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The Attributes of God: Sovereignty

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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
(Matthew 10:29)

And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
(Genesis 14:19)

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
(Psalm 115:3)

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will
(Ephesians1:11)

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
(Jude 24-25)

Having a sovereign God is good news for the believer.

Sovereignty tells of God’s divine control over everything that happens. There is nothing outside the control of His loving Hand: not the designs of the wicked (even the plans of history’s most evil dictators), not the way the earth works itself seemingly against the lives of men (such as the recent earthquake in Turkey), not the workings of demons (or even Satan), and not my own free will. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for the good of God’s children and verses 38-39 implies that there is nothing beyond the control of God’s sovereign hand. God’s sovereignty is a huge source of comfort to the believer, for it helps him to know that no matter how chaotic any situation may seem, he really need not fear for God is still in charge and on the throne (and that combined with His love is unassailable).

Other attributes we’ve discussed so far:

Comments

  1. I love that the most high does not need us to testify of him. I also love that he has not left it up to us to figure out or choose him. I love that he has first love me and that he has chosen me. I also love that he has predestinated me to conform to his Image. I love that he is the potter and i am the clay because his work is a perfect work and he shall present me unto himself a pure bride without spot wrinkle or blemish or any sin. What a comfort to know it is him that works out my salvation by his will alone. I also am so thankful that imputes his righteousness in me and causes me to come to him and i rejoice that i am his prisoner bound unto him. Blessed be Jesus Christ.

    • AMEN! Garrick, such truth in that when we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6). Had I the ability to choose God to save me, I wouldn’t have, because I was ungodly. The sovereignty of God is shown most evidently through the election of His children and the fact we, God’s children, have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). This doesn’t show the unfairness of God, with which Paul made his defense again unto the Romans for thinking so (Rom. 9:14&15). That’s the sovereignty of God that not everyone hears preached from the pulpit but to me is the most wonderful news I’ve ever heard. God loved me so much that He has taken care of my eternal salvation, beginning to end, and He didn’t allow me to ruin it by giving me a choice. Thank the Lord for His sovereignty.

      • The problem I see here is that it sounds like a true cop out. I dont want to be be mean but this is wrong. Yes I believe a sovereign God. but I also know that the greatest gift God has given us is the gift of choice. People have to be careful not to use religion and church as a crutch as they all too often do. Remember, God is committed to your development.And that is stretching for us.
        I believe God is sovereign even though we have free will. But we still have free will. and the fact is our minds are waay too small to really comprehend that. Moral is, keep trusting and developing.And thank you God, so much, for your help and Grace.

        • I don’t think it’s a cop out Tim, but I do agree with you it’s beyond our human capacity to understand. I believe God is absolutely in control of all things and that, God in His Sovereignty have a will,”willed” that we, having been made in His own image would also be given a “will”. In that, it all is his design! I also believe, one can believe that and still hold to Salvation being a COMPLETE work of God at the Cross Through Jesus Christ Sacrifice…”IT IS FINISHED”! He’s all-knowing and has all foreknowledge…of course, He knows who will be saved and who will not be saved because they used what God gave them a “will” to reject HIs only means of Salvation. In that way…it’s all God’s doing! Past that…I agree, His ways and thoughts are so high, who can know them. So when people or denominations try to figure it ALL out and make conclusions that the Scriptures do not…I believe, it could be a bit arrogant.

        • Tim, I tend to agree with you.

          In my many years, almost all attempts at reconciling God’s sovreignty with man’s free will do harm to both whilst insulting my intelligence. The best I’ve ever heard is that they’re parallel doctrines.

          Maybe we do better just humbling our little minds to such as that.

