world, Or for lovingkindness, He <u>causes<\/u> it to happen<\/mark><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 135:6-7:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 6<\/strong>Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.\u00a0 7<strong><mark>He <u>causes<\/u> 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><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Mark 4:38-41:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 38<\/strong>And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, \u201cTeacher, do You not care that we are perishing?\u201d 39And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, \u201cHush, be still.\u201d And <strong><mark>the wind died down and it became perfectly calm<\/mark><\/strong>. 40And He said to them, \u201cWhy are you so timid?\u00a0 How is it that you have no faith?\u201d\u00a0 41And they became very much afraid and said to one another, \u201cWho then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?\u201d <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 38:12-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 12Have you ever in your life <strong><mark>commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place<\/mark><\/strong>; 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 103:20:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, <strong><mark>who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #29:<\/strong> From the Scriptures quoted above, list specific words (verbs) that describe God&#8217;s and Jesus&#8217;s involvement with nature.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #30:<\/strong>\u00a0 In each case, what happened as a result of God and Jesus&#8217;s involvement?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #31:<\/strong>\u00a0 According to Psalm 103:20, how do angels relate to God?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #32:<\/strong>\u00a0 Summarize in your own words what are these Scriptures teach about God.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #33:<\/strong>\u00a0 Describe your mental and emotional reaction to this teaching.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"inprovidence\">God&#8217;s Control of History<\/h3>\n<p>Not only does God control nature, but also the events of history.\u00a0 The <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that God is the primary cause behind every historical occurrence.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Lamentations 3:37-38:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 37Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, <strong><mark>Unless the Lord has commanded it?<\/mark><\/strong> 38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 45:7:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The One forming light and creating darkness, <strong><mark>Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider these words of <strong>Jonathan Edwards<\/strong>:\u00a0 <em>\u201c<\/em><em>God decreed from all eternity all the evil that He ever does permit, because God&#8217;s permitting is God&#8217;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.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\"> <\/a> God&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:9-11:<\/em><\/strong> 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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<\/mark> <\/strong>. In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined <strong><br \/>\n<mark>according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will<\/mark> <\/strong>,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Many examples of God&#8217;s control over the events of history can be cited from the Old Testament. Here are just a few:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The creation account\u00a0 (Genesis 1-2)<\/li>\n<li>The flood (Genesis 6-8)<\/li>\n<li>The confounding of human languages at Babel:\u00a0 (Genesis 11)<\/li>\n<li>The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: (Genesis 19)<\/li>\n<li>The plagues of Egypt: (Exodus 7-12)<\/li>\n<li>The Exodus, parting of the Red Sea, giving of manna and water from the\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 rock: (Exodus14-17)<\/li>\n<li>Giving of the Law at Sinai: (Exodus 19-20)<\/li>\n<li>Defeat of Sihon and Og:\u00a0 (Numbers 21)<\/li>\n<li>Conquest of Canaan:\u00a0 (Joshua)<\/li>\n<li>Numerous divine interventions:\u00a0(Judges)<\/li>\n<li>Defeat of Sennacherib and 185,000 Assyrians:<strong>\u00a0 (<\/strong>2 Kings 19)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Question #34:<\/strong>\u00a0 Read two or three of the passages referenced above.\u00a0 For each one that you read, describe how God&#8217;s control over the events of history is clearly affirmed.\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> The Old Testament is literally riddled with accounts of <strong><em>concurrence<\/em><\/strong> i.e.,examples of God&#8217;s constant cooperation \u201cwith created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.\u201dScripture plainly declares that God: (1) controls <strong><em>the events of history<\/em><\/strong> to achieve His own purpose and will; and (2) exercises His providence<strong><em> over the nations themselves as well as the economic and religious systems of the world.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>He is sovereign over the wise and the foolish, the strong and the weak.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 40:22-25:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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.\u00a0 23<strong><mark>He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.\u00a0 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<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 25\u201dTo whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?\u201d says the Holy One.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 12:16-22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 16With Him are strength and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader belong to Him.\u00a0 17He makes counselors walk barefoot, And makes fools of judges. <strong>\u00a0<\/strong>18<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>He loosens the bond of kings, And binds their loins with a girdle. <\/strong>19<strong>He makes priests walk barefoot, And overthrows the secure ones.<\/strong><\/mark>   \u00a0 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.\u00a0 22He reveals mysteries from the darkness, And brings the deep darkness into light.\u00a0 23<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 24He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth&#8217;s people, And makes them wander in a pathless waste.\u00a0 25They grope in darkness with no light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man. <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 11:32:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><mark>God has shut up all in disobedience<\/mark><\/strong> that He might show mercy to all.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 22:28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For the kingdom is the Lord&#8217;s, And <strong><mark>He rules over the nations<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 82:8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Arise, O God, judge the earth!\u00a0 <strong><mark>For it is Thou who dost possess all the nations<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 47:7-8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.\u00a0 8<strong><mark>God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Here we have irrefutable testimony that <strong><em>God is Sovereign over the nations of the earth!\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>These passages affirm that when a nation becomes great and powerful, it is God&#8217;s doing.\u00a0 They affirm that when a nation is destroyed, it is God&#8217;s doing.\u00a0 Even the spiritual darkness of the nations is said to be God&#8217;s doing.\u00a0 All the nations belong to Him.\u00a0 They exist for His purposes and His good pleasure.\u00a0 The<br \/>\n  <mark class=\"green\">Old Testament plainly declares<\/mark> that God providentially directs the rise and fall of nations and is constantly directing the affairs of human history.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #35:<\/strong>\u00a0 From the verses quoted above, describe several examples of <strong>concurrence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #36:<\/strong>\u00a0 How do these examples of concurrence encourage and comfort you as situations in the world tempt you to be worried and fearful?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Many examples of God&#8217;s control over the events of history can also be cited from the New Testament. Here are just a few: <u>1.\u00a0 From the life and ministry of Jesus Christ:\u00a0 <\/u>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>His virgin birth:<\/strong> (Luke 1-3)<\/li>\n<li><strong>His calming of the raging sea:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Matthew 8:23-27)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The lame walk:<\/strong>\u00a0 (John 5:1-47, note in particular, vs 17, 19 &amp; 30)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The blind see:<\/strong>\u00a0 (John 9:1-41, note in particular, vs 3-5)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The dead live again:<\/strong>\u00a0 (John 11:1-44, note in particlar, vs. 4, 41-42)<\/li>\n<li><strong>His resurrection: (<\/strong>Matthew 28:1-20, note in particular vs 2-7, 18-20)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><u>2.\u00a0 From other places in the New Testament: <\/u><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:<\/strong> (Acts 2:1-21)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Numerous signs and wonders done by the Apostles:<\/strong>\u00a0 (throughout Acts)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Peter&#8217;s deliverance from prison:<\/strong> (Acts 12:1-11)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The conversion and calling of Saul of Tarsus:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Acts 9:1-22)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The death of Herod:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Acts 12:18-23)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The trumpet and bowl judgments:<\/strong> (Revelation 7-11,16)<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Judgment of the Beast and the False Prophet:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Revelation 19:19-21)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Question #37:<\/strong>\u00a0 Read two or three of the passages referenced above.\u00a0 For each one that you read, describe how God&#8217;s control over the events of history is clearly affirmed.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The following passages specifically demonstrate how God mysteriously works in the free choices of men to accomplish His purposes. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 2:22-24:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>22Men of Israel, listen to these words:\u00a0 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\u2014 23<strong><mark>this 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<\/mark><\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 4:27-28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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<strong><mark>to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #38:<\/strong>\u00a0 In these two situations from Acts, how do you see <strong>concurrence<\/strong> at work?\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> The<br \/>\n  <mark class=\"green\">New Testament plainly declares<\/mark> and explicitly teaches that God is constantly directing all the affairs of human history.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Two Related Questions:<\/u>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <em>Does God cause or ordain evil?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Is everything that happens God&#8217;s will?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wayne Grudem<\/strong>, in his <em>Systematic Theology<\/em>, wisely answers the first question like this:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>If God does indeed cause, through his providential activity, everything that comes about in the world, then the question arises, \u201cWhat is the relationship between God and evil in the world?\u201d\u00a0 Does God actually cause the evil actions that people do?\u00a0 If he does, then is God not responsible for sin? <\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In approaching this question, it is best first to read the passages of Scripture that directly address it.\u00a0 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 <u>Scripture nowhere shows God as directly doing anything evil,<\/u> but rather as bringing about evil deeds through the willing actions of moral creatures.\u00a0 Moreover, <u>Scripture never blames God for evil or shows God as taking pleasure in evil,<\/u> and <u>Scripture never excuses human beings for the wrong they do.<\/u>\u00a0 However we understand God&#8217;s relationship to evil, we must <u>never<\/u> come to the point where <u>we think that we are not responsible for the evil that we do, or that God takes pleasure in evil<\/u> or is to be blamed for it.\u00a0 Such a conclusion is clearly contrary to Scripture. <\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There are literally dozens of Scripture passages that say that God (indirectly) brought about some kind of evil.\u00a0 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.<\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A very clear example is found in the story of Joseph. Scripture clearly says that Joseph&#8217;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, \u201cGod sent me before you to preserve life\u201d (Gen. 45:5), and \u201cYou 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\u201d(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&#8217;s own purposes were accomplished. Both are clearly affirmed.<\/em> <em>The story of the exodus from Egypt repeatedly affirms that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh: God says, \u201cI will harden his heart\u201d (Ex. 4:21), \u201cI will harden Pharaoh&#8217;s heart\u201d (Ex. 7:3), \u201cthe Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh\u201d (Ex. 9:12), \u201cthe Lord hardened Pharaoh&#8217;s heart\u201d (Ex. 10:20, repeated in 10:27 and again in 11:10), \u201cI will harden Pharaoh&#8217;s heart\u201d (Ex. 14:4), and \u201cthe Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt\u201d (Ex. 14:8). . . . <\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What was God&#8217;s purpose in this?\u00a0 Paul reflects on Exodus 9:16 and says, \u201cFor the scripture says to Pharaoh, \u2018I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so <u>that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth&#8217;<\/u>\u201d (Rom. 9:17). Then Paul infers a general truth from this specific example: \u201cSo then he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills\u201d (Rom. 9:18). In fact, God also hardened the hearts of the Egyptian people so that they pursued Israel into the Red Sea: \u201cI 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\u201d (Ex. 14:17). This theme is repeated in Psalm 105:25: \u201cHe turned their hearts to hate his people.\u201d . . .<\/em> <em>Later in the Old Testament narrative similar examples are found of the Canaanites who were destroyed in the conquest of Palestine under Joshua.\u00a0 We read,\u00a0 \u201cFor it was the Lord&#8217;s doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be utterly destroyed\u201d (Josh. 11:20; see also Judg. 3:12; 9:23).\u00a0 And Samson&#8217;s demand to marry an unbelieving Philistine woman \u201cwas from the Lord; for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel\u201d\u00a0 (Judg 14:4).\u00a0 We also read that the sons of Eli, when rebuked for their evil deeds, \u201cwould not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the Lord to slay them\u201d (1 Sam. 2:25).\u00a0 Later, \u201can evil spirit from the Lord\u201d tormented King Saul (1 Sam. 16:14). . . . <\/em> <em>Still later in David&#8217;s life, the Lord \u201cincited\u201d David to take a census of the people (2 Sam. 24:1), but afterward David recognized this as sin, saying, \u201cI have sinned greatly in what I have done\u201d (2 Sam. 24:10), and God sent punishment on the land because of this sin (2 Sam. 24:12\u201317). However, it is also clear that \u201cthe anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel\u201d (2 Sam. 24:1), so God&#8217;s inciting of David to sin was a means by which he brought about punishment on the people of Israel.\u00a0 Moreover, <u>the means by which God incited David is made clear in 1 Chronicles 21:1: \u201cSatan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel.<\/u>\u201d 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. . . .\u00a0 <\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the story of <u>Job<\/u>, though <u>the Lord gave Satan permission<\/u> to bring harm to Job&#8217;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: \u201cthe Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord\u201d (Job 1:21). The Old Testament author follows Job&#8217;s statement immediately with the sentence, \u201cIn all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong\u201d (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, \u201cThe Lord has taken away.\u201d 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, \u201cBlessed be the name of the Lord.\u201d 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.<\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Elsewhere in the Old Testament we read that <u>the Lord \u201cput a lying spirit in the mouth\u201d of Ahab&#8217;s prophets<\/u> (1 Kings 22:23) and sent the wicked Assyrians as \u201cthe rod of my anger\u201d to punish Israel (Isa. 10:5). . . .<\/em> <em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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 <u>evil human beings<\/u> or <u>demonic forces<\/u> or <u>\u201cnatural\u201d disasters<\/u> 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&#8217;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\u201324).\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #39:<\/strong>\u00a0 Summarize your understanding of Grudem&#8217;s teaching in three or four sentences.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #40:<\/strong>\u00a0 Did Grudem&#8217;s teaching generate any questions in your mind?\u00a0 If so, record them here:<\/p>\n<p>    &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Distinctions in God&#8217;s Will &#8211; Is everything God&#8217;s will?<\/h3>\n<p>Armed with this understanding of God&#8217;s control over and use of evil, we will now turn to the second question: <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>Is everything that happens God&#8217;s will<\/mark>   ?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>As we have seen, God&#8217;s will must be seen as the final authority behind and ultimate reason for everything that happens. God&#8217;s providential <strong><em>permitting <\/em><\/strong>or<strong><em> preventing<\/em><\/strong> determines whatsoever comes to pass (Isaiah 14:24).\u00a0 Does this mean, however, that everything that happens is God&#8217;s will?\u00a0 Answering this question requires us to distinguish between God&#8217;s <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>sovereign will<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> and His <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>moral will<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark class=\"green\">Scripture clearly reveals<\/mark>   that God often <strong><em>permits<\/em><\/strong> His moral requirements to be violated by the free choices of men and women.\u00a0 This reveals that God&#8217;s <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>sovereign will<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> clearly <strong><em>includes<\/em><\/strong> certain violations of His moral will.\u00a0 God&#8217;s <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>moral will<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> is discerned by simply reading His <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>precepts<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>commands <\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong>regarding human conduct. God&#8217;s<strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark> sovereign will<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> is discerned only when the <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>secret<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> counsel of God is <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>revealed<\/mark>   <\/em><\/strong> as events actually happen. Whatever comes to pass is what He has sovereignly planned and <strong><em><br \/>\n  <mark>decreed<\/mark> <\/em><\/strong> from all eternity.\u00a0 Thus, we answer questions like, \u201cIs it God&#8217;s will for me to do this or that,\u201d by simply looking to God&#8217;s revelation of His moral will in Scripture.\u00a0 But as events actually occur, we come to know God&#8217;s sovereign will, i.e., what He has ordained and then approved, permitted or prevented.\u00a0 When discussing these matters, therefore, we must clearly distinguish between<em> <strong>Two Wills of God.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>The following Table will help us do that.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image002.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"486\" height=\"492\" \/><\/p>\n<p> <strong>Question #41:<\/strong>\u00a0 In your own words, distinguish between God&#8217;s sovereign will and His moral will.\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #42:<\/strong>\u00a0 How would you explain the difference between God&#8217;s sovereign will and His moral will to a young child?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Examples of the two wills of God are clearly seen in Scripture and in the world around us.\u00a0 When we see evil take place, we know that, although it is <strong><em>a violation of <\/em><\/strong>His moral will (His revealed will, commanded will, or will of precept), God <strong><em>permitted rather than prevented<\/em><\/strong> it by His sovereign will (His will of decree or secret will) which He determined from all Eternity.<\/p>\n<p>Consider the following: <strong>Joseph and his brothers: <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Genesis 50:20:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 And as for you, you meant evil against me, but <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>God meant it for good in order<\/mark> <\/strong> to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>The murder of Jesus:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Acts 2:23:<\/em><\/strong> this Man, delivered up <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>by the predetermined plan and foreknow-ledge of God<\/mark> <\/strong>, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Genocide in War 9\/11\/2001:\u00a0 The Attack on the Twin Tower<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How can we explain such things in the light of God&#8217;s absolute sovereignty?\u00a0 <strong>Jonathan Edwards<\/strong> well states what is taught in Scripture:<em>\u00a0 \u201cGod decreed from all eternity all the evil that He ever does permit, because God&#8217;s permitting is God&#8217;s forbearing to act or to prevent.