Pressing on to Know the Lord: God's Sovereignty Part 3

Pressing on to know the Lord:
God's sovereignty Part 3

Select Scriptures ~ Terry phillips

January 26, 2020

Attributes of God – His Sovereignty

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

What is the sovereignty of God?

            God is supreme in power, dominion, and jurisdiction – free of outside influence,
            interference, or compulsion.  God answers to no one.    (Psalm 103:19)

                        It is God’s absolute authority and control over all activity and
                        final outcomes in all realms of existence.     (Psalm 135:5-6)

The sovereignty of God is all-encompassing, and therefore, demonstrated in all realms.

In creation.

                        Established order.    (Psalm 135:5-7,    Psalm 74:16-17)

                        Divinely established eco-systems and boundaries.    (Ps. 104,   Psalm 24:1-2)

                        God personally presided over every aspect of creation.    (Psalm 33:6-9)

In the angelic realm.

Chosen angels. (I Timothy 5:21, Psalm 103:20)

Angels that sinned. (II Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6, Matthew 25:41)

In human history and nations.

History is indeed ‘His story’.

God is Himself sovereign over rulers and nations in accomplishing His
overriding purpose – in spite of mankind’s continuing rebellion.

(Acts 17:24-26, Daniel 2:20-21, Daniel 4:31-37)

In the nation Israel.

The sovereignty of God is remarkably demonstrated in the creating, and continuing
presence of the nation of Israel.  Every aspect of Israel’s existence – from it’s humble and unlikey beginning – to it’s continuing and supernatural preservation, is a testament to the sovereignty of God.

God called Israel – as a nation – into a special relationship to Himself, as the nation
through whom His Christ would come into the world.   (Gen. 12:1-3,   Lev. 20:26)

God set them apart by His own sovereign determination – and no amount of hatred, opposition, or even their own unbelief – can ever thwart the eternal purpose of God for the nation of Israel.     (Isaiah 45:17,   Isaiah 43:10-13)

In redemption.

From before the foundation of the world – God had a redemptive plan.

God first declares this to us immediately after Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord.        (Genesis 3:15)

                        In God’s pre-determined redemptive plan, He determined to redeem and set apart
                        a people for His very own.  This is a redemptive plan extending far beyond the
                        confines of His chosen nation, Israel – to every tribe, tongue, and nation of the
                        whole world.

                        God’s sovereignty in salvation is declared in many passages.    (I Peter 2:9,
Acts 13:48,     Ephesians 1:3-14)

God’s sovereignty in redemption is revealed in many ways:

In drawing sinners to Himself (John 6:44)
In granting saving faith to sinners (Eph. 2:8-9, Acts 18:27)
In giving life to sinners (John 5:21)
In granting an eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:11)
In giving the indwelling Holy Spirit as a pledge (Eph. 1:13-14)

It is also critical to understand that the sovereignty of God in salvation, in no way
diminishes human responsibility.  Every sinner who leaves this life apart from Christ will give an account for their turning away from the light they were given.

            (Rom. 1:20 & 2:15…………………….II Peter 2:20,  Hebrews 6)

Our guilt before a Holy God is indisputable, horrific, and just.  By our own nature and choice – we are guilty of the worst crimes that can be committed, in rebellion against the abundant goodness of a righteous and holy God.

And there is no remedy for our condemnation apart from turning
to the Lord (the Divine provision).

                        When we look at ‘good’ people – we are tempted to question God’s sovereignty.
But God declares our perception of people being ‘good’ to be a dangerous distortion of reality.   (“There is no one who does good, not even one.”)

       Not one of us is deserving of God’s redeeming mercy.  Every one of us
       rightfully comes to realize unspeakably agonizing & overwhelming guilt
       and condemnation before Almighty God.

In fact we are undeserving to the point that rather than question why God doesn’t save everyone – we should be increasingly in awe that so great a God would chose to save anyone!

From our feeble perspective we are not be able to understand how this can be – that the accountability of sinners, and the sovereignty of God can equally co-exist,

but this is one of the many instances where we are forced to acknowledge that God’s ways are indeed higher than ours.  In light of God’s unsearchable greatness
we willingly accept in so many other areas – surely we can accept His infinite wisdom in this area as well.

I have witnessed brothers and sisters in Christ wrestling mightily with this profound truth – and have done so myself.  I have seen believers literally cringe at the reading of certain portions of God’s Word clearly describing the sovereignty of God in salvation.   (Romans 9)

      But I have also witnessed the pure joy that emanates from simply taking
      God at His Word – and then rejoicing in the emerging glory of God!

                        The sovereignty of God in redemption is like a cosmic highlighter – magnifying the
most precious qualities and works of God in all their majestic goodness and glory!

God’s extravagant blessings (Ephesians 1:3)

Everlasting lovingkindness (Ephesians 1:4-5, 9)

Full forgiveness/redemption (Ephesians 1:6-7)

Infinite wisdom and insight (Ephesians 1:8)

Divine enlightenment (Ephesians 1:9)

The preeminence of Christ (Ephesians 1:10)

Deliberate, unwavering (redemptive/purifying) purpose (Eph. 1:11, 4)

Secure inheritance with a pledge (Ephesians 1:11 & 14)

The abundant riches of God’s saving grace (Ephesians 1:6-7)

The ultimate purpose – highest human fulfillment (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14)

The sovereignty of God in redeeming sinners is absolutely crucial in a fuller understanding of the matchless and saving grace of God! (Rom. 11:5-6,
II Cor. 9:15)

In the redeemed.

In our earthly pilgrimage (Romans 8:28)

This is a matter of discernable revelation.
     It is not a complete mystery.  It is not an imperceptible phenomenon.

This provides an all-encompassing assurance.

There is a cohesive master plan – and every detail is accounted for.
“to work together”

                                    God Himself is at the cosmic helm – there is nothing that happens in this
                                    universe apart from Divine oversight/supervision/control.   “God causes”

                                    God brings all things together for the accomplishing of His kind intention
                                    toward His own children.   “for good”        (Job 23:10)

Example:  “What are you doing under there (the circumstances)?”

We can spend our time cringing and complaining under the circumstances,
or we can transcend the temporal through a child-like reliance upon the
sovereign Lord of the universe.

Every and all circumstances are under the direct authority and perfect
wisdom of almighty God.  His perfect will cannot be thwarted by even the
most stubborn and flagrant unbelief.
                                                                              “Whate’er my God ordains…”

In our spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 4:7)

In prayer (Romans 8:26-27)

In our preservation (Romans 8:38-39, I Peter 1:5, Jude 1:24-25)

God’s sovereignty sucks the pride out of our sails – but it also
instills a genuine confidence in our outlook and expectation,
a steadfast confidence in the Lord!

In our coming glory (II Thessalonians 2:13-14)

In the Lord’s final triumph.

There will be no argument concerning the sovereignty of God on the great day
of reckoning.

I Corinthians 15:24-25 I Timothy 6:13-16

Instead there will be great joy and ecstatic rejoicing!

Revelation 5:13