          • The term “free will” provides for us a false image of man’s condition apart from Christ. Man’s will is enslaved by sin, captive to sin and is completely under sin’s reign. Man had freedom in the garden before the fall but that was lost to Adam and consequently past to us. When Paul says we are “dead in trespasses and sins” that is our spiritual condition (i.e. we are lost). No question about it, scripture is very unambiguous about God’s elect. The golden chain of salvation (i.e.Romans 8:29-30)offers for the born again individual great security. Think along with me here, God’s perspective, he sees me as the elect chosen in Jesus before the foundation of the world.No doubt about that! Mans perpective, I must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt about that! It is a matter of perspective. The Holy Spirit let us in on a heavenly truth concerning the Father’s plan.I was born again of the Holy Ghost when I was 15. Looking back (as I do often) God was at work bringing me to Church camp then moving on my soul with the power of the Holy Ghost(see predestinory passages in John, its full of them!!)chapter 6,and 10 are saturated.The Father draws you to Jesus. Sometimes we dig into the Pauline letters and forget about Jesus teaching on election.

        • Then what about Esau in Rm 9:13? It says that he (God) hated Esau… before he was born neither having done any good or evil (vs. 11) Here is a man that is hated of God before he was born, having done nither good or evil. It was for the purpose of God according to election. It is soley of God that calls that we can even think about coming to him.We can only love God because he first loved us. If he does not love us as Easu, then there is no hope.

          • Sometimes I think we read too much into, or assume things in God’s word that aren’t there. Before submitting this comment I looked up the greek meaning for the word “hate”. In some cases it means to “love less”. For instance when Jesus said “If anyone come unto me and hate not his father, mother, family, life etc. he cannot be my disciple”. The meaning here is “to love less”. Yes, Father God hated Esau but He also blessed him with land (the hill country of Seir and Edom, Gen.36:8) and some earthly courtesy (Deut.23:7) So I think the meaning here is He loved Esau less than Jacob.

          • Steve, can you please let me know the referece for hate being love less. I searched the Greek for hate throgh out the bible and the only meaning I got was hate/reject. I would love to know if it sometimes means love less as it shades a lot of light on the verse in the Gospels about loving God more than anyone/anything. I actually believe the Gospel doesnot refer to hating one’s family but I believe it is about choosing God over them if the time comes to make a choice.

          • In this case I would most definately say it is hate. I have had other use that same thought as you have put forth…going into the Hebrew or Greek to attempt to change what is clearly said. This is not only about Easu, it is about all those that are either of the flesh or the promise. We can see that by reading Rm 8:27-39…. this is not only about Easu. It is about the promise of God to his seed (Christ). Because Easu may have been given certain things in this life means nothing. The scriputres speak that he sends the rain on the just and the unjust alike(Mt 5:45). Rm 8/9 is clearly speaking of being of the holy seed (Christ)… the children of promise. Rm 9 is clearly about God absolute power and control within our lives.

            It is about very clearly about eternal life or damnation. We can see this in Rm. 9:22-23 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted (made) to destruction. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,……this is in the same context of God hating Easu.

          • Steve,

            How long will people turn a blind eye to what the Bible, the word of truth, really says. Hated, as used in Rom. 9:13, comes from the Greek word miseō which means to hate, pursue with hatred, detest. There is nothing about a hint of love with that. The scripture clearly states (and remember context, context, context, when reading the Bible) that “the purpose of God according to election might stand” (Rom. 9:11). He even goes on to say that it’s not because of him that willeth (the one who wants eternal salvation) nor of him that runneth (the one who thinks good works will get him saved, and asking for God to save you is a work) but it is GOD that sheweth mercy Rom. 9:16. Romans chapter 9 greatly declares the sovereignty of God. No doubt. But this isn’t to say that man has no free-will (I prefer the term free-choice because I would like to think that my will would be to do the will of God although I fail so often to please Him). But man certainly is able to have free-choice in life. If not, why else do we sin? That’s definitely not in the will of God. But what God has not given us free-choice over is our eternal salvation. I thank Him because he hasn’t allowed me to make a choice that would send me, someone He loves, to Hell.
            “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6:39.
            None will be lost that are to be saved. After all… we believe God knows all things, right? Why wouldn’t He know whom among the inhabitants of earth as going to be with Him in heaven? “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Isaiah 46:10

            The real surprise isn’t the fact that God would hate anybody. No, not at all, but the real surprise is that God loves me, and you, and all of His children. For we have all gone out of the way, we are all become wicked, there is none that doeth good. No, not one. Why does He love me so? Now that is the mystery, my friends, the greatest mystery of all. Thank GOD for His sovereign grace.