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Simply stated, God permits the existence of evil in His world, which He hates, to accomplish higher purposes in His world which he loves. <strong>Question #43:<\/strong>\u00a0 Formulate a short response to someone who asks you, \u201cHow can a good God allow all this evil to exist in our world?\u201d (This response should briefly answer the question from a biblical perspective while serving as a foundation for further discussion.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Government: <\/strong><em>God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he . . . <strong>\u00a0(3)<\/strong> directs them to fulfill his purposes<\/em>.\u201d Grudem further defines this third aspect of God&#8217;s Providence by saying, \u201c<em>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<\/em>.\u201d<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\"> <\/a> <\/p>\n<p>The<br \/>\n  <mark>Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that everything happens ultimately under the <strong><em>sovereign authority<\/em><\/strong> of God as He <strong><em>directs them<\/em><\/strong> so that <strong><em>in the end His purposes are fulfilled<\/em><\/strong>.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 103:19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>His sovereignty rules over all<\/mark> .<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Paul affirms that God works <strong><em>\u201call things after the counsel of His will\u201d<\/em><\/strong> and to His <strong><em>\u201cends.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:11-12:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, <\/strong>12<strong>to the end<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\nthat we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 8:28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 And we know <strong><mark>that God causes all things to work together for good<\/mark><\/strong> to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 11:36:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><mark>from Him and through Him and to Him are all things<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 To Him be the glory forever. Amen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> this same truth in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ecclesiastes 7:13-14<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 13Consider the work of God, For <strong><mark>who is able to straighten what He has bent<\/mark><\/strong>?\u00a0 14In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider\u2014God<strong><mark> has made the one as well as the other<\/mark><\/strong> So that man may not discover anything that will be after him.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Daniel 4:34-35:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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:\u00a0 For <strong><mark>His dominion is an everlasting dominion<\/mark><\/strong>, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.\u00a0 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But <strong><mark>He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; <\/mark><\/strong>And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, \u201cWhat hast Thou done?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalms 135:5-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 5For I know that<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.\u00a0 <\/strong>6<strong>Whatever the Lord pleases, He does<\/strong><\/mark>   , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that everything in the universe, seen and unseen, is under the sovereign authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>1 Corinthians 15:27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0For <strong><mark>He has put all things in subjection under His feet<\/mark><\/strong>. But when He says, \u201cAll things are put in subjection,\u201d it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:19b-22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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 <strong><mark>above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named<\/mark><\/strong>, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.\u00a0 22And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things<\/mark><\/strong> to the church, 23which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Philippians 2:9-11:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9Therefore also <strong><mark>God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name<\/mark><\/strong>, 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 <strong>every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord<\/strong>, to the glory of God the Father.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #44:<\/strong> Based on your reading of the above Scriptures, describe in your own words the <strong><em>effectiveness<\/em><\/strong> of God&#8217;s providential governing of His creation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #45:<\/strong>\u00a0 Based on your reading of the above Scriptures, how do you think God&#8217;s government of His creation relates to human governments?<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>(If necessary, see also Proverbs 21:2 and Romans 13:1-7.) <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong> 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.\u00a0 His Providence displays His sovereign authority in clear and unmistakable ways.\u00a0 Dear reader, hear now the word of the Lord!\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 4:39:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As we struggle in our human frailty to understand the profound truth of God&#8217;s providence <strong>Wayne Grudem<\/strong> helpfully reminds us to bow in humility before its great mystery:\u00a0 <em>\u201cWhat if we cannot understand this doctrine fully? &#8211; <\/em><em>Every believer who meditates on God&#8217;s providence will sooner or later come to a point where he or she will have to say, \u2018I cannot understand this doctrine fully.&#8217; 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.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #46:<\/strong>\u00a0 Are you willing to bow in humility before the great mystery of God&#8217;s providence and believe it while frankly admitting that you cannot understand it fully?<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"applyingprovidence\">Application<\/h3>\n<p>Applying this doctrine in our lives so that it impacts our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions requires us to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Believe God is providential<\/li>\n<li>Appreciate God&#8217;s wise providential purposes and rule<\/li>\n<li>Humbly submit to God&#8217;s will<\/li>\n<li>Never complain against God&#8217;s providence<\/li>\n<li>Be thankful for God&#8217;s providence<\/li>\n<li>Trust in God&#8217;s good promises to His people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Believe God is providential<\/h3>\n<p>Chances are good you believe in God&#8217;s providence, whether you realize it or not.\u00a0 Is this not your assumption each time you pray for God&#8217;s intervention in your life?\u00a0 Indeed it is!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Your prayer reflects your belief that God is almighty and in control of all things as you rest in trusting God.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 26:3-4:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3The <strong><mark>steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 4Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Proverbs 3:5-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a05<strong><mark>Trust in the Lord with all your heart<\/mark><\/strong>, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #47:<\/strong>\u00a0 Consider you typical prayers.\u00a0 Do they reflect a belief in God&#8217;s providence?\u00a0 Explain by giving examples.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Appreciate His wise providential purposes and rule <\/strong> How wonderful it is to consider that our highly exalted God has created us for the purpose of worshipping Him and enjoying Him forever!\u00a0 As the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, \u201cThe chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.\u201d\u00a0 This statement clearly reflects the great and foremost commandment given to us by Jesus.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Matthew 22:37-38: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a037<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>And He said to him, \u201c\u2018You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.<\/strong>&#8216;<\/mark> \u00a0 38This is the great and foremost commandment.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>How can we love God and <em>not<\/em> love His almighty rule over the world?\u00a0\u00a0 How can we adore Him with everything that is within us and <em>not <\/em>worship and magnify the astounding wisdom displayed in His providencial control over the world?\u00a0 We can only rejoice and give thanks for the great benefits we have in God&#8217;s providence!\u00a0 <strong>Thomas Watson<\/strong> expressed it well: <em>\u201cWithout 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.\u00a0 And does not all this deserve your admiration of providence?\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\"> <\/a>Rightly understanding God&#8217;s providence drives us to exalt the honor of His name as we worship Him with holy fear and rejoicing!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 96:9-13:<\/em><\/strong> 9<strong><mark>Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.\u00a0 10Say among the nations, \u201cThe Lord reigns;<\/mark><\/strong> Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.\u201d\u00a0 11<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains;\u00a0 <\/strong>12<strong>Let the field exult, and all that is in it.\u00a0 Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy<\/strong><\/mark>     \u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God rebukes those who do not adore His mighty providence.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Jeremiah 5:22-23:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a022<strong><mark>\u201cDo you not fear Me?\u201d declares the Lord. \u201cDo you not tremble in My presence?<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0 For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.\u00a0 Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.\u00a0 23&#8217;But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed.\u201d<br \/>\n    And He commands us to tremble and praise Him because He is highly exalted.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 99:1-3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1<strong><mark>The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble<\/mark><\/strong>; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! 2The Lord is great in Zion, And<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>He is exalted above all the peoples.\u00a0 <\/strong>3<strong>Let them praise Thy great and awesome name; Holy is He<\/strong><\/mark>   .<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God&#8217;s providence is worthy of our admiration and praise.\u00a0 Rightly understanding it benefits us while intensifying our worship of God in many ways, including the following.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Increases our gratitude to God<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 75:1:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>We give thanks to Thee, O God<\/mark> <\/strong>, we give thanks, For Thy name is near; <strong><br \/>\n<mark>Men declare Thy wondrous works<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Increases our trust in God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 65:5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 By awesome deeds Thou dost answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, <strong>T<br \/>\n  <mark>hou art the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea.<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Changes the way we view our world<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 102:25-27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>25Of old Thou didst found the earth; And the heavens are the work of Thy hands.\u00a0 26Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure<\/mark> <\/strong>; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed.\u00a0 27<strong><br \/>\n<mark>But Thou are the same, And Thy years will not come to an end<\/mark> .\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Proverbs 16:4:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 <mark>The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Causes us to <em>rest in God&#8217;s promises<\/em> as we consider <em>future events<\/em>, knowing that even if we face dreadful suffering, God will work it for our good.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 8:28,31:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 28<\/strong>And we know that <strong><mark>God causes all things to work together for good<\/mark><\/strong> to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. . . . 31What then shall we say to these things? <strong><mark>If God is for us, who is against us?<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>      <em>Psalm 23:3-4:<\/em><\/strong><strong> 3<\/strong>He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name&#8217;s sake.\u00a0 4<strong><mark>Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me<\/mark><\/strong>; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Encourages us to anticipate the accomplishment of <em>God&#8217;s ultimate end in everything<\/em>: He will destroy evil forever, and we will lie down in peace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 14:24, 27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 24The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, \u201c<strong><mark>Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will be.<\/mark><\/strong> . . . 27For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?\u00a0 And as for His outstretched hand, who can turn it back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 11:6-9:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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.\u00a0 7Also the cow and bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox.\u00a0 8And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper&#8217;s den.\u00a0 9<strong><mark>They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain<\/mark><\/strong>, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Affirms that God&#8217;s providence is the <em>foundation of our hope<\/em> for a future day of glorious rest and eternal happiness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Revelation 21:3-4:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, \u201cBehold, 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<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>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<\/strong>;<\/mark> the first things have passed away.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Oh Christian, consider how His eye is on the sparrow and He watches over you!\u00a0 Yours is a special providence, being in the company of God&#8217;s dearly beloved and chosen people.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0And we know <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Thomas Watson<\/strong> further teaches us:\u00a0 <em>\u201cGod&#8217;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. \u2018He careth for you,&#8217; 1 Peter 5:7. i.e., the elect in a special manner. \u2018The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him; to preserve them from death, and to keep them alive in famine.&#8217; 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&#8217;s providence keeps the very bones of the saints. Ps 34:20.\u00a0 It bottles their tears. Ps 56:8.\u00a0 It strengthens the saints in their weakness.\u00a0 Heb 11:34.\u00a0 It supplies all their wants out of its alms basket. Ps 23:5. Thus Providence wonderfully supplies the wants of the elect.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn10\" name=\"_ftnref10\"> <\/a>\u00a0 Let us therefore appreciate God&#8217;s providence enough to worship and magnify God&#8217;s great name because of it.\u00a0 Let us do this while always seeking to acknowledge His invisible hand of guidance and care.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #48:<\/strong>\u00a0 At this particular time in your life, what do you most appreciate about God&#8217;s providential purposes and rule?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #49:<\/strong>\u00a0 In what specific ways should you demonstrate (in your thoughts, actions, attitudes, and speech) your appreciation of God&#8217;s providential purposes and rule?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Humbly submit to His will<\/h3>\n<p>We rightly acknowledge God&#8217;s good providence by humbly submitting to it.\u00a0 Are we happy that God is in control?\u00a0 Then let us also be happy with what He gives and <strong><em>also<\/em><\/strong> with what He takes away.\u00a0 Remember God&#8217;s good promise to never give us more than we can bear and to bring us safely to His heaven.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>1 Corinthians 10:13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and <strong><mark>God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able<\/mark><\/strong>, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2 Timothy 4:18:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom<\/mark><\/strong>; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Peter 1:3-5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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, 5<strong><mark>who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation<\/mark><\/strong> ready to be revealed in the last time.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 10:27-29:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and <strong><mark>I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand<\/mark><\/strong>. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father&#8217;s hand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider the example of the saints who have gone before us.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <strong>Watson<\/strong> elaborates, <em>\u201c<\/em><em>God is to be trusted<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>when his providences seem to run contrary to his promises<\/strong>.<\/mark> \u00a0 God promised to give David the crown, to make him king; but providence ran contrary to his promise.\u00a0 David was pursued by Saul, and was in danger of his life, but all this while it was David&#8217;s duty to trust God.\u00a0 Pray observe, that the Lord by cross providences often brings to pass his promise.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Thus God fulfilled his promise; upon the broken pieces of the ship they all came safe to shore.\u00a0 Trust God when providences seem to run quite contrary to promises.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn11\" name=\"_ftnref11\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Abraham:\u00a0 <\/strong>Faithful to God in severe trial while trusting in God&#8217;s promise to bless.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Hebrews 11:17-19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 17By faith Abraham, <strong><mark>when he was tested, offered up Isaac;<\/mark><\/strong> and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom it was said, \u201cIn Isaac your descendants shall be called.\u201d\u00a0 19He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead; from which he also received him back as a type.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Job:<\/strong>\u00a0 Worshipped God in the midst of terrible suffering and pain.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Job 1:20-21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.\u00a0 21And he said, \u201cNaked I came from my mother&#8217;s womb, And naked I shall return there.<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.\u00a0 Blessed be the name of the Lord<\/strong>.<\/mark>   \u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 13:15a:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Joseph:<\/strong>\u00a0 Faithful to God in the midst of terrible hardships and suffering.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Genesis 50:19-21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 19<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>But Joseph said to them, \u201cDo not be afraid, for am I in God&#8217;s place?\u00a020And 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.\u00a0 <\/strong>21<strong>So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.\u201d<\/strong><\/mark> \u00a0 So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Daniel:<\/strong>\u00a0 Faithful to God in the midst of great suffering and severe temptation in a pagan culture.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Daniel 1:1-9:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.\u00a0 <\/strong>2<strong>And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah in to his hand<\/strong><\/mark>   , 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.\u00a0 3<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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<\/mark><\/strong>, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. . . . 8<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the kind&#8217;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.\u00a0 <\/strong>9<strong>Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials<\/strong><\/mark>   .<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Paul:<\/strong>\u00a0 Persevered to the end despite tremendous suffering and persecution.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>2 Corinthians 11:23-28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 23Are they servants of Christ?\u00a0 (I speak as if insane) <strong><mark>I more so<\/mark><\/strong>; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.\u00a0 24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 28<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #50:\u00a0 <\/strong>Which of the above examples are most helpful in encouraging you to submit to God&#8217;s will?\u00a0 Explain how they are encouraging to you.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #51:<\/strong>\u00a0 Describe one or more specific situations in which you need to submit to God&#8217;s will.\u00a0 Then list specific actions you must take in order to submit to God&#8217;s will in this (these) situations.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #52:<\/strong>\u00a0 Make a specific step-by-step plan that you will follow to take the actions listed in Q. #51.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Never Complain against God&#8217;s Providence<\/h3>\n<p>Would you like to rule the world?\u00a0 Do you have a wiser plan than God&#8217;s?\u00a0 Would God and His world be better off if you were at the helm?\u00a0 Such thinking is utter folly, and we all know it.\u00a0 Why then do we complain disrespectfully against God&#8217;s wise providence?\u00a0 Shall the clay say to the potter, why did you make me like this?\u00a0 (Romans 9:20-21)\u00a0 Shall the dog bite the hand that feeds it?\u00a0 Complaining to God about the circumstances of our lives is sheer folly, but <em>seeking consolation and comfort <\/em>in His sovereign power, wisdom, and care is wise. Consider the words of <strong>Thomas Watson<\/strong>: <em>\u201cLet us <strong>be content<\/strong> that God should rule the world; <strong>learn to acquiesce<\/strong> in his will, and <strong>submit to his providence<\/strong>. Does any affliction befall you?