  2. Some people ask, “How could a loving God allow such a thing? (pick any event in life that brings sorrow and/or confusion) As a Believer, I know God is Sovereign. But in the past few weeks, I am learning more and more just how sovereign He is! 🙂 To experience God in the dramas in life is an incredible thing. I see that He is building me up, lifting me up, and growing me more. I praise God for teaching me and showing me a better perspective.

  3. The first time I studied the sovereignty of God I was awestruck. For some reason I wanted to believe that, even in some small way, I had something to do with my salvation. But I see that it is God who orders all things aright.
    A verse that we all know very well is 2 Cor. 5:17, Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Well, the very next verst speaks of God’s hand in this new creation; “all things are of God. Bless His holy name.

  4. How refreshing to hear believers like Garrick, PB, Debi C, and T. Harris embrace this attribute of God’s sovereignty in the face of so many believers who blatantly reject it. I pray that God open the eyes and hearts of our Christian leaders to have courage to teach this to his people that many can find comfort for life’s trials that come our way. Thank you Blueletter for posting this.

  5. My mind tries to connect the dots when it comes to God’s sovereignty but I find it to be to vast to grasp all of it, BUT I still believe it, because, ALL things are possible concerning our great and wonderful maker.God reveals truth nuggets as he sees fit and if it works into his plans and if he thinks were ready to handle it.Remember he told peter that there were many things he wanted to tell him ??So with me,I studie and TRUST that in his good time,my Pa pa will teach me.Our God is an awesome God!!!!!!!!

  6. This message is awesome! My husband and I have been going through so many trails, that its unreal! with all that being said we just had our car repossessed. We don’t know what trails will be handed to us, but I do know that GOD is in control! He’s sovereignty and our faith is all we have. Sometimes I wonder why the trails get harder? Then I have to remember the more closers you get to God the more the enemy will attack. I feel like Job, my heart is hurting so bad. Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ!! Thank you Pastors for this message, the Lord knew I needed to here this today!

  7. God’s sovreignty is far outweighed by His love. we cannot process events of this life through sovreignty, we have to process them through love. A loving father would never use a tool of a hateful man to speak to his children. In the same fashion, a loving God will never use the tools of the devil to teach His children. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you should have Life. The perverted image of God as an angry kid with a pellet gun, just waiting for us to mess up so he can crack us and get us back inline, is terrible. http://www.fathershousefc.com .

    • Thanks for some simple and kind words of correction, and for the link. I enjoyed the article and agree with it.

  10. Sovereignty tells of God’s divine control over everything that happens… The scriptures does not support this thought. We must be careful not to contribute the work of the Devil as the work of your heavenly Father. Just because God knows a thing will take place does not mean he ordained a thing as his will. The greatest example of this is the great price that Jesus paid for the salvation of all mankind. The scripture clearly states that it is not the will of God that any should perish. II Peter 3:9. But we know that men do perish into eternity not accepting the grace that God extended. Jesus said to preach the Gospel to every creature and those that believe shall be saved and those that don’t believe shall be condemned. So if God allows you to exercise your will regarding your choice to believe and receive Jesus which is the most important decision you can ever make, he also allows you to make decisions about the course of your everyday life. We make mistakes by making poor choices with our finances, the way we take care of our bodies etc… and we reap bad results, we can’t blame that on God and say he is controlling it and he will make it better in the end. He instructs us to apply His word to our life to overcome the negative issues of life.

  11. This is a great addition to, “Attributes” series. I would almost suggest this blog as a, “must read!”

  12. I disagree with this article and would assert that the “sovereignty of God” – one possessing or held to possess supreme political power or sovereignty – isn’t Biblical. These few verses – out of context of *who God really is* – can portray a sovern God.

    Please consider – think about – the following. That God is sovereign, this doctrine, raises the following questions:
    – Where is free will?
    – Why do we pray?
    – Why is there an urgency in God’s commandments to pray?
    – Why is “life and death in the power of the tongue”?
    – Why “choose life” at all?
    – Why does God want all men to be saved (why is this even a *concern* to God)?
    – How could Jesus heal someone *and* say He always did the will of the Father – if it was the will of the Father to harm/hurt someone (as is being surmised with this doctrine)?