\u00a0 Remember God sees it is that which is fit for you, or it would not come.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn12\" name=\"_ftnref12\"> <\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Philippians 2:12-16:<\/em><\/strong> 12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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.\u00a0 14Do all things without grumbling or disputing<\/mark> <\/strong>; 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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&#8217;s greatest glory!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Matthew 6:31-34:<\/em><\/strong> 31Do not be anxious then, saying, \u201cWhat shall we eat?\u201d or \u201cWhat shall we drink?\u201d or \u201cWith what shall we clothe ourselves?\u201d\u00a0 32For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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.<\/mark> <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 34Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.\u00a0 Each day has enough trouble of its own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #53:<\/strong>\u00a0 How do Philippians 2:12-16 and Matthew 6:31-34 specifically affirm the great wisdom of submitting to God&#8217;s providence without complaint?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #54:<\/strong>\u00a0 What particular aspects of your life right now are you most tempted to complain about?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #55:<\/strong>\u00a0 How will you apply Philippians 2:12-16 and Matthew 6:31-34 to these particular aspects of your life?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Be Thankful for God&#8217;s Providence<\/h3>\n<p>Dear friends, when we consider God&#8217;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.\u00a0 Since He has met our greatest need by not sparing His own Son, He will also give us everything else that we need.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:31-32: <\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>31What then shall we say to these things?\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>If God is for us, who is against us?<\/mark> <\/strong>\u00a0 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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?\u00a0 Indeed He will!\u00a0 And He won&#8217;t stop there.\u00a0 He will also crown us with eternal life and allow us to see His glory forever in Heaven.\u00a0 What more could we want from the good hand of Providence?\u00a0 Learn then, that it is fitting for the upright to praise God.\u00a0 Thanksgiving to God is pure praise! It honors the God who gives us life and breath.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 50:23:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark>He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me<\/mark> <\/strong>; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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.\u00a0 Praise is the garment that fits handsomely on our backs.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 145:9-10:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.\u00a0 10<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>All Thy works shall give thanks to Thee, O Lord, And Thy godly ones shall bless Thee<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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.\u00a0 But such wicked speech does not befit a saint!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>2 Timothy 3:2-4<\/em><\/strong>: \u00a02For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, <strong><mark>boastful, arrogant, revilers,<\/mark><\/strong> disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>malicious gossips, without self-control, <\/mark><\/strong>brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 33:1-5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright<\/strong>.\u00a0 <strong>2Give thanks to the Lord<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\n  with the lyre; <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Sing praises to Him<\/mark><\/strong> with a harp of ten strings. <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 4For the word of the Lord is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness.\u00a0 5He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let us therefore give God the thanksgiving and praise which is due Him!\u00a0 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\u2014may 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.\u00a0 May we do His good will by giving thanks in all circumstances!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:<\/em><\/strong> 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18<strong><mark>in everything give thanks; for this is God&#8217;s will for you<\/mark><\/strong> in Christ Jesus. <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 5:18-20:<\/em><\/strong>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; <strong><mark>always giving thanks for all things<\/mark><\/strong> in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #56:<\/strong>\u00a0 According to Romans 8:31-32, Psalm 50:23, and Psalm 1456:9-10 33:1-5, on what basis should Christians be <em>characterized<\/em> by thankful spirits?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #57:<\/strong>\u00a0 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?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #58:<\/strong>\u00a0 Read and meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Ephesians 5:18-20 .\u00a0 Then write a hymn or a prayer of thanksgiving to God focusing specifically on your delight in and appreciation of His providence.<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Trust in God&#8217;s Good Providence to His People<\/h4>\n<p>When we consider the promises which God has made, we should be encouraged to rest in His providence.\u00a0 Because God is in control, we can rest knowing that He will bring about our good and His glory!\u00a0 <strong>Thomas Watson<\/strong> gives us this challenge:\u00a0 <em>\u201cTherefore, Christians, believe that God loves you, and that he will make the most cross providences to promote his glory and your good.\u201d<\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn13\" name=\"_ftnref13\"> <\/a>\u00a0 Scripture affirms that God will care for us and meet our needs.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 37:3-7:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Trust in the Lord, and do good<\/mark> <\/strong>; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.\u00a0 4Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.\u00a0 5<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him<\/mark> <\/strong>, and He will do it.\u00a0 6And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday.\u00a0 7<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him<\/mark> <\/strong>; Do not fret because of him who propsers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus often confronting our fears with, \u201cDo not be afraid,\u201d followed by assurances of His presence with us.\u00a0 Indeed we have nothing to fear if we love God, everything will work for our <em>ultimate good<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Luke 12:32:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark>Do not be afraid<\/mark> <\/strong>, little flock, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #59:<\/strong> List the commands in Psalm 37:3-7 and Luke 12:32.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #60:<\/strong>\u00a0 Now list the promises and affirmations of truth in these passages.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #61:<\/strong>\u00a0 How do the promises and affirmations of truth in these passages encourage you to so trust in God&#8217;s providence that you delight and rejoice in obeying His commands?<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;\n<\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God<\/h1>\n<h2 align=\"center\"><strong id=\"godspurposes\">Part 3: God&#8217;s Purposes<br \/>\n  Divine Sovereignty and Prayer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Many object to the idea of foreordination, arguing that if all things are decreed or ordained from the beginning there is <strong><em>no reason to pray<\/em>,<\/strong> since God&#8217;s decree cannot be changed.\u00a0 This objection cannot stand, however, because it misunderstands the fundamental purpose of prayer.\u00a0 When God commands us to pray, He is not giving us veto power over His decree.\u00a0 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&#8217;s purpose for prayer as it relates to His sovereignty by considering the following points:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prayer is fundamentally an acknowledgment of God&#8217;s Sovereignty.<\/li>\n<li>Prayer is a humble expression of our dependence.<\/li>\n<li>Prayer changes the way we see things in time and space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Prayer is fundamentally an acknowledgment of God&#8217;s Sovereignty:<\/strong>\u00a0 Prayer&#8217;s primary purpose is to honor and glorify God.\u00a0 Prayer fundamentally recognizes God&#8217;s sovereignty, acknowledges His power, and submits to His will.\u00a0 Prayer, as it is defined and illustrated in the Bible: <strong>(1)<\/strong> seeks to align human thought and will to God&#8217;s divine purposes; and <strong>(2)<\/strong> appeals to His power and ability to meet legitimate needs and desires.\u00a0 Consider, for example, the pattern of prayer given by Jesus to His disciples:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Matthew 6:8-13:<\/strong>\u00a0 8Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.\u00a0 9Pray, then, in this way:\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>(1)<\/strong> \u201c<strong>Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name<\/strong><\/mark> . 10Thy kingdom come. <strong><br \/>\n<mark>Thy will be done<\/mark> <\/strong>, On earth as it is in heaven.\u00a0<strong>(2)<\/strong> 11<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Give us this day our daily bread.\u00a0 12And forgive us our debts<\/mark> <\/strong>, as we also have forgiven our debtors.\u00a0 13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n<mark>For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever<\/mark> .<\/strong> Amen.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #95:<\/strong> List words and phrases in Jesus&#8217; pattern of prayer that reflect desire to align human thought and will to God&#8217;s divine purposes:<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp; \n<\/p>\n<p>  <strong>Question #96:<\/strong>\u00a0 List words and phrases in Jesus&#8217; pattern of prayer that reflect appeals to God&#8217;s power and ability to meet legitimate needs and desires:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When we pray according to Jesus&#8217; instructions, we do not tell God how to run His world.\u00a0 Rather, we humbly acknowledge His Sovereignty, and appeal to His Fatherly willingness to care for us.\u00a0 <strong><em>When we pray for our needs to be met<\/em><\/strong>, it is not for the purpose of informing God of our needs, because Scripture says He already knows them (Matthew 6:8).\u00a0 All we need to do is acknowledge God&#8217;s ability to meet those needs.\u00a0 God does instruct us to bring our needs and requests to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6) <strong><em>for our benefit<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 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, <strong><em>when we pray for someone to be saved<\/em><\/strong>, we acknowledge God&#8217;s sovereign authority to save by granting repentance and regeneration (spiritual life) to a sinner who is dead in transgressions and sins.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p>Question #97:\u00a0 How does praying for God to meet our needs affirm His sovereignty?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prayer is a humble expression of our dependence on God:<\/strong>\u00a0 In prayer we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our complete dependence upon Him.\u00a0 We do not dictate to God what His Divine will ought to be.\u00a0 Rather, we seek to align our thinking with His all-wise and powerful, loving and good will.\u00a0 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!\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 11:34-36:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 34For who has known the mind of the Lord, <strong><mark>or who has become His counselor?\u00a0 35Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again?<\/mark>     \u00a0 <\/strong>36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.\u00a0 To Him be the glory forever.\u00a0 Amen<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Prayer is rather a confession of our weakness, even our inability to help ourselves.\u00a0 In prayer we appeal to the Almighty for His gracious enablement.\u00a0 We acknowledge that there is nothing in us to merit God&#8217;s favor, but only sin and rebellion that offends His holiness and merits our utter destruction.\u00a0 <strong><em>Humble prayer expresses submission to His Holy will and utter dependence on His gracious provision<\/em><\/strong> of our needs.<\/p>\n<p>The <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that He supplies our need.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 17:24-25:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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, <strong><mark>since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things<\/mark><\/strong>;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Philippians 4:19:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n    <mark>And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider the prayers of tax gatherer and the Pharisee in Luke 18.\u00a0 Which was heard?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Luke 18:9-14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:\u00a0 10\u201cTwo 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, \u2018God, 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.&#8217; 13<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, \u2018God, be merciful to me, the sinner!&#8217; <\/strong>14<strong>I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other<\/strong><\/mark>   ; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>James 4:10:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord<\/mark><\/strong>, and He will exalt you.<br \/>\n    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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #98:<\/strong>\u00a0 In your own words, explain how each of the following passages present prayer as a humble expression of our dependence upon God.<\/p>\n<p><em>Romans 11:34-36<\/em>:\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Acts 17:24-25<\/em>:\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Philippians 4:19<\/em>:\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Luke 8:9-14<\/em>:\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>James 4:10<\/em>:\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prayer changes the way we see things in time and space<\/strong>:\u00a0 The<br \/>\n  <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that God responds to prayer and acts either to grant or deny our requests. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>James 4:2b:<\/em><\/strong> You do not have <strong><mark>because you do not ask<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 14:13-14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 13<strong><mark>And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do<\/mark><\/strong>, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.\u00a0 14<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 91:15:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>He will call upon Me, and I will answer him<\/mark><\/strong>; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Jeremiah 29:12:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Jeremiah 33:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Call to Me, and I will answer you<\/mark><\/strong>, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2 Corinthians 12:8-9:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 8Concerning this <strong><mark>I entreated the Lord three times<\/mark><\/strong> that it might depart from me.\u00a0 9<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>And He has said to me<\/mark><\/strong>, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.\u201d\u00a0 Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ my dwell in me.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 John 5:14-15:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>14And <strong><mark>this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 15And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #99:<\/strong>\u00a0 According to the above Scripture passages, in what ways does God respond to our prayers?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Scripture also reveals that God makes conditional promises based on the prayerful obedience of His people to His commands and or warnings. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>2 Chronicles 7:13-14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 13<strong>If<\/strong> I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>if<\/mark> <\/strong> I command the locust to devour the land, or <strong><br \/>\n<mark>if <\/mark> <\/strong>I send pestilence among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name <mark><strong>humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,then<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\nI will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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.\u00a0 The best solution is to understand that prayer and free moral choices are a means by which God brings to pass His sovereign will.\u00a0 God has ordained that our prayers and choices in time and space actually bring to pass elements of His plan for the ages.\u00a0 Divine sovereignty and free moral agency work harmoniously on the pages of Scripture.\u00a0 One clear example is the story of Jonah.\u00a0 Consider how God providentially directed the sea and the weather in the context of Jonah&#8217;s disobedience.\u00a0 The other men in the ship realized this, prayed to God for deliverance, and are saved by throwing Jonah into the sea.\u00a0 Jonah was, by God&#8217;s design, swallowed by a fish and prayed to God for deliverance.\u00a0 God responded to Jonah&#8217;s prayer by causing the fish to spit him up onto dry land.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Jonah 1:4, 14-2:1, 10:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 4And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea<\/mark> <\/strong> 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, \u201c<strong><br \/>\n<mark>We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish<\/mark> <\/strong> on account of this man&#8217;s life and do not put innocent blood on us; <strong><br \/>\n<mark>for Thou, O Lord, hast done as Thou hast pleased.\u201d <\/mark> <\/strong>\u00a015So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, <strong>and the sea stopped its raging<\/strong>.\u00a0 16Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.\u00a0 17And <strong><br \/>\n<mark>the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah<\/mark> <\/strong>, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.\u00a0 2:1Then <strong><br \/>\n<mark>Jonah prayed to the Lord<\/mark> <\/strong> his God from the stomach of the fish, . . . 10Then <strong><br \/>\n<mark>the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up<\/mark> <\/strong> onto the dry land.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Scripture reveals to us what Jonah himself knew \u2013 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 <em>caused<\/em> them to make <em>willing choices<\/em> that accomplished God&#8217;s purposes.\u00a0 The following passages also illustrate this truth.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Genesis 25:21-34:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a021And Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.\u00a0 22But the children struggled together within her; and she said, \u201cIf it is so, why then am I this way?\u201d\u00a0 So she went to inquire of the Lord.\u00a0 23And the Lord said to her, \u201cTwo nations are in your womb; And two peoples shall be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; <strong><mark>And the older shall serve the younger.\u201d<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0 24When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.\u00a0 25Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau.\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>26And afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau&#8217;s heel<\/mark>     , <\/strong>so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.\u00a0 27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.\u00a0 28Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game; but Rebecca loved Jacob.\u00a0 29And when Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30and Esau said to Jacob, \u201cPlease let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.\u201d\u00a0 Therefore his name was called Edom.\u00a0 31<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>But Jacob said, \u201cFirst sell me your birthright.\u201d <\/mark><\/strong>32And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?\u201d\u00a0 33And Jacob said, \u201cFirst swear to me\u201d; <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.<\/mark> <\/strong>\u00a0 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way.\u00a0 Thus Esau despised his birthright.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em> 2 Chronicles 33:10-13:<\/em><\/strong> The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.\u00a0 <strong><mark>Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them<\/mark><\/strong>, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.\u00a0 When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom.<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 2:22-23:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 22<\/strong>Men 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\u201423this Man, <strong><mark>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<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 4:27-28:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 27<\/strong>For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, <strong><mark>whom Thou didst anoint<\/mark><\/strong>, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur. <\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #100:<\/strong>\u00a0 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?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\n  <mark class=\"green\">Scripture plainly declares<\/mark> that God&#8217;s sovereign purposes are accomplished as He interacts with the prayers and legitimate choices of moral agents.\u00a0 Divine sovereignty and human moral agency\u00a0 exist side by side on the pages of Scripture. Oh the wonderful mystery of God&#8217;s providential outworking of His eternal purposes through the choices of millions of people everyday!\u00a0 How evident it is that we should live our lives in humble acknowledgement of God&#8217;s sovereign lordship by continually seeking understanding of His will as we lay our requests before Him.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 May our whole lives glorify Him in thankfulness for His goodness and mercy! <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 4:39:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #101:<\/strong>\u00a0 Write a prayer thanking our sovereign God for the great privilege of prayer.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God<\/h1>\n<h2 id=\"godssalvation\" align=\"center\">Part 4: In Salvation<\/h2>\n<h3>God&#8217;s Sovereignty In Salvation<\/h3>\n<p>As we consider God&#8217;s sovereignty in regard to salvation, we will discuss both the nature of God and the nature of man.\u00a0 Mankind has fallen into sin and stands in need of salvation. \u00a0God&#8217;s eternal purpose in Christ is to redeem His people from their sins.\u00a0 In this section, we will study what the Bible says about the various issues involved in the accomplishment of human redemption.\u00a0 First and foremost, we will see that God is not only sovereign in creation and in providence, but also in the application of redemption.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 1:21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is <strong><mark>He who will save His people from their sins<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2 Timothy 1:8-11:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 8<\/strong>Therefore 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\u00a0 9who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, <strong><mark>not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace<\/mark><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>To help us understand what the Bible has to say about the doctrine of salvation, we will look first\u00a0 at some of the controversy and false teaching surrounding it in church history.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"fromchurchhistory\">The Doctrine of Salvation in Church History<\/h3>\n<p>The many and varied doctrinal controversies throughout the history of the Christian church reflect the blatant war against God&#8217;s truth being waged by the great enemy of the church, Satan himself.\u00a0\u00a0 Great battles are fought when false teachers, knowingly or ignorantly, distort and pervert scriptural truth.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>2 Peter 2:1-3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1But false prophets also arose among the people, just <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies<\/mark> <\/strong>, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.\u00a0 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>False teachers take advantage of immature Christians who have little knowledge of the Bible.\u00a0 The Bible describes those who are led astray by false teachers as \u201cchildren\u201d who \u201cbarely escape from the ones who live in error.\u201d\u00a0 Thus, Scripture clearly instructs that Christians must take responsibility for <em>not<\/em> being led astray from the truth by false teachers and false doctrines.\u00a0 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.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>2 Peter 2:18-19<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>: <\/em><\/strong>18For speaking out arrogant words of vanity<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, <\/strong>19<strong>promising them freedom<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\nwhile they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 4:11-16:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>some as pastors and teachers, <\/strong>12<strong>for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\n  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. \u00a014As a result, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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<\/mark><\/strong>; 15but speaking the truth in love, <strong>we are to grow up in all aspects into Him<\/strong>, who is the head, even Christ, 16from whom the whole botdy, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #102:<\/strong>\u00a0 According to 2 Peter 2:1-3, 18-19, what tactics do false teachers typically use to lead professing Christians astray?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #103:<\/strong>\u00a0 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?<\/p>\n<p>  &nbsp;\n<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"pelagiusandaugustine\">Pelagius and Augustine<\/h3>\n<p>One of the first major controversies regarding the doctrine of salvation was introduced by a man named <strong><em>Pelagius<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Pelagius was an ascetic monk born in England in 354 A.D.\u00a0 He later became a popular teacher in the church at Rome.\u00a0 Pelagius was the author of the following <strong><em>false teachings<\/em><\/strong> concerning the doctrine of salvation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mankind is not hampered by original sin, i.e., human minds, wills, and emotions were not corrupted by the Fall.<\/li>\n<li>Mankind has <strong><em>natural ability<\/em><\/strong> to obey God&#8217;s commands, i.e.:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>humanity is not in bondage to sin;<\/li>\n<li>we can attain Heaven by good works (salvation was by Law or Gospel)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Divine grace is not necessary for salvation.<\/li>\n<li>Sinless perfection can be attained.<\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s choice of which sinners would be saved was based on His foreknowledge of their response to the Gospel \u00a0(the prescient view of predestination).<\/li>\n<li>Christians can lose their salvation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The chief <strong><em>antagonist<\/em><\/strong> of these Pelagian doctrines was <strong><em>Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Augustine taught that Adam&#8217;s fall into sin corrupted the nature of all his progeny.\u00a0 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&#8217;s divine grace, which is necessary for salvation.\u00a0 Augustine taught that salvation was totally God&#8217;s work and that He was thus due the glory for it.\u00a0 The chart below pictures the contrast between the two teachings. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image002_0000.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"434\" height=\"170\" \/> <br clear=\"all\" \/><br \/>\nMany in the early church held to the doctrinal system of Pelagianism. \u00a0But close scrutiny by many official church councils led to its official condemnation by the <strong><em>Councils of Carthage<\/em><\/strong> in 416 and 418.\u00a0 These Councils were assembled to assess the validity of the teachings of <a title=\"Caelestius\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Caelestius\">Caelestius<\/a>, a disciple of <a title=\"Pelagius\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pelagius\">Pelagius<\/a>.\u00a0 After due deliberation, they denounced the <a title=\"Pelagianism\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pelagianism\">Pelagian<\/a> doctrines of human nature, original sin, grace, and perfectibility; and fully approved the contrary views of Augustine.\u00a0 Likewise,<strong><em> the second Council of Orange<\/em><\/strong> (529 A.D.), in upholding Augustine&#8217;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 \u201cgood enough\u201d to lay hold of the grace of God through an act of unredeemed human will.\u00a0 Pelagianism, as a structured heretical movement, ceased to exist after the 6th century.\u00a0 Unfortunately, its essential ideas have generated disputes and controversies throughout the history of the Church and even today.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #104:<\/strong>\u00a0 In your own words, briefly describe the basic distinction between the teaching of Pelagius and the teaching of Augustine.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"lutheranderasmus\">Luther and Erasmus<\/h3>\n<p>The German Reformer Martin Luther had a profound affect on the Church.\u00a0 His efforts, along with those of Calvin, Zwingli, and others, spawned the Protestant Reformation. The main issue at stake in Luther&#8217;s mind was salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.\u00a0 However, he dealt with many other doctrinal issues during his ministry, bringing much needed reform to almost every area of theology.\u00a0 Luther disagreed sharply with a Roman Catholic teacher by the name of Erasmus about the doctrines of human nature and freewill.\u00a0 On September 1, 1524, Erasmus published his treatise <em>On the Freedom of the Will<\/em><em>.<\/em>\u00a0 Luther responded in December of 1525, with <em>The Bondage of the Will<\/em>.\u00a0 Luther defended the position defined by <strong><em>Augustinian<\/em><\/strong>theology which had been the official position of the church for some 1000 years.\u00a0 This position had been recognized and affirmed at the second Council of Orange\u00a0 (A.D. 529)\u00a0 as the clear teaching of the Bible.\u00a0 Erasmus took a <strong><em>semi-Pelagian<\/em><\/strong> position, maintaining that man is morally able to respond to the gospel without the necessity of divine grace.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"483\" height=\"127\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Discussions of\u00a0 human freewill focus on the basic issue of man&#8217;s nature and the nature of saving grace.\u00a0 Scripture clearly teaches that in our fallen state we desire autonomy, i.e., to be subject or accountable to no one but ourselves.\u00a0 Scripture also clearly teaches that God is <strong><em>the supreme authority<\/em><\/strong> to whom we <strong><em>are<\/em><\/strong> subject and accountable.\u00a0 Therefore, the following questions typically arise:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Is man&#8217;s will totally free, or is it somehow limited in his ability to make free choices?<\/li>\n<li>Was man created morally able to do good and evil, and how was this affected by the Fall?<\/li>\n<li>Can man respond to the Gospel on his own without the need for divine grace or enablement?<\/li>\n<li>What role does freewill play in predestination?<\/li>\n<li>Once people are saved or regenerated, are they able to do good and evil?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The chart below shows various aspects of this discussion about man&#8217;s nature and its freedom in different states.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<table border=\"1\" width=\"98%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" width=\"27%\"><strong>State of man in history <\/strong><\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\" width=\"39%\"><strong>Morally Able to do<\/strong><\/td>\n<td colspan=\"2\" width=\"32%\"><strong>Inclined by Nature to <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"16%\"><strong>GOOD<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"23%\"><strong>EVIL <\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>GOOD <\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>EVIL<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"27%\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Created<\/td>\n<td width=\"16%\">yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"23%\">yes<\/td>\n<td>no<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">no<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"27%\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fallen<\/td>\n<td width=\"16%\">no<\/td>\n<td width=\"23%\">yes<\/td>\n<td>no<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"27%\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Redeemed<\/td>\n<td width=\"16%\">yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"23%\">yes<\/td>\n<td>yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">no<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"27%\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Glorified<\/td>\n<td width=\"16%\">yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"23%\">no<\/td>\n<td>yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">no<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>The controversy over this doctrine still rages on in the Church.\u00a0 Since the issues involved are inherent in the arguments between Calvinism and Arminianism, we will deal with them in the biblical analysis which follows.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #105:\u00a0 <\/strong>In your own words, distinguish between Semi-Pelagianism and Augustinian-ism.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #106:<\/strong>\u00a0 What significant questions are addressed by these two schools of thought?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #107:<\/strong>\u00a0 Why, in your judgment, are these questions important?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Calvin and Arminius:<\/h3>\n<p>As did Luther, the French Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) had a massive impact on the Church.\u00a0 His ministry was based in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 16th century.\u00a0 His <em>Institutes of the Christian Religion<\/em> remains one of the foremost theological works in church history.\u00a0 In 1559 he founded the Geneva Academy, a Bible school which emphasized the principle of <em>sola scriptura <\/em>(sole reliance on the authority of Scripture.)\u00a0 Calvin focused on God as the center of all reality and centered all teaching in the nature of God.\u00a0 He is recognized as the father of the Reformed Faith and has had a major influence in the development of Protestant Christianity.<\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0 Arminius gradually came to reject certain Calvinist teachings and attracted some followers.\u00a0 Controversy resulted and spread throughout Holland, where Calvinists in the Reformed Church held the overwhelming majority.\u00a0 Forty-six Arminian ministers signed a dissenting creed, formulated in Five Articles labeled \u201cRemonstrance,\u201d and laid them before the state authorities of Holland in 1610.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The eighty-four members and eighteen secular commissioners released their decision in what has come to be known as <em>The Canons of Dort<\/em>.\u00a0 This document is still part of the official confession of the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church.\u00a0 The Canons of Dort affirm the Five Points of Calvinism in response to the Five Articles of the Arminian Remonstrants.\u00a0 Thus, the so-called Five Points were not independenly formulated by Calvinists as a summary of Calvinism.\u00a0 Rather, they emerged in response to the Five Articles presented by the Arminians in opposition to the teaching of Calvin. \u00a0The chart below shows the Five Points displayed in the helpful acronym <strong><em>TULIP<\/em><\/strong>, which identifies the main doctrines of salvation that relate to God&#8217;s sovereign grace<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image004.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"339\" height=\"127\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #108:\u00a0 <\/strong>What started the controversy between the Arminians and the Calvinists?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #109:<\/strong>\u00a0 What happened at the Synod of Dort and what was the resulting creed that was published?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"calvinarminiusorthebible\">Calvin, Arminius, or the Bible?<\/h3>\n<p>Who was Calvin? Who was Arminius? They were simply fallible men who served the church as teachers.\u00a0 God has blessed the church with faithful teachers who help us clarify and understand doctrinal issues, but no teacher&#8217;s word alone can be trusted as the final authority.\u00a0 It is vitally important that we uphold God&#8217;s self-revelation in the Bible as our sole final authority in understanding scriptural truth.\u00a0 We must also affirm our reliance upon the Holy Spirit for true spiritual discernment.\u00a0 God&#8217;s Word is truth and His Spirit illuminates our minds and hearts to know it rightly.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>1 Corinthians 1:12-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 12Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, \u201cI am of Paul,\u201d and \u201cI of Apollos,\u201d and \u201cI of Cephas,\u201d and \u201cI of Christ.\u201d\u00a0 13<strong><mark>Has Christ been divided?\u00a0 Paul was not crucified for you, was he?<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0 Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Corinthians 2:10-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 10<strong><mark>For to us God revealed them through the Spirit<\/mark><\/strong>; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.\u00a0 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him?\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.<\/strong>\u00a0 12<strong>Now 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,<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\n  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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Confusion often arises when people use the terms \u201cCalvinist\u201d and \u201cArminian\u201d as labels without clear understanding of the terms and the doctrinal issues at stake.\u00a0 Such confusion hinders fruitful discussion of biblical doctrine and does not foster understanding of God&#8217;s Holy Word.\u00a0 The issues being discussed when these terms are used tend to be controversial and emotionally charged. \u00a0As students of Scripture, we need to resist our natural inclination to get defensive and argumentative while <strong><em>helping one another<\/em><\/strong> grow in grace and knowledge of God&#8217;s truth.\u00a0 Much of the animosity in discussions like these springs from simple <strong><em>ignorance of Holy Scripture<\/em><\/strong><em>.<\/em>\u00a0 We enter into heated debates armed with our own opinions and prejudices but without having looked closely at <strong><em>all of the relevant Bible references, in their context,<\/em><\/strong> to gain a clear understanding of the issues at hand.\u00a0 When this happens, we are foolishly attempting to grasp supernatural realities with natural faculties.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The Scripture plainly declares that such matters can only be grasped only by spiritual discernment, not by mere human powers of reason and logic.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>1 Corinthians 2:11-14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God<\/strong>.<\/mark> \u00a0 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>that we might know the things freely given to us by God<\/mark> <\/strong>, 13which things we also speak, not in words <strong><br \/>\n<mark>taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words<\/mark> <\/strong>.\u00a0 14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and <strong><br \/>\n<mark>he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Let us, therefore, rely wholly on God&#8217;s Word and His Spirit for insight into these high and holy things.\u00a0 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&#8217;s sovereign grace.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #110:<\/strong> Describe the way God has blessed the church with faithful teachers.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #111:<\/strong>\u00a0 According to the passages quoted above from 1 Corinthians, upon whom must we ultimately rely for accurate understanding of God&#8217;s Word?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #112:<\/strong>\u00a0 Read Acts 17:11.\u00a0 How does this verse help you balance appreciation of\u00a0 faithful teachers with not relying on them too much?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #113:<\/strong>\u00a0 How can we best avoid unhelpful heated debates about difficult biblical issues and instead work together to better understand and apply God&#8217;s truth?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>The importance of the issue: What is at stake?<\/h3>\n<p>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.\u00a0 Church counsels of Bible scholars have been convened for the purpose of affirming confessions of orthodoxy and pronouncing judgments against heretics.\u00a0 These issues are serious because the truth of Scripture is at stake.\u00a0 We must guard God&#8217;s revelation in His\u00a0 Word against the schemes of Satan and the false teachers who, knowingly or unknowingly, pervert the teaching of Scripture with <strong><em>destructive heresies <\/em><\/strong>(Genesis 3:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1).\u00a0 Scripture exhorts us to <strong><em>\u201ccontend earnestly for the faith\u201d<\/em><\/strong> against those who seek to distort the truth.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Jude 3-4:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that <strong><mark>you contend earnestly for the faith<\/mark><\/strong> which was once for all delivered to the saints.\u00a0 4For <strong><mark>certain persons have crept in unnoticed<\/mark><\/strong>, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, <strong><mark>ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord<\/mark><\/strong>, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2 Timothy 1:13-14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 13<strong><mark>Retain the standard of sound words <\/mark><\/strong>which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.\u00a0 14<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to us.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Preserving right understanding of the doctrines of salvation is of grave importance. \u00a0The heresies that continue to plague the Church target the very heart of the Gospel itself.\u00a0 They are not <strong><em>theological or Christological <\/em><\/strong>(about God or Christ&#8217;s nature) errors, but <strong><em>soteriological <\/em><\/strong>(about salvation) distortions.\u00a0 As such, they misrepresent the work of Christ and how it impacts humanity.\u00a0 Tragically, a large segment of the modern Church responds with indifference to those who urge clarification and preservation of biblical truth regarding salvation.\u00a0 Many Christians simply shrug off the need to discuss the doctrines of grace with reasons like these:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Too controversial:\u00a0 <\/strong>It is not worth arguing about; better to keep the peace.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Requires too much study:<\/strong>\u00a0 It takes too much time and hard thinking to understand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beyond our grasp:\u00a0 <\/strong>This is one of God&#8217;s deep mysteries that we <strong><em>cannot<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 understand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Offensiveness of sovereign prerogative:<\/strong>\u00a0 Affirming God&#8217;s sovereign rights over His created beings threatens human autonomy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Question #114:<\/strong>\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Such <em>indifference<\/em> reflects a severe lack of honor and respect toward God and His Holy Word.\u00a0 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 <strong><em>hear, understand, and heed<\/em><\/strong> them.\u00a0 Failure to do so reflects a lack of love for the Word of God, which is God&#8217;s revelation of Himself to us.\u00a0 Dear reader, what has plagued our hearts so severely that we do not earnestly desire to lay hold of God&#8217;s awesome and wonderful Word which He has so freely given us?\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 119:97-104:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 97<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>O how I love Thy law!\u00a0 It is my meditation all the day<\/mark> <\/strong>. 