    Is this really the God that we trust? Are we afraid to admit that if God *isn’t* in control of everything, we would be terrified to death (but maybe that’s the point of knowing God?)?

    I love BLB for researching verses, but am hesitant to believe anything other than the Bible as Truth.

    Think about it…

    • One thing about God wanting all to be saved, does not mean every Tom, DIck or Harry. It simply means that salvation is not now only to the Jews but to all the world… those that he calls.

      The other thought is regarding why do we pray, choose life ect. if our salvation is predestinated? We all make choices in our lives..every day. Those choices are made under many circumstances/situations. I may want a job (as and example), which requires me to do something: i.e. go to the job fill out a application, have a interview ect.. But my making a choice to take the job is under the control of weather the interviewer likes me, my resume is good, or whatever. My choice is not free… I do not just walk in and take the job simple because it is my choice. Things have to be set up for me to choose that job. So yes: I choose life because it was set-up for me so that I could even do so.

      Consider Abraham and the promise that God to him. It was a promise from God for him to have a child by Sarah….. nothing would have changed that…yet Abraham had to do something. Just because God had promised Abraham a chid by Sarah, did not mean he did not have to do anything. Abraham had to have a relationship with his wife for that child to be born. So just because someone is called of God to eternal life (election) does not mean we do nothing… that is not faith. Faith without works is dead being alone.

  13. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.(Isaiah 45:7 ESV)

    But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, HE GAVE THE RIGHT to become children of God, who were born, not of blood NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, but of God.(John 1:12-13 ESV)

    So then it DEPENDS NOT ON HUMAN WILL or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.(Romans 9:16-18 ESV)

    Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, FOR IT IS GOD who WORKS IN YOU, both TO WILL and TO WORK for his good pleasure.
    (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)

    There are HUNDREDS of passages in the Bible that speak of God’s sovereignty especially for Salvation. Man is still responsible for his own actions. Man sins and only sins. Man has free will to choose whatever he wants or his mind can fathom except that which is of God. We can see this all through the Bible every since the fall of man. Genesis 1 and 2 and Revelation 21 and 22 have no sin mentioned in them. The rest of the Bible is about what God is doing for His Children to free them from their own bondage of sin. Praise Jesus for that and His Holy Name!!

    • John, thanks for mentioning John 1:12. Thats a crucial text, as it provides for us what brings about the new birth(“but of God”)Very insightful verse!

  14. Romans 9:8-22…do these verses plainly state God’s sovereignty? I believe they do.
    Does Joseph’s life indicate God’s sovereignty? In todays world what his brothers did to him would be listed as evil, but God meant it for good. Was Abraham’s life in full in control of God? I believe it was. Read Ephesians 2:1, how can a dead man come to life unless he is resurrected by the power greater than he, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. A man can not be saved unless God speaks to his heart, John 6:44. Read Ephesians 1:4-6, 11, sovereignty God, I believe so. Does God ever question Himself? Does God ever do wrong? Most Christians say and believe, God has a plan and purpose for each person, if God is not in control of all things, then we could break God’s plan and purpose. Why do we pray if God is not sovereign. Did God know that man would sin, if not, why did God already have His plan of salvation already planned before Genesis 1:1. Having said all this, I believe a person can see free will, and God’s sovereignty, man will never be able to put all together, but I do believe in God’s sovereignty, and that He is total control of all things. When you begin to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation God’s sovereignty is seen very clearly.

    Fred

  15. When I first understood God’s sovereignty, it changed everything. I can serve God, or not. That is the extent of my free will.

  16. Dear Friends,

    There have been so many people throughout time who have tried and still are attempting to disprove the truth of the word of God and malign the name of the Lord. They have been vicious, scandalous, or have entered into the argument just enough to rationalize their indulgence in sin. The Lord is taken out of context over and over again. A plain modern day example is Oprah=God is jealous, so I can’t love a God like that. Okay, so you are this intelligent enough to be a mega-millionaire and you are choosing hell for one simple letter, the letter ‘r’? You see, God is not jealous OF us he is jealous FOR us. How could one simple letter turn a doctrine around so out of proportion?