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<strong><br \/>\n<mark>I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts<\/mark> <\/strong>.\u00a0 101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Thy word.\u00a0 102I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>For Thou Thyself hast taught me<\/mark> <\/strong>.\u00a0 103<strong><br \/>\n<mark>How sweet are Thy words to my taste!\u00a0 Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth<\/mark> !\u00a0 <\/strong>104<strong><br \/>\n<mark>From Thy precepts I get understanding<\/mark> <\/strong>; Therefore I hate every false way.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If God&#8217;s Holy Word is not worth contending for, then what is?\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Shouldn&#8217;t we expect God&#8217;s Word to challenge us as we study it?\u00a0 Is Scripture not divine revelation requiring the Spirit&#8217;s illumination to grasp?\u00a0 Have we forgotten that God&#8217;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?\u00a0 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?\u00a0 Shall the clay argue with the potter about its purpose for existing?\u00a0 Learn to submit to sovereign authority and to acquiesce to God&#8217;s will. Paul answers these questions in Romans 9. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 9:19-21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 19You will say to me then, \u201cWhy does He still find fault?\u00a0 For who resists His will?\u201d\u00a0 20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>The thing molded will not say to the molder, \u201cWhy did you make me like this,\u201d will it?\u00a0 <\/strong>21<strong>Or does not the potter have a right over the clay<\/strong><\/mark> , to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Enemy loves to convince us that\u00a0 the great doctrines in the Bible are unclear and confusing so that we will not work hard at discerning God&#8217;s truth.\u00a0 With regard to the doctrines of salvation, he is wrong, however.\u00a0 The issues themselves are <strong><em>so clear<\/em><\/strong> that we must either accept or reject them.\u00a0 We cannot take a stand somewhere in the middle. Consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Total Depravity:<\/strong>\u00a0 People are <strong><em>either<\/em><\/strong> able to understand and believe the gospel apart from God&#8217;s enabling grace <strong><em>or<\/em><\/strong> they are not.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unconditional Election:<\/strong>\u00a0 God <strong><em>either <\/em><\/strong>elects people to salvation conditionally <strong><em>or<\/em><\/strong> unconditionally.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eternal Security:<\/strong>\u00a0 Christians can <strong><em>either<\/em><\/strong> lose their salvation <strong><em>or<\/em><\/strong> they cannot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The issues themselves are clear.\u00a0 The difficulty in studying these issues is <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> understanding them; it is accepting them.\u00a0 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&#8217;s absolute sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #115:<\/strong>\u00a0 Take a few moments to ponder Psalm 119:97-104, Romans 9:19-21, Jude 3-4, and 2 Timothy 1:13-14.\u00a0 Then write a brief prayer confessing any reluctance you have to contend earnestly for the truth of God&#8217;s Word and asking Him to help you overcome that reluctance.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"calvinismandarminianism\">Calvinism and Arminianism Defined<\/h3>\n<p>When we examine the tenets of Calvinism and Arminianism side by side, the issues at stake in the debate are revealed as vitally important.\u00a0 The ongoing debate that began with Calvin and Arminius addresses much more than how people get saved.\u00a0 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&#8217;s sovereignty \u2013 to name just a few. God has revealed volumes of truth about these matters in Scripture; obviously they are important to Him!\u00a0 For that reason alone, we should pay careful attention to what He has said.\u00a0 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. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image002_0001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"673\" height=\"829\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God<\/h1>\n<h2 align=\"center\"><strong>Part 4: In Salvation Human Inability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>As we examine these matters in the Bible, we will use relevant biblical terms as much as possible.\u00a0 The Bible is very clear about defining its terms.\u00a0 When we use <strong>biblical terms<\/strong> and their biblical definitions, we have God&#8217;s true Word on the subjects we&#8217;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. <strong><em>TULIP is not the best: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0In seeking to use biblical terms to describe the issue at hand, we quickly discover that the acronym, <strong><em>TULIP<\/em><\/strong>, is inadequate.\u00a0 The following terms describe much more accurately what the Bible teaches about the Five Points under discussion.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Natural Ability or Natural Inability<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Prescient<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\"> <\/a> Election or Sovereign Election<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Universal Redemption or Particular Redemption\/Definite Atonement<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Human Resistance or Effectual Calling<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Falling from Grace or Eternal Security<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The chart below clarifies these contrasting terms.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image002_0002.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"579\" height=\"399\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #116:<\/strong>\u00a0 Carefully consider the two immediately preceding charts.\u00a0 Then explain in your own words why the terms used in the chart immediately above are preferable.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let us now look to the Bible for divine insight on these issues.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"humaninability\">What Does the Bible Say About Human Inability?<\/h3>\n<p>The Bible clearly affirms <strong><em>\u201cthere is no one who does good, not even one\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Psalm 14:3).\u00a0 Jesus said, <strong><em>\u201cNo one is good except God alone\u201d<\/em><\/strong> (Mark 10:18).\u00a0 We know from observation that people persistently sin against God from earliest childhood through old age.\u00a0 And the Word of God confirms this observation again and again.\u00a0 Psalm 51:5 says people are steeped in sin from birth.\u00a0 Romans 3:23 and 5:12 affirm that human beings in their natural state are sinners who fall far short of God&#8217;s required standard.\u00a0 Humanity fell into sin and darkness when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and transgressed God&#8217;s clear commandment (Original Sin).\u00a0 Their rebellion corrupted their entire being, body and soul (mind, will, emotions); and this corruption was passed to all their descendants (Romans 5:12).\u00a0 In fulfillment of God&#8217;s Word, Adam and Eve died, both spiritually and physically (the aging process began).\u00a0 Unfettered communion was broken between man and God; we no longer <em>naturally<\/em> understand the things of God nor do we desire to do so.\u00a0 Humanity is accurately described in Scripture as <strong><em>\u201cdead in . . .\u00a0 trespasses and sins\u201d<\/em><\/strong> and in need of new life (Ephesians 2:1-5, Colosians 2:13).\u00a0 <strong><em>The biblical truth is, mankind neither pleases God nor seeks after God.\u00a0 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&#8217;s need to be saved and God&#8217;s provision to save Him). <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image004_0000.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"357\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #117:<\/strong>\u00a0 Examine the chart above very closely.\u00a0 Read the referenced Scriptures and pay close attention to the biblical words used to describe the condition of unredeemed people.\u00a0 Then write a <strong><em>concise<\/em><\/strong> description of natural human inability to respond to God in saving faith.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"regeneration\">Unable to see, hear, or understand<\/h3>\n<p>The Bible speaks of humanity&#8217;s fallen nature by using words like <strong><em>cannot.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 It is not that we <strong><em>will not<\/em><\/strong> but that we <strong><em>cannot<\/em><\/strong> understand the Gospel without the work of divine grace. The Bible plainly declares that <strong><em>fallen humanity has a natural inability to see, hear, or understand, the things of God.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Jesus makes it clear that mankind has an <strong><u>inability to See <\/u><\/strong>the Kingdom apart from regeneration.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>John 3:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Jesus answered and said to him, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you,<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God<\/strong>.<\/mark> \u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Apostle Paul affirms the same truth.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>2 <em>Corinthians 4:3-4:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3And even if <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>our gospel is veiled<\/mark> <\/strong>, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4in whose case the god of this world has <strong><br \/>\n<mark>blinded the minds of the unbelieving<\/mark> <\/strong>, that they might not <strong><br \/>\n<mark>see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ<\/mark> <\/strong>, who is the image of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>By saying \u201cour gospel is veiled . . . to those who are perishing,\u201d the Bible affirms that the unsaved are <strong><em>unable to see<\/em><\/strong> the gospel.\u00a0 Veils distort or obstruct our vision and keep us from seeing clearly.\u00a0 This evil work of veiling the gospel is attributed to Satan (the god of this world):\u00a0 \u201c. . . 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.\u201d\u00a0 The gospel is veiled to unbelievers because Satan has <strong><em>blinded their<\/em> <em>minds.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Blinding the mind is a biblical idiom describing an inability to understand.\u00a0 The <strong><em>\u201clight of the gospel of the glory of Christ\u201d<\/em><\/strong> is incomprehensible to unbelievers because they cannot grasp who He is and why they need Him.\u00a0 Apart from God&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, in the passage below, Jesus makes it clear that fallen humanity has an <strong><u>inability to Hear<\/u><\/strong> God&#8217;s Word.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>John 8:43:<\/em><\/strong> Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>you cannot hear My word<\/mark> .<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus said, <strong><em>\u201cyou cannot hear My word,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> to ungodly Pharisees who claimed that Jesus&#8217; witness of Himself was not true (John 8:13). \u00a0He 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).\u00a0 The word <strong><em>\u201ccannot\u201d<\/em><\/strong> speaks of their inability.\u00a0 They <strong><em>\u201cdo not understand<\/em><\/strong>\u201d because they <strong><em>\u201c<u>cannot<\/u> hear.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 And they <strong><em>\u201ccannot hear\u201d<\/em><\/strong> because they are not of God, but of the devil.\u00a0 This is a consistent theme in the teaching of Jesus.\u00a0 In the following passage, He tells His disciples that the reason they understand \u201cthe mysteries of the kingdom of heaven\u201d and others do not is that they have been given understanding by God whereas others have not.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Matthew 13:10-13: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a010And the disciples came and said to Him, \u201cWhy do You speak to them in parables?\u201d\u00a0 11And He answered and said to them, \u201c<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted<\/mark> <\/strong>.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 13Therefore I speak to them in parables; <mark><strong>because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand<\/strong>.<\/mark> \u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In the passage below, Paul also affirms that unredeemed people cannot understand the things of God because they have an <strong><u>inability to Understand<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>1 Corinthians 2:14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 But a <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God<\/mark> <\/strong>; for they are foolishness to him, and <strong><br \/>\n<mark>he <em>cannot <\/em>understand them<\/mark> <\/strong>, because they are spiritually appraised.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Paul, writing inspired Scripture, explains that \u201ca natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him.\u201d\u00a0 The \u201cnatural man\u201d 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).\u00a0 Such a person does not understand spiritual truth.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 His thinking is so corrupted, \u201che <strong><em>cannot <\/em><\/strong>understand\u201d God&#8217;s truth.\u00a0 The word <strong><em>\u201ccannot\u201d<\/em><\/strong> speaks of man&#8217;s ability, not his willingness, although because he is <strong><u>unable<\/u><\/strong> to understand he is therefore also unwilling, as it states, he <strong><em>\u201cdoes not accept.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Spiritual truth must be <strong><em>\u201cspiritually appraised.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The natural man <strong><em>\u201cdoes not accept\u201d<\/em><\/strong> spiritual truth because he has no natural ability to <strong><em>\u201cunderstand\u201d<\/em><\/strong> spiritual things.\u00a0 This is because he does not have the Spirit (given at regeneration) by which he can <strong><em>\u201cappraise\u201d<\/em><\/strong> spiritual things. Only those indwelt by God&#8217;s Spirit can <strong><em>\u201cappraise\u201d<\/em><\/strong> spiritual things. <strong>Question #118:<\/strong>\u00a0 Explain in your own words the <strong><em>significance<\/em><\/strong> of the Bible&#8217;s teaching that fallen people <strong><em>cannot<\/em><\/strong> accept the Gospel by an act of their own will.\u00a0 In other words, what does this clear biblical teaching reveal about the desperate state of unredeemed people?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mankind is in rebellion against God and enslaved to sin<\/strong> The Bible plainly declares that mankind is naturally in a state of rebellion against God.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 3:9-12, 18: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a09What 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, \u201c<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>There is none righteous, not even one<\/strong>; 11<strong>There is none who understands<\/strong>, <strong>There is none who seeks for God<\/strong><\/mark> ; 12All have turned aside, together they have become useless; <mark><strong>There is none who does good, There is not even one<\/strong>. . . . 18<strong>There is no fear of God before their eyes<\/strong>.<\/mark> \u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Here Paul describes mankind in relation to God.\u00a0 There are <strong><em>none<\/em><\/strong> righteous, <strong><em>none<\/em><\/strong> who understand, and <strong><em>none<\/em><\/strong> who seek for God.\u00a0 <strong><em>All<\/em><\/strong> have turned aside.\u00a0 There are <strong><em>none<\/em><\/strong> who do good, and <strong><em>none<\/em><\/strong> who fear God.\u00a0 We know these are not general statements about most people, because Paul twice uses the phrase <strong><em>\u201cnot even one.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 In doing so, he emphasizes the <strong><em>universality<\/em><\/strong> of mankind&#8217;s rebellion against God&#8217;s sovereign authority, his doing of good before God, and his seeking and understanding of God.<\/p>\n<p>Later in Romans, Paul affirms the thoroughness of mankind&#8217;s bent toward evil. He affirms that unregenerate people have neither desire nor ability to submit to God.\u00a0 Their minds are set on the flesh and they are by nature hostile toward God. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:5-8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 5For <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,<\/mark> <\/strong> but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.\u00a0 6For <strong><br \/>\n<mark>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.<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Paul says the natural state of all men is \u201caccording to the flesh\u201d and that they naturally \u201cset their minds on the things of the flesh.\u201d\u00a0 Given man&#8217;s sinful nature, it makes sense that \u201cthe 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.\u201d\u00a0 People who live <strong><em>in the<\/em> <em>flesh<\/em><\/strong> are ruled by their sinful nature.\u00a0 Their fallen minds are <strong><em>\u201chostile toward God.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 They do not <strong><em>\u201csubject\u201d themselves \u201cto the Law of God\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 because they are <strong><em>\u201c<u>not even able to do so<\/u>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Note well that Paul is describing <strong><em>inability<\/em><\/strong> here, not unwillingness.\u00a0 He is not saying they simply <strong><em>don&#8217;t desire<\/em><\/strong> to obey God; he is saying they <strong><em>cannot<\/em><\/strong> obey God\u2014and that <strong><em>the reason<\/em><\/strong> they cannot obey God is that they are <strong><em>in the flesh<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Bible consistently declares that mankind is <strong><em><u>enslaved to sin<\/u><\/em><\/strong><em>.\u00a0 <\/em>God declares through the prophet Jeremiah that the fallen human \u201cheart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick\u201d\u00a0 (17:9).\u00a0 In other words, unredeemed people are <strong><em>bound to sin<\/em><\/strong> and naturally prone to evil <strong><em>because<\/em><\/strong> they are in the flesh. <strong><em>The following passages reveal that unredeemed people are not free to obey God.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Rather they are in<strong><em> \u201cbondage to sin\u201d <\/em><\/strong>and thus<strong><em> unable <\/em><\/strong>to obey God with right motives.\u00a0 <strong>Man&#8217;s will is not free<\/strong> to obey God, but rather in bondage to sin.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>John 8:34:<\/em><\/strong> Jesus answered them, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, <strong><mark>everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.<\/mark><\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 6:5-7:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>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, <strong><mark>that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin<\/mark><\/strong>; 7for he who has died is freed from sin.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 7:14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, <strong><mark>sold into bondage to sin<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Titus 3:3-7:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3For we also once were foolish ourselves, <strong><mark>disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures<\/mark><\/strong>, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.\u00a0 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, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit<\/mark><\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This idea is further clarified in passages that state <strong><em>no one who is unregenerate (and therefore a slave of sin) does good (by God&#8217;s standard)<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Only those who have been cleansed by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit are<em> <strong>able<\/strong><\/em>to please God in any sense.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 3:12:<\/em><\/strong> All have turned aside, together they have become useless; <strong><mark>There is none who does good, There is not even one<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 64:6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And <strong><mark>all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment<\/mark><\/strong>; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 14:23:<\/em> . . .<br \/>\n    <mark> and whatever is not from faith is sin<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>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 <strong><em>by nature, an object of God&#8217;s wrath.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Ephesians 2:3:<\/em><\/strong> Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>were by nature children of wrath<\/mark> <\/strong>, even as the rest.<br \/>\n  Consider the following chart in light of the biblical truths we have just studied.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"file:\/\/\/C|\/Sites\/businessphonesystems.com\/clip_image006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"576\" height=\"72\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #119:<\/strong>\u00a0 Does Scripture support the idea that man is \u201cnaturally able\u201d to understand and believe the Gospel apart from divine enablement?<\/p>\n<p>List specific statements from Scripture to support your answer.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The fact is that divine enablement given by God&#8217;s grace is <strong><em>necessary<\/em><\/strong> to understand and believe the Gospel.\u00a0 This divine enablement is called <strong><em>regeneration<\/em><\/strong>. We will discuss regeneration at length below.<\/p>\n<p>The following statements reflect the biblical basis of the Augustinian view of Salvation. <strong>Westminster Confession of Faith &#8211; Of Free Will<\/strong> 3.\u00a0 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. <strong>Synod of Dort &#8211; ARTICLE 3<\/strong> 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<\/p>\n<h3>Not sick, but dead<\/h3>\n<p>The Bible plainly declares that unredeemed sinners are thoroughly corrupt in their whole being.\u00a0 It describes unredeemed humanity as not good, unable to do good, hating God&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 7:18:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For I know <strong>that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh<\/strong>; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 64:6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And <strong>all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;<\/strong> And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 15:14-16:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 14What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?\u00a0 15Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones, And the heavens are not pure in His sight; 16<strong><mark>How much less one who is detestable and corrupt, Man, who drinks iniquity like water!<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 3:19-20:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 19And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and <strong><mark>men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. <\/mark><\/strong>20<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>For everyone who does evil hates the light<\/mark><\/strong>, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Titus 1:15:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 To the pure, all things are pure; but to <strong><mark>those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 8:6-8: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a06For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>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; <\/strong>8<strong>and those who are in the flesh cannot please God<\/strong><\/mark>   .<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #120:<\/strong>\u00a0 Based on the verses referenced above, write a brief character sketch of a fallen sinner.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sin has thoroughly corrupted the nature of mankind. \u00a0It has not simply inflicted serious wounds; it has killed our ability to respond to God.\u00a0 The Bible plainly declares that, apart from a divine working of new life, we are <strong><em>dead in transgressions and sins<\/em><\/strong> and wholly insensitive to spiritual things.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Colossians 2:13-14:<\/em><\/strong> 13And when <strong><mark>you were dead in your transgressions<\/mark><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 2:1-2:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1And <strong><mark>you were dead in your trespasses and sins<\/mark><\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>All Christian believers <strong><em>were dead in trespasses and sins<\/em><\/strong> before God gave them new life.\u00a0 The Lord Jesus Himself frequently refers to unbelievers as \u201cdead\u201d and in desperate need of regeneration. \u00a0Without regeneration <strong><em>no one can see the kingdom of God <\/em><\/strong>and come to faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:3-6, 6:65). The just consequence of Adam&#8217;s original sin was the spiritual death of all his descendants (Romans 5:12-19).\u00a0 All human beings are physically born <strong><em>spiritually dead<\/em><\/strong> and thus live <strong><em>in bondage to trespass and sin<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 The Bible speaks clearly and definitively on human depravity, i.e., natural inability to respond rightly to God.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 5:12-19:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>12Therefore, just as through <strong><mark>one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men<\/mark><\/strong>, because all sinned\u2014. . .17For if <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one<\/mark>     ,<\/strong> much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.\u00a0 18So then as <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men<\/mark><\/strong>, even so through one act of righeousness there resulted justification of life to all men.\u00a0 19For as <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>through one man&#8217;s disobedience the many were made sinners<\/mark> <\/strong>, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 5:21-24:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so <strong><mark>the Son also gives life to whom He wishes<\/mark><\/strong>. 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.\u00a0 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 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>has passed out of death into life<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 8:22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 But Jesus said to him, \u201cFollow Me; and<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>allow the dead to bury their own dead<\/strong>.<\/mark>   \u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Luke 15:22-24, 32:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>22But the father said to his slaves, \u201cQuickly 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 <strong><mark>this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again<\/mark><\/strong>; he was lost and has been found.\u201d And they began to be merry. . . . 32\u201cBut we had to be merry and rejoice, for <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live<\/mark><\/strong>, and was lost and has been found.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 John 3:14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 We know that we have <strong><mark>passed out of death into life<\/mark><\/strong>, because we love the brethren.\u00a0 He who does not love abides in death.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider how well this image of physical death corresponds to our sinful state apart from regeneration by the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>John 11:43-44:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 43And when He had said these things,<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>He cried out with a loud voice, \u201cLazarus, come forth.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>44<strong>He who had died came forth<\/strong><\/mark> , bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, \u201cUnbind him, and let him go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 5:6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><mark>while we were still helpless<\/mark><\/strong>, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Jeremiah 13:23:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots?<\/mark><\/strong> Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider the statement by <strong>Albert Barnes<\/strong> concerning man&#8217;s dead condition: \u201c<em>A corpse is insensible.\u00a0 It sees not, and hears not, and feels not.\u00a0 The sound of music, and the voice of friendship and of alarm, do not arouse it.\u00a0 The rose and the lily breath forth their fragrance around it, but the corpse perceives it not.\u00a0 The world is busy and active around it, but it is unconscious of it all.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 In all these he feels no more concern, and sees no more beauty, than a dead man does in the world around him. <\/em><em>Such is, in fact, the condition of a sinful world.\u00a0 There is, indeed, life and energy and motion.\u00a0 There are vast plans and projects, and the world is intensely active. But, in regard to religion, all is dead.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u201d<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\"> <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #121:<\/strong>\u00a0 In your own words, describe the meaning and consequences of being dead in trespasses and sins.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Plainly stated, mankind is dead and in need of new life.\u00a0 Correcting our sinful state requires resurrection from the dead, something only God can do.\u00a0 The Bible plainly declares that salvation is the <strong><em>monergistic<\/em><\/strong>work of God,<a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\"> <\/a> by which He infuses spiritual life into the spiriutally dead.\u00a0 The theological term for this is regeneration.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 2:4-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even <strong><mark>when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ<\/mark><\/strong> (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 5:21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><mark>just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Note how the Bible attributes salvation <strong><em>wholly to the work of God<\/em><\/strong> by affirming the inability of fallen sinners to come to Christ apart from divine grace.\u00a0 Note well from these verses that no one can be saved apart from God&#8217;s saving work of <strong><em>regeneration<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>John 6:44, 65:\u00a0 <\/strong>44<strong><mark>No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him<\/mark><\/strong>; and I will raise him up on the last day. . . . 65And He was saying, \u201cFor this reason I have said to you, <strong><mark>that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.\u201d<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>      <em>Matthew 19:23-26:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 23And Jesus said to His disciples, \u201cTruly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.\u00a0 24And again I say to you, <strong><mark>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.<\/mark><\/strong>\u201d\u00a0 25And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, \u201cThen who can be saved?\u201d\u00a0 26And looking upon them Jesus said to them, \u201c<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.<\/mark><\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Titus 3:4-7:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, <strong><mark>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<\/mark><\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Note also how the Bible attributes salvation <strong><em>wholly to the work of God<\/em><\/strong> by affirming God&#8217;s divine enablement to be a <strong><em>monergistic<\/em><\/strong> work.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 30:6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Moreover <strong><mark>the Lord your God will circumcise your heart<\/mark><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ezekiel 36:26-27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 26Moreover, <strong><mark>I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you<\/mark><\/strong>; and <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 27And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes<\/mark><\/strong>, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Peter 1:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3Blessed be <strong><mark>the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/mark><\/strong>, who according to His great mercy <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>has caused us to be born again<\/mark><\/strong> to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 11:27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>All things have been handed over to Me by My Father<\/mark><\/strong>; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 3:27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 John answered and said, \u201c<strong><mark>A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven<\/mark>   .<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #122:<\/strong>\u00a0 In your own words, describe what the Bible teaches about:\u00a0 (1) man&#8217;s inability; (2) God&#8217;s monergistic work of conversion.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; <\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God In Salvation<\/h1>\n<h2 id=\"ourresponse\" align=\"center\">Our Response: Part 5 \u2013 Lesson 1<\/h2>\n<h3>The Sovereign King<\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 103:19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>His sovereignty rules over all<\/mark> .<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God possesses <strong><em>absolute dominion<\/em><\/strong> over all things. \u00a0He is said to sit on a <strong><em>throne in heavens!<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0God did not simply create the Universe and leave it to run on its own.\u00a0 He exercises full control over all He has created. <strong><em>\u00a0God not only controls nature and history, He sustains the entire universe by his power, and orders all things to accomplish His purpose and plans.<\/em><\/strong> Everything that happens in the world happens by God&#8217;s design and under His control.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalms 47:7-8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. 8<strong><mark>God reigns over the nations<\/mark><\/strong>, God sits on His holy throne.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 42:1-2:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Then Job answered the Lord, and said, \u201c<strong><mark>I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted<\/mark>   .<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 17:24-25:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>24The <strong><mark>God who made the world and all things in it<\/mark><\/strong>, since He is <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Lord of heaven and earth<\/mark><\/strong>, 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;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He is<strong><em> the Lord of heaven and earth <\/em><\/strong>and has decreed whatsoever comes to pass <strong>(The Decrees of God)<\/strong>. \u00a0Even the evil in the world, which God hates, He decrees to achieve His eternal purposes.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalms 135:5-6:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a05For I know that<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>the LORD is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.\u00a0 <\/strong>6<strong>Whatever the LORD pleases, He does<\/strong><\/mark> , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God not only permits the events of human history, but has ordained them from eternity past <strong>(Foreordination)<\/strong>, and is furthermore <em>actively involved<\/em> in seeing that they all come to pass <strong>(Providence)<\/strong>, fulfilling all of His plans and purposes.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Proverbs 16:4:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n      <mark>The Lord has made everything for its own purpose<\/mark><\/strong>, Even the wicked for the day of evil.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 9:21-22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 21Or <strong><mark>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<\/mark><\/strong>?\u00a0 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?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The very idea that God&#8217;s divine purpose could be frustrated is <strong><em>unthinkable<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0If it could, it would not be <strong><em>the divine purpose<\/em><\/strong>! \u00a0Failure of God&#8217;s purpose negates His sovereignty. \u00a0God cannot be God and be less than fully sovereign. \u00a0Scripture is very clear about this!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:11-12:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been <strong><mark>predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will<\/mark><\/strong>, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. <strong><em>Psalm 115:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 But our God is in the heavens; <strong><mark>He does whatever He pleases<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 135:5-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For I know that the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.\u00a0<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>Whatever the <\/strong><strong>Lord<\/strong><strong> pleases, He does,<\/strong><\/mark><br \/>\n  In heaven and in earth, in the seas and all the deeps.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God&#8217;s sovereignty and providence permeates the entire plan of redemption, bringing great blessing to His church, the faithful in Christ Jesus.\u00a0 God&#8217;s chosen people are freed from slavery and bondage to sin.\u00a0 Satan, the evil world ruler who has persistently tormented God&#8217;s saints will be dashed under their feet.\u00a0 God&#8217;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&#8217;s kingdom, they will be united to their husband and king, lie down in peace, and rest forever!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 6:17-18:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>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 <strong><mark>having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 16:20:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 And <strong><mark>the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet<\/mark><\/strong>. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Peter 1:3-5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again<strong> to a living hope<\/strong> through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4<strong><mark>to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you<\/mark><\/strong>, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith <strong>for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God&#8217;s sovereign control over the events of life is plainly evident in Scripture. \u00a0In fact <strong>this theme runs through the whole Bible<\/strong>! \u00a0Everywhere 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! \u00a0God is bringing His world to <strong>the specific end<\/strong> that He purposed from all eternity. \u00a0At the appointed time, all rebellion against His sovereign authority will cease.\u00a0 His purposes for sin and evil will be fully accomplished. \u00a0Everything will be at rest forever in the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 46:9-11:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a09\u201cRemember 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<strong><mark>Declaring the end from the beginning<\/mark><\/strong> And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying<strong>, \u2018<br \/>\n  <mark>My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure<\/mark>   &#8216;;<\/strong>\u00a0 11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. \u00a0<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. \u00a0I have planned it, surely I will do it.<\/mark>   \u201d<\/strong>\n  <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 14:27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><br \/>\n<mark>the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?<\/mark> <\/strong>\u00a0 And <strong><br \/>\n<mark>as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #211:<\/strong>Drawing from the Scripture passages cited in this section, explain in your own words why the very idea that God&#8217;s divine purpose could be frustrated is unthinkable.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Worthy Respons<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How shall we respond to these things? \u00a0If God is indeed who He claims to be, <strong><em>the sovereign living Lord of heaven and earth<\/em><\/strong>, then our response to His great plans and purposes must be worthy of Him. \u00a0Included in such a response would be <strong><em>godly fear, worship, and adoration:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> Godly Fear<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since God is the creator and sustainer of all, it is appropriate to fear His great power and majesty!\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Revelation 15:3-4:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a03And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying \u201cGreat and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations.\u00a0 4<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?<\/mark> <\/strong> \u00a0For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>When the saints of old happened upon a vision of God. they were greatly humbled. \u00a0Job, for example, upon seeing a vision of God, exclaimed in reverence and awe:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Job 42:5-6: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a05\u201cI have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees Thee; 6<strong><mark>Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes<\/mark>     .<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Isaiah<\/strong>, upon seeing a vision of the thrice Holy God, humbly acknowledged his sins and the sins of his people:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 6:5:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Then I said, \u201c<strong><mark>Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips<\/mark><\/strong>; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The prophet <strong>Daniel<\/strong> was overcome by a vision from God and described his experience:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\t<strong><em>Daniel 8:27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days<\/mark><\/strong>. Then I got up again and carried on the king&#8217;s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Later, he saw a heavenly messenger and records the encounter:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Daniel 10:7-12:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 7Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves<\/mark> .<\/strong> 8So I was left alone and saw this great vision; <strong><br \/>\n<mark>yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength<\/mark> <\/strong>. \u00a09But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground<\/mark> .\u00a0 <\/strong>10<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees<\/mark> <\/strong>. \u00a011And he said to me, \u201cO 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.\u201d And when he had spoken this word to me, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>I stood up trembling<\/mark> <\/strong>. \u00a012Then he said to me, \u201cDo 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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Daniel was afraid in God&#8217;s presence, and rightly so. \u00a0A mere glimpse of Him can kill a man (Exodus 33:20)! \u00a0When the Apostle John had a vision of the glorified Christ he responded in terror.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Revelation 1:17-18:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 17<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man<\/mark> <\/strong>. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, \u201c<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Do not be afraid<\/mark> <\/strong>; 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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>All these who encountered God responded in fear. \u00a0We can therefore conclude that anyone who sees himself in the light of God&#8217;s holiness will react the same way.\u00a0 This fear does not spur a desire to run away, however.\u00a0 It inspires deep respect and reverence, a worshipful trembling before the power, purity and holiness of God. \u00a0This happens as we contemplate our sinfulness and the many ways we have sinned against His purity and power. \u00a0Were it not for His great mercy toward sinners, we would be consumed by the fire of His wrath! \u00a0Knowing this, in deep reverence we express our thankfulness for His great mercy and our respect for His purity, holiness, and power. \u00a0Scripture comforts us with its assurance that God <strong><em>delights<\/em><\/strong> in these manifestations of genuine humility!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 66:1-2:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1Thus says the Lord, \u201cHeaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. \u00a0Where then is a house you could build for Me? \u00a0And where is a place that I may rest?