    In the same way, to me sovereignty without omniscience can result in false doctrine. What a wicked, ‘make me do things or he’ll condemn me’ kinda god you’re creating in that scenario.

    God knows. He knows us intimately, He knows our thoughts, He knows our plans, He knows what we did even before we do it. So not only is there sovereignty and omniscience there is eternal omnipresence to consider. He knows you and the choices you will make, even before you are born. He has a plan for your good, in spite of your wicked rationalizations, to give you every opportunity to clean the dross/tares/leaven out of your heart and humbly embrace Him and take Him at His word.

    God also magnifies His Word above His name. It’s not all up to His ego; it is His plain, honest Word that He magnifies. It is your choice on how you view God Almighty. One must wonder if He was such the enforcer would He have come in a manger before shepherds, only to end up beaten and pierced on a cross for who? That cannot in any way describe the forceful puppeteer god that some predestine-only, describe.

    I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2

  17. * Having said all this, I believe a person can see free will, and God’s sovereignty, man will never be able to put all together, but I do believe in God’s sovereignty, and that He is total control of all things. When you begin to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation God’s sovereignty is seen very clearly. *

    Yes!

    Salvation can be seen clearly Genesis to Revelation.

  18. We need to believe that God is sovereign especially in this day and this hour.

    Just look at the book of Job. Each time satan touched Job he had to ask permission. From who? The sovereign God who knows everything. Did you ever stop to think that God knows what satan is about to do? He has devised a plan against satan our enemy, so that we may have victory. God wants us to have victory in our lives. Before satan can do anything he must ask permission from our Lord.

    Do we have free choice of course. (Job 2;9)Job’s wife said Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God and die! Job’s response was Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? Job choose to serve the living God instead of cursing God.

    The days we are living in are trying, yet we have to believe God is in control and sovereign, otherwise who is? If God is not in control is man, or satan who?

  19. Struggling here guys with this concept of “sovereignty” being an attribute of God. Where in the bible does it tell us God IS Sovereign? (in KJV I don’t think the word Sovereign is even used).
    Surely an attribute of God is something the bible declares about God? Thanks to wonderful BLB I can easily look up the attributes of God in his Word.

    God IS Love – 1 John4 v 8
    God IS Righteous – Ezra 9 v 15
    God IS Eternal – Deut 33 v 37
    The goodness of God – Psalm 52 v 1
    God is a Holy GOd – Joshua 24 v 19
    and so on. (God the healer, God the provider, God our saviour, etc etc)
    The trouble with the other words that have been used above (other attributes of God) – is that they are man’s words used to describe an attribute of God – and as always with man’s words – they contain some element of truth, but also some element of error. We should stick to quoting only what God says about himself? Look up the word Sovereign in the dictionary and see if it actually means what religion has made it mean? I have no problem in talking about the dictionary definition of the sovereignty of God – but really really struggle when concepts are developed which don’t take on board the “whole council of God”

    • Sure got me thinking this morning!

      Wrapping our finite minds around God’s ways is a lifelong process, isn’t it? It comforts me to know that God is bigger than my understanding.

      The word “sovereign” may not be found in Scripture any more than the term “trinity” or “rapture” are found…but the truths that define those terms are there. Scripture is clear that God is King upon the throne of Heaven, and that alone gives Him sovereignty, or authority to do whatever He wills over His domain.

      A.W. Pink (“The Attributes of God”) says it this way: “Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord above heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent.”

      “None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him.”

      I love that definition. As today’s post says, “that, combined with God’s love is unassailable.” It’s a comfort to know that this mighty, sovereign God loves me and is intimately involved in my life!

      • I loved your comment on this topic. I too find comfort in the fact that God is beyond my understanding because He is sovereign over all and therefore affirms that HE is the one and true GOD.

  20. Rom 9:17, For the scripture says to Pharaoh; “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
    Sovereign over his creatures.

  21. If God is absolutely sovereign, then why argue about it? If we do not have any true free will to make our own decisions, then God has sovereignly ordained some of the people on this blog to believe one way and some others to believe another way. It is pointless to try to change someone’s opinion if he does not possess the free will needed to change it. This is absurd logic! If I don’t have the choice to love God, or anyone else, then that is not true love. True love is only meaningful if it is voluntary. The Bible has plenty of verses on both sides of this argument, so let’s not pretend that either opinion has a monopoly.