\u00a0 2For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,\u201d declares the Lord. \u201c<br \/>\n    <mark><strong>But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word<\/strong>.<\/mark> \u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 34:15-19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 15The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And <strong><mark>His ears are open to their cry<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 16The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. \u00a017<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>The righteous cry and the Lord hears<\/mark><\/strong>, And delivers them out of all their troubles. \u00a018<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the Lord delivers him out of them all.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 51:15-17:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a015O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Thy praise. \u00a016For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. \u00a017<strong><mark>The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #212:<\/strong>Drawing on the Scripture passages related to \u201cgodly fear\u201d cited above, describe this fear in your own words.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #213:<\/strong>\u00a0 Why is <strong><em>godly fear<\/em><\/strong> something we should not be afraid of, but actually seek after?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Worship and Adoration<\/h3>\n<p>Worship entails ascribing value to something. \u00a0When we worship something, we treasure it, adore it, and value it; our feelings and attitudes toward it inspire our behavior toward it. \u00a0Worship generates action.\u00a0 When we worship God, we view Him as supremely valuable and worthy of our adoration and service. \u00a0In reality, however, to declare God <strong><em>most valuable<\/em><\/strong> to us is an understatement. \u00a0That&#8217;s because He is the ultimate standard defining value. \u00a0When we rightly value God, we do not compare Him to any higher standard.\u00a0 Rather, <strong><em>we esteem Him to be most worthy<\/em><\/strong> of our adoration, praise, and worship.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Exodus 15:11:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord? \u00a0<strong><mark>Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders<\/mark><\/strong>? <strong><em>Psalm 71:19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For Thy righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, <strong><mark>Thou hast done great things; O God, who is like Thee?<\/mark>     <br \/>\n    <\/strong><strong><em>Psalm 86:8:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong><strong><mark>There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine<\/mark>     .<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We rightly esteem God above everything else because <strong><em>everything else derives value in relation to Him.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0All the things God has created derive their value from fulfilling His divine purpose for them.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Revelation 4:11:<\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God<\/mark><\/strong>, to receive glory and honor and power; <strong><mark>for Thou didst create all things<\/mark><\/strong>, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 104:5-9:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 5<strong><mark>He established the earth upon its foundations<\/mark><\/strong>, So that it will not totter forever and ever.\u00a0 6Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains.\u00a0 7<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>At Thy rebuke they fled<\/mark><\/strong>; At the sound of Thy thunder they hurried away.\u00a0 8The mountains rose; the valleys sank down <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>To the place which Thou didst establish for them.\u00a0 9Thou didst set a boundary that they may not pass over;<\/mark><\/strong> That they may not return to cover the earth.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Job 37:9-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9Out of the south comes the storm, And out of the north the cold.\u00a0 10From the breath of God ice is made, And the expanse of the waters is frozen.\u00a0 11Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.\u00a0 12And it changes direction, turning around by His guidance, <strong><mark>That it may do whatever He commands it<\/mark><\/strong> On the face of the inhabited earth.\u00a0 13<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Whether for correction or for His world, Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Why is God worthy to receive glory and honor?\u00a0 Because He created and controls all things. Nothing exists outside the will of God. \u00a0Everything exists by His design and sustaining providence<em>.<\/em> \u00a0How can we do anything less than pay Him homage as the high and lofty One? Indeed, <strong><em>anything less is wretchedly sinful<\/em><\/strong>, and is, in fact, idolatry\u2014a violation of the first commandment.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Exodus 20:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>You shall have no other gods before Me<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Such sin fails to glorify and esteem God properly. In fact, <strong><em>the very nature of sin is pride (self-exaltation)<\/em><\/strong>. It declares that our willful desires are more important than God&#8217;s righteous intent for us. \u00a0When we sin, we do not esteem Him as Lord and Master (who He truly is).\u00a0 Rather, we usurp God&#8217;s authority by refusing to esteem Him for who He truly is, Lord and Master of all. \u00a0This is, indeed, the very definition of sin: to transgress the law, character, and will of God.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 1:18-21:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men<\/mark> <\/strong>, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. \u00a020For 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 <strong><br \/>\n<mark>though they knew God, <u>they did not honor Him as God,<\/u> or give thanks<\/mark> <\/strong>; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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.\u00a0 This theme must be stressed, given the way it emphasized in the Scripture.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>1 Chronicles 29:11-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 11Thine, O Lord, is <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty<\/mark> <\/strong>, 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.\u00a0 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. \u00a013<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name<\/mark> .<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Rightly <strong><em>valuing God<\/em><\/strong> moves us to worship. \u00a0That is, to <strong><em>ascribe<\/em><\/strong> value to Him and proclaim His worth. \u00a0We proclaim the glory of His great power with the words of our mouths and the thoughts and meditations of our hearts.\u00a0 His majestic authority is the most regal and beautiful, stately and splendid, magnificent and amazing grandeur of all. \u00a0Therefore, we delight in our praises of Him!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalms 96:4-9:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.\u00a0 5For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. \u00a06<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary<\/mark> <\/strong>. \u00a07Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. \u00a08<strong><br \/>\n<mark>Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name<\/mark> <\/strong>; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. \u00a09Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We are to praise Him and <strong>give Him thanks!<\/strong> 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!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 106:1:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0<strong><mark>Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good<\/mark><\/strong>; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Hebrews 13:15<\/em><\/strong> &#8211; 15Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, <strong><mark>the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Thessalonians 5:16-18<\/em><\/strong> &#8211; 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; <strong>18in everything give thanks<\/strong>; for this is God&#8217;s will for you in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #214:<\/strong>\u00a0 Describe \u201cworship and adoration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #215:<\/strong>\u00a0 Which of the above passages seem most helpful to you personally as you seek to worship and adore God most appropriately?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God In Salvation<\/h1>\n<h2 align=\"center\">Our Response: Part 5 \u2013 Lesson 2<\/h2>\n<h3>The Sovereign King<\/h3>\n<p>God made the world by His own power out of nothing and is, even now, sustaining everything by His powerful Word.\u00a0 God is <strong><em>the sovereign king<\/em><\/strong> above all powers and authorities.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 103:19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>His sovereignty rules over all<\/mark> .<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God possesses <strong><em>absolute dominion<\/em><\/strong> and authority over all things. \u00a0He sits on a <strong><em>\u201cthrone in the heavens!\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0How ridiculous it would be to say that God created the universe, but does not control what takes place in it. \u00a0<strong><em>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.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Everything that happens in the world happens at the express will of this God who rules the world and all who are in it.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalms 47:7-8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. \u00a08<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>God reigns over the nations<\/mark> <\/strong>, God sits on His holy throne.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He isthe<strong><em> \u201cLord of Heaven and Earth&#8221; <\/em><\/strong>(Acts 17:24).\u00a0 He <strong><em>decreed<\/em><\/strong> everything that happens in the world (see \u201cThe Decrees of God\u201d<strong>)<\/strong>. \u00a0Even the evil in the world, which God hates, exists to achieve His eternal purposes that will, without a doubt, comes to pass.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalms 135:5-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 5For I know that<br \/>\n  <mark><strong>the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. \u00a0<\/strong>6<strong>Whatever the Lord pleases, He does<\/strong><\/mark> , In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God does not merely permit the events of human history to occur; He ordained them from eternity past (foreordination<strong>)<\/strong>.\u00a0 He is also <em>actively involved<\/em> in bringing them to pass (providence<strong>)<\/strong>, fulfilling all of His plans and purposes.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Proverbs 16:4:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark>The Lord has made everything for its own purpose<\/mark> <\/strong>, Even the wicked for the day of evil.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That God&#8217;s divine purpose could meet with frustration is <strong><em>unthinkable<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0Failure of God&#8217;s purpose would be failure of His sovereignty. \u00a0If God&#8217;s sovereignty could fail He would <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> be God. Scripture is very clear about this.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:11-12:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>In Him11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will<\/mark> <\/strong>, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The fact that God controls all events is <strong><em>a main theme of the Bible<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0Scripture consistently testifies that God is continually working out His purposes for the display of His glory, name and power. \u00a0God is bringing His world to an <strong><em>expected end<\/em><\/strong><em>,<\/em> 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!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Isaiah 46:9-11:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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<strong>Declaring the end from the beginning<\/strong> And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying<strong>, \u201c<br \/>\n  <mark>My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure<\/mark> \u201d;<\/strong> 11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. <strong><br \/>\n<mark>Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #216:<\/strong>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&#8217;s sovereign kingship over all things.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #217<em>:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Prayerfully consider and record how this aspect of God&#8217;s being and nature impacts your relationship with Him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>A Devoted Love<\/h3>\n<p>Because God is infinitely valuable and worthy of worship, our only appropriate response to Him is intense commitment rooted in love and devotion. \u00a0Thus, Jesus <strong><em>summed up<\/em><\/strong> God&#8217;s commandments like this:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 22:36-40:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 36\u201cTeacher, <strong><mark>which is the great commandment in the Law?\u201d\u00a0 37And He said to him, \u201c\u2018You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.&#8217;\u00a0 38This is the great and foremost commandment.<\/mark><\/strong> \u00a039The second is like it, \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.&#8217;\u00a0 <strong><mark>40On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.\u201d<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>      <em>Mark 12:28-31:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0 28<\/strong>And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, <strong>\u201c<br \/>\n    <mark>What commandment is the foremost of all?\u201d\u00a0 29Jesus answered, \u201cThe foremost is, \u2018Hear, 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.&#8217;<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0 31The second is this, \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.&#8217;\u00a0 <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>There is no other commandment greater than these.<\/mark>   \u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus identifies the <strong><em>\u201cforemost commandment\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u2014our ultimate responsibility as Christians\u2014as <strong><em>loving God with all our might.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Running a close second is loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.\u00a0 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 <strong><em>\u201cgreat and foremost commandment.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> In other words, this is what is <strong>MOST<\/strong> 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 <strong><em>&#8220;On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.&#8221;<\/em><\/strong> The entire Old Testament, all 39 books, all 929 chapters, 23,214 verses, all 590,439 words says Jesus <strong><em>\u201cdepend on these two commandments.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Mark 12:32-33:<\/strong>\u00a0 32And the scribe said to Him, \u201cRight, 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&#8217;s neighbor as himself, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.<\/mark> \u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Our first priority\u2014more important than all our religious endeavors, more important than anything else in all the world\u2014is to <strong><em>love God.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0To love God, says Jesus, is why we exist.\u00a0 Jesus affirmed this great truth in Luke 14.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Luke 14:25-27:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 25Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26\u201c<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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<\/mark> <\/strong>.\u00a0 27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God will have no rivals for His esteem and devotion in His kingdom. \u00a0Jesus <strong><em>expects<\/em><\/strong> to be more important than everything we hold dear, including our families and even our very lives.\u00a0 Those unwilling to make such a commitment <strong><em>cannot<\/em><\/strong> be His disciples. \u00a0His commandment requires us to love the Lord our God <strong><em>\u201cwith all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0This standard is set extremely high. It demands that we love God with all that we are and all that we have.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>with all your heart: \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This speaks of emotion; we are to be wholly devoted to God with strong affection.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>with all your soul:<\/em><\/strong> &#8211; 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.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>with all your mind:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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. \u00a0This requires enjoying His Word and His gospel more than the vain thoughts of our own minds, the entertainment, comedy and communications of the world.\u00a0 It naturally results in devoting our time to meditation and worship of God.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>with all your strength:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 This suggests bringing all the faculties of soul and body to labor and toil for His glory, as the highest priority in our lives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As we value God because He is supremely valuable, we must love Him with wholehearted devotion.\u00a0 Good Christian, does your life give evidence of your love for God? \u00a0Or does it reveal other things competing with Him for your love and devotion? \u00a0Only those who love God with their whole being will be truly satisfied in this life. \u00a0Full contentment and fulfillment flow from fulfilling the purpose for which we were made.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 10:12-13:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 12And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>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, <\/mark> <\/strong>13<strong><br \/>\n<mark>and to keep the Lord&#8217;s commandments <\/mark> <\/strong>and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #218:<\/strong>Based on what Jesus identifies as \u201cthe foremost commandment,\u201d what is our highest responsibility as Christians?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #219:<\/strong>\u00a0 List one or more <strong><em>specific<\/em><\/strong> ways you can love God:<\/p>\n<p>With all your heart:<\/p>\n<p>With all your soul:<\/p>\n<p>With all your mind:<\/p>\n<p>With all your strength:<\/p>\n<p>Which of these areas are the easiest for you to do?<\/p>\n<p>Which are the hardest?<\/p>\n<p>List one or more ways you can use the areas that are easy for you to strength the areas that are hard for you.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>A Commitment to Obedience<\/h3>\n<p>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. \u00a0If a powerful earthly authority gave us a righteous directive, we would obey. \u00a0How much more should we honor God with obedience to Him.\u00a0 Shall we rail against our Maker? Shall we rebel against the King of Kings? God forbid!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Deuteronomy 4:39:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God is the One to whom we will all give an account of our deeds. \u00a0Even in times of testing when it seems all the world is against us, we must obey God, regardless of the cost. \u00a0The first century Apostles set a righteous example for us.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Acts 5:27-30:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 27And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. \u00a0And the high priest questioned them, 28saying, \u201c<strong><mark>We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name<\/mark><\/strong>, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man&#8217;s blood upon us.\u201d 29But Peter and the apostles answered and said, <strong>\u201c<br \/>\n      <mark>We must obey God rather than men.<\/mark>     \u201d<\/strong> Those who love God will in fact obey Him.\u00a0 Our obedience reflects our belief that He is the Sovereign Lord who alone is worthy of our adoration and trust.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>John 14:15:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>If you love Me, you will keep My commandments<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 John 5:3:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><mark>this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments<\/mark><\/strong>; and His commandments are not burdensome.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #220:<\/strong>Describe the basis of our obligation to obey God unwaveringly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Faith and Trust<\/h3>\n<p>Since our Sovereign God is in full control of all things <strong><em>and<\/em><\/strong> has our best interests in mind, we are absolutely safe in His care.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:28:<\/em><\/strong> And we know that <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>God causes all things to work together for good<\/mark> <\/strong> to those who love God, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>to those who are called according to His purpose<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Many Christians have a hard time believing that God will do this for them. \u00a0They know they are not worthy of such goodness from God, and so they doubt that this promise applies to <strong><em>them<\/em><\/strong>. Such doubts fail to grasp the <strong><em>graciousness<\/em><\/strong> of God&#8217;s promise! \u00a0This is not a blessing Christians must earn; it is one we receive by grace and faith and trust His word. \u00a0Has not God proven Himself worthy of our trust? \u00a0To whom else shall we go?\u00a0 He is the Sovereign Lord!\u00a0 The Bible calls us to place our trust in Him.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 43:5:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0<strong><mark>Why are you in despair, O my soul? \u00a0And why are you disturbed within me? \u00a0Hope in God<\/mark><\/strong>, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Proverbs 3:5-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 5<strong><mark>Trust in the Lord with all your heart<\/mark><\/strong>, And do not lean on your own understanding. \u00a06<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>In all your ways acknowledge Him<\/mark><\/strong>, And He will make your paths straight.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>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. \u00a0He will not leave us nor forsake us! \u00a0He is our God who delights in our deliverance and peace<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 37:3-7:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a03<strong><mark>Trust in the Lord, and do good<\/mark><\/strong>; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. \u00a04Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.\u00a0 5<strong><mark>Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.<\/mark><\/strong> \u00a06And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday. \u00a07<strong><mark>Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret<\/mark><\/strong> because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 33:18-22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 18Behold, <strong><mark>the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him<\/mark><\/strong>, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 19To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. \u00a020Our soul waits for the Lord; <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>He is our help and our shield<\/mark><\/strong>. \u00a021For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. \u00a022Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>According as we have hoped in Thee<\/mark><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #221:<\/strong>\u00a0 What part does faith and trust play in <strong><em>willing<\/em><\/strong> obedience?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\">The Sovereignty of God In Salvation:<\/h1>\n<h2 align=\"center\">Our Response: Part 5 \u2013 Lesson 3<\/h2>\n<h3>The Sovereign King<\/h3>\n<p>God made the world by His own power out of nothing and is even now sustaining everything by His powerful Word.\u00a0 God is <strong><em>the Sovereign King<\/em><\/strong> above all earthly and heavenly powers and authorities.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 103:19:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; And <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>His sovereignty rules over all<\/mark> .<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God possesses <strong><em>absolute authoritative dominion<\/em><\/strong> over all things. \u00a0That&#8217;s why He is said to sit on a <strong><em>\u201cthrone in the heavens.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Scripture affirms the logical connection between God&#8217;s creation of the universe and His control over it.\u00a0 It tells us that<strong><em> God not only controls nature and history, but also sustains the entire universe by His power.\u00a0 He orders the events of His entire creation to accomplish His purpose and plans.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0Friends, we must understand that God rules the world in such an absolute way that <strong><em>every event<\/em><\/strong> occurs at His express purpose and will and by His power.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalms 47:7-8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 7For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.\u00a0 8<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>God reigns over the nations<\/mark> <\/strong>, God sits on His holy throne. <strong><em>Acts 17:22-28:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 22And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, \u201cMen of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.\u00a0 23For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, \u2018TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.&#8217;\u00a0 What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.\u00a0 24<strong><br \/>\n<mark>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<\/mark> ;<\/strong> 26and He made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation<\/mark> ,<\/strong> 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, \u2018For we also are His offspring.&#8217;\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He is<strong><em> \u201cthe Lord of Heaven and Earth\u201d<\/em><\/strong> (Acts 17:24) who permits, indeed decrees whatsoever comes to pass in the world <strong>(The Decrees of God)<\/strong>. \u00a0Although 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 135:5-6:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 5For I know that <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all gods. \u00a06Whatever the Lord pleases, He does<\/mark> <\/strong>, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God not only permits, but has ordained, the events of human history from eternity past <strong>(Foreordination)<\/strong>.\u00a0 Furthermore, He is <strong><em>actively involved<\/em><\/strong> in bringing them to pass <strong>(Providence)<\/strong>, fulfilling all of His plans and purposes.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Proverbs 16:4<\/em><\/strong><strong>:\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark>The Lord has made everything for its own purpose<\/mark> <\/strong>, Even the wicked for the day of evil.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It is <strong><em>unthinkable<\/em><\/strong> that God&#8217;s divine purpose could meet with frustration. \u00a0Sovereignty is an essential characteristic of Deity.\u00a0 Failure of God&#8217;s purpose would be failure of His sovereignty. Failure of His sovereignty would negate His deity. Scripture is very clear about this.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 103:19:<\/em><\/strong> The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; <strong><mark>and His sovereignty rules over all<\/mark>     .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 47:7-8:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>7<strong><mark>For God is the King of all the earth<\/mark><\/strong>; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.\u00a0 8<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne<\/mark>   .<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Daniel 4:17:<\/em><\/strong> 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 <strong><mark>the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes<\/mark><\/strong>, And sets it over the lowliest of men.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:11-12:<\/em><\/strong> In Him11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined <strong><mark>according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will<\/mark><\/strong>, 12to the end that we who lwere the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God&#8217;s absolute control over all events and circumstances underlies everything in the Bible.\u00a0 The Bible reveals that God is providentially working out His will to accomplish His purposes for the display of His glory, name and power! \u00a0God is bringing His world to an <strong><em>expected end<\/em><\/strong>\u2014the end He ordained in eternity past.\u00a0 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!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Isaiah 46:9-11:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>Declaring the end from the beginning<\/mark> <\/strong> And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying<strong>, \u201c<br \/>\n<mark>My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure<\/mark> \u201d;<\/strong> 11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. <strong><br \/>\n<mark>Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #222:<\/strong>Thoughtfully reread the Scripture passages listed above under \u201cThe Sovereign King.\u201d\u00a0 Then describe in your own words God&#8217;s relationship to everything in creation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #223:<\/strong>\u00a0 How does His relationship to everything in creation impact you personally?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Blessed Assurance<\/h3>\n<p>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! \u00a0Jesus has secured salvation for all who respond to the gospel by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Christ! \u00a0He has opened the door to God&#8217;s presence by meeting the demands of His holy justice. \u00a0No wrath remains for those who are in Christ; all of God&#8217;s wrath against all the sin of everyone who will ever be saved has been poured out on Christ!\u00a0 His work on our behalf has secured our salvation.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 53:4-5:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 4Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. \u00a05But <strong><mark>He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him<\/mark><\/strong>, And by His scourging we are healed.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 8:1-2:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 1There is therefore <strong><mark>now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus<\/mark><\/strong>. \u00a02For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We have assurance because Christ&#8217;s work is perfect. \u00a0For this, we praise God! \u00a0Our mediator (priest) stands between us and God.\u00a0 He is the lamb sacrificed to cover our sins.\u00a0 Dear friends, since God sacrificed His own Son for us, He will bring us safely to Heaven.\u00a0 He has made us joint heirs with Christ of His eternal inheritance. \u00a0All that is Christ&#8217;s is now ours as well. <strong><em>This is because the work of Christ in securing our salvation is perfect.<\/em><\/strong> \u00a0He is a perfect priest and the complete sacrifice, who paid the full price for our sins.\u00a0 Christ was sent by the Father to do His perfect will in saving the elect.\u00a0 The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ perfectly accomplished the will of God in redemption.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 1:7-8:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 7<strong><mark>In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses<\/mark><\/strong>, according to the riches of His grace, 8which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Hebrews 10:14:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 For <strong><mark>by one offering He has perfected for all time<\/mark><\/strong> those who are sanctified.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Hebrews 10:19-25:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a019Since therefore, brethren, <strong><mark>we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus<\/mark><\/strong>, 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<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith<\/mark><\/strong>, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. \u00a023Let us <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful<\/mark><\/strong>; 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Colossians 1:21-22:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22yet <strong><mark>He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach <\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Simply believing these scriptural truths equips us to <strong><em>rest assured<\/em><\/strong> that Heaven is ours, <strong><em>wholly<\/em><\/strong> because of what Christ has done!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #224:<\/strong>From the Scripture passages above relating to \u201cBlessed Assurance,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #225:<\/strong>\u00a0 Describe your personal response to this assurance.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Peace and Rest<\/h3>\n<p>Knowing that God is Sovereign affords us great peace!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:31:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 What then shall we say to these things? <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>If God is for us, who is against us?<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God controls nature and history. \u00a0He is the Lord of time and eternity.\u00a0 He is the all-knowing, all-powerful King of Heaven. \u00a0What could take Him by surprise or prevent Him from blessing His people? \u00a0His eye is on the sparrow; how much more the sons and daughters He loves.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:38-39:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 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, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God<\/mark> <\/strong>, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Since God has done all this for us in Christ Jesus our Lord, <strong><em>we can and should rest in Him<\/em><\/strong><em>,<\/em> knowing that He delights to give us eternal life and work all things for our good. \u00a0His promises give us rest and great peace!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 119:165:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <strong><mark>Those who love Thy law have great peace<\/mark><\/strong>, And nothing causes them to stumble.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Isaiah 26:3-4:<\/em><\/strong> 3<strong><mark>The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 4Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus often commands fearful saints, <strong><em>\u201cDo not be afraid,<\/em><\/strong>\u201d and then assures them of His presence with them. \u00a0Indeed we who love God have nothing to fear, because everything will work for our <em>ultimate good<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Luke 12:32:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n      <mark>Do not be afraid<\/mark><\/strong>, little flock, <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom<\/mark><\/strong>.<br \/>\n  Remember that God in His providence is ruling over every detail of your life. \u00a0He allows only what He has designed for your good and His glory. \u00a0Therefore dear Christian, He invites you to rest in His Son Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Matthew 11:28-30:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 28Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and <strong><mark>I will give you rest<\/mark><\/strong>.\u00a0 29Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and <strong><br \/>\n  <mark>you shall find rest for your souls<\/mark><\/strong>. \u00a030For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #226:\u00a0 <\/strong>On what basis do Christians experience peace and rest in this life?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #227:<\/strong>\u00a0 Are you currently experiencing this peace and rest?<br \/>\n  If not, what is hindering you from experiencing it?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Thanksgiving and Praise<\/h3>\n<p>Dear friends, consider how we ought to be thankful for God&#8217;s goodness to us.\u00a0 God has promised to ultimately work all things in our lives for our good. \u00a0He went so far as to give His own Son for us!\u00a0 Will He not also give us everything we need?<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Romans 8:31-32:<\/em><\/strong> 31What then shall we say to these things? \u00a0<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>If God is for us, who is against us?<\/mark> <\/strong> \u00a032He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, <strong><br \/>\n<mark>how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?<\/mark> <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If God will give His people a Kingdom when they die, will He not give them daily bread while they live? \u00a0If Jesus suffered and died to bring me to Himself, will He not also hear my cry for help? \u00a0Of course He will! \u00a0Even more than that, He has given us eternal life and promised that we will bask in His glory forever in Heaven. \u00a0What more could we ask from the good hand of God! \u00a0It is certainly fitting for God&#8217;s saints to praise and thank Him who gives them life and breath!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 50:23:<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<br \/>\n  <mark>He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me<\/mark> <\/strong>; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Those who know the goodness of God respond in high praise to our King. \u00a0Thanksgiving is the lifeblood of every true saint. \u00a0Praise is the garment that fits handsomely on our backs.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>Psalm 145:9-10:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 9The Lord is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works.\u00a0 10<strong><br \/>\n  <mark>All Thy works shall give thanks to Thee, O Lord, And Thy godly ones shall bless Thee<\/mark> <\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Scripture affirms that the mouths of the wicked are filled with grumbling, murmuring, and complaining.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The saints of God stand in stark contrast!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Romans 3:13-14: <\/em><\/strong>\u00a013<strong><mark>Their 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.<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Psalm 33:1-5:<\/em><\/strong> \u00a01<strong><mark>Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. \u00a02Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. \u00a03Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.<\/mark><\/strong> \u00a04For the word of the Lord is upright; And all His work is done in faithfulness. \u00a05He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let us therefore give God the thanksgiving and praise which is due to Him. \u00a0No matter what cup He gives us to drink, no matter what bitterness of soul should afflict us, no matter what great trial befalls us\u2014may we stand in the company of joyous saints, giving God glorious praise, knowing that He gives only what is for our good! \u00a0So shall we do His good will of giving Him thanks in every circumstance.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><em>Ephesians 5:18-21:<\/em><\/strong> 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19<strong><mark>speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; <\/mark><\/strong>20<strong><mark>always giving thanks for all things<\/mark><\/strong> in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:<\/em><\/strong> 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing; 18<strong><mark>in everything give thanks; for this is God&#8217;s will for you<\/mark><\/strong> in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Question #228:<\/strong>\u00a0 Write a brief prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the truths you have learned in this study.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question #229:<\/strong>\u00a0 With whom might you share what you learned so they can rejoice with you?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"ftn1\"><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"> <\/a> Charles Hodge, <em>Systematic Theology<\/em>, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993), 440.<\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn2\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\"> <\/a> Hodge, 440. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn3\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\"> <\/a> A. W. Tozer, <em>The Knowledge of the Holy<\/em> (San Francisco:\u00a0 Harper and Row, Publishers, 1961), 56. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn4\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\"> <\/a> Arthur W. Pink, <em>The Attributes of God<\/em> (Grand Rapids:\u00a0 Baker Book House, 1975), 17-18. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn5\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\"> <\/a> Taken from a sermon delivered at Believer&#8217;s Chapel, Dallas Theological Seminary, date uncertain. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"ftn6\"><a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"> <\/a>Wayne Grudem, <em>Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine.<\/em> Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 315.<\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn7\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\"> <\/a> <em>The Oxford American Dictionary and Thesaurus<\/em> (2003) lists the following synonymns for <u>preservation<\/u>:\u00a0 upkeep, maintenance, care, conservation, retention, perpetuation, continuation, safekeeping, safeguarding, protection <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn8\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\"> <\/a> Grudem, 315. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn9\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\"> <\/a>Jonathan Edwards, <em>The Works of Jonathan Edwards,<\/em> vol. 2.\u00a0 Peabody, MA:\u00a0 Henrickson Publishers, 1998 (reprint from an 1834 edition originally published in Great Britain), 529. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn10\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\"> <\/a> Grudem, 322-326. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn11\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\"> <\/a> Edwards, 529. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn12\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\"> <\/a> Grudem, 331. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn13\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\"> <\/a> Grudem, 336. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn14\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\"> <\/a> Thomas Watson, <em>A Body of Divinity<\/em>.\u00a0 reprint 2003 by The Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle PA. pg 124. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn15\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref10\" name=\"_ftn10\"> <\/a> Watson, 120. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn16\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref11\" name=\"_ftn11\"> <\/a> Watson, <em>Body of Divinity<\/em>, 123. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn17\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref12\" name=\"_ftn12\"> <\/a> Watson, 125. <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn18\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref13\" name=\"_ftn13\"> <\/a> Watson, 125<strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"ftn19\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"> <\/a> having foreknowledge or foresight <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn20\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\"> <\/a> (from Barnes&#8217; Notes on Eph 2:1, Electronic Database Copyright \u00a9 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.) <\/div>\n<div id=\"ftn21\"> <a title=\"\" href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\"> <\/a> <em>Monergism<\/em> holds that the \u201cgrace of God is the only efficient cause in beginning and effecting conversion.\u201d\u00a0 It is the opposite of <em>synergism<\/em>, which affirms \u201cthe doctrine of divine and human cooperation in conversion.\u201d\u00a0 (<em>The Evangelical Dictionary of Salvation<\/em>, Walter A. Elwell, editor.\u00a0 729, 1063) <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Sovereignty of God Table of Contents Part 1: God&#8217;s Sovereign Nature Sovereignty Defined and Explained Exposition of 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 God&#8217;s Sovereignty and His Attributes Omnipotence and Omniscience Chart on God&#8217;s Knowledge and Power Part 2: God&#8217;s Sovereign Dominion In Creation In Providence Applying God&#8217;s Providence Part 3:\u00a0 God&#8217;s Sovereign Purposes Part 4:\u00a0 God&#8217;s &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/sovereignty-of-god\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Sovereignty of God<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-896","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":914,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/896\/revisions\/914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}