    • Indeed, Jack. Who would reject that God could be so sovereign that He could not, IN that sovereignty, allow us to choose? HE gives the faith, HE provides the salvation, but we decide to accept or reject. My God has such power. He is not willing that any should perish, but in His love, he allows us to decide if we will or not.
      And somehow, God, in His foreknowledge, still calls us His elect-He STILL chose us, while allowing us to choose Him. And, knowing the end from the beginning, He is able to work all things for the good to them that love the Lord.
      What an amazing God we serve! How great that He is still able to know and plan for each choice we make, such that it still works within His will. How deep are His ways, and his understanding without bounds!

  22. Matthew & Luke 4:4 But he answered and said it is written man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD

    Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of

    Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD to them who are called according to his purpose

    what or rather who is missing in Romans verses 8:38&39

    John 15:10 IF YOU keep my commandments you will abide in my love just as I have kept my fathers commandments and abide in his love

    John 15:14 You are my friends IF YOU do whatever I command you

    Luke 8:21 And He answered and said unto them my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of GOD and do it

    Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedeck king of salem brought forth bread and wine and he was the priest of THE MOST HIGH

    Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him and said blessed be Abram of the THE MOST HIGH GOD possessor of heaven and earth

    Genesis 26:5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge my commandments my statutes and my laws

  23. I agree that God is sovereign-all things are made by Him, and all is His. In his precious sovereignty, He has made man a free agent in His choice to follow Him or reject Him. Those who follow, taking hold on the faith he pleases to give, will receive the free gift of salvation and those who reject and refuse that faith, receive unto themselves damnation, and are found without excuse at the Great White Throne of judgment.
    However, it is clear in the Bible that man, even those saved, are quite capable of going against His perfect will, else the Bible would not be filled much with commands to do otherwise. It would not be filled with the continual rejection of God’s people, Israel, of their God. Why send prophets to plead with Israel, if they were merely doing as God willed them to do? And to what point was God’s will that His own chosen people be less obedient to Him, than the heathen were to their own idols? Certainly no one else got much from it-the other nations just went along and punished them while the Lord punished them-not as though they turned to Him in droves out of fear. And why, then is it God’s will that only a very small portion would turn to Him in salvation, if He does, indeed, ‘so love the world”? The Bible clearly tells us that God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance. Does not ALL mean ALL? Yes, God is sovereign, but that does not mean He has not allowed us to choose to accept Him or reject Him, and in each instance, receive that which is meet.

    • Great Series!

      Goes along nicely with the study of the Hebrew and Greek Languages Names of God.

      A gentle Christian Reminder:
      The phrase “holier than thou” is in the Bible.
      Posting all positives and ignoring the negatives a great way to utilize this Blog.

      I use this Blog as my homepage on my browser.
      I look forward to reading it everyday.
      Blessings to the BLB Blog author and the readers here assembled.

      Praise to our precious Sovereign! He is on the Throne.

      • The gentle Christian reminder for me also.
        Remain humble.

        Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
        (Matthew 10:29)

        My favorite hymn:
        “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”

      • The only position anyone can assume before such a mighty sovereign God, is humility. Thanks for the reminder. God bless.

  24. If God is not sovereiegn we have a big problem – someone or thing is greater than Him! That makes God a liar which He can not do (Titus 1:2) and our hope could not rely on His promises.(See Isa. 45:22,Eccles.3:14, Acts 15:18, etc.)The Bible is the Word of God. In Genesis 3:15ff is a fact pronounced of God that sin would be defeated; and of course that is done in Yeshua – Christ Jesus. The Bible is God restoring what was lost when sin entered into the world. Realize judgment was made against – in part – what God created and declared was very good – man (Gen. 1:31).
    God’s chosen (Israel) as a whole could not enter the promised land account of disobedience (heb. 4:6ff); but this is in part for a season (Rom. 11:20ff). There is still a rest to come for God’s people in Christ Jesus – but read Hebrews 3:6ff. The rest of Canaan was for a time; and the rest in Jesus’ second coming is again for an age – see Young’s literal translation of the Bible; and read I Cor. 15:20-28, Rev. 20:14-15, 22:1-3, etc. Jesus returns in Judgment and will fullfill Gen. 3:15. One should be mindful to disconnect what we have a choice to enter into account of freewill or volition; and what the Eternal God has ordained will come to pass without any regard or desire on our part. Then the blessings and warnings come to light – temporary versus without end – choice versus sovereingty.

    Keep in mind: The saving of the soul is and always been – even in Adam’s time – “LIFE” being defined as quality and location!

    Mike

  25. Psalm 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth

    Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning for in thee do I trust cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee

    Psalm 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart my talking hath been of thy truth and of thy salvation I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth from the great congregation

    Romans 1:18 As it is written the just shall live by faith for the wrath of GOD appeareth from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness

    John 7:17&18 If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of GOD or whether I speak of myself (18) He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him

    2nd Thessalonians 2:10&11 And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved (11)And for this cause GOD shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie

    Romans 9:19&20 Thou wilt say then unto me why doth he yet find fault for who hath resisted his will (20) Nay but O man who art thou that repliest against GOD shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus

  26. @Andy. All I did was google greek word for “hatred” which is “miseo”, but as I dig a little deeper I’m finding other words also, such as “sane”. Some of the book references I’m using are Spiros Zodhiates “Complete Word study dictionary for the New Testament” (ref. #3404-miseo) and “Complete word study dictionary Old testament” by Warren Baker and Eugene Carpenter (ref#8130-sane). Let me know what you come up with.

  27. I found the explanation of sovereignty to be very unbalanced. Read Andrew Wommack’s explanation on his website. He also has a lengthy teaching on it. http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/sacred_cows

    If you believe God is in control of everything, then He is responsible for murder, rape, child molestation, etc. Obviously, He wouldn’t warn us not to sin if He also did it Himself. (If I hire a “hitman” to murder someone, I am still guilty of murder.)

    Sovereign means “in charge” and “all powerful.” It doesn’t mean all controlling. God gave mankind authority over this earth and free will to our own choices. We are responsible for the evil on earth. It’s not God’s will.

    God doesn’t get His will all the time. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. So, He doesn’t get His will when people reject Jesus and the salvation He offers.

    People confuse the God of the Bible with the ancient Greek concept of God. It’s totally messed up, and if you just read the Bible the way it is, it would be obvious that God is grieved over man’s sinful ways. He doesn’t want us to sin, and He certainly doesn’t predestine us to sin.

    How sick is that? It takes a overly-educated theologian to mess up the Bible for the rest of us. People, please just ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand God’s Word, and flush the rest of this stuff. If you have a real relationship with God through Christ, you’ll know in your heart what’s right.

    I love all you guys, but you can’t pass the buck onto God for the garbage that WE do. That kind of thinking just makes us passive, “whatever will be, will be” Christians.

    Patrice

  28. Regarding one of my comments, I didn’t mean to imply that anyone here doesn’t have a real relationship with Jesus. I’m sure you all do. I used to believe in sovereignty and predestination in the same way the author does, and I loved God then, too.

    This is my chief concern: If you believe God controls everything, why pray? Why try to reach the lost?

    Besides, if you believe God controls everything, then you have to believe HE WANTED ME TO WRITE THIS. 🙂

  29. Sovereignty….
    A gift of such fantastic magnitude that without it, we’d have nothing, be nothing, enjoy nothing, and know– nothing.

    For Patrice.
    God’s Person gives us the freedom to choose so that we may know Him. Without Choice, love means nothing. As Love is the foundation of all relationships that possess meaning, for a relationship to matter between us and anyone, really, but especially God– choice must be at its core. Choice is also the core of the idea of respect in a relationship as well. Thus, God actually respects us– not in the sense of favoritism– but in the sense that he will honor our choice to follow him or not. If we choose to follow Jesus, and to Trust Him, he will be there, acting on our behalf, and will fight with, and for us– all the way to the very end of our lives.
    He does not however leave this up to our abilities, as he knows that we are weak, flesh, and human. This is why he provides the Law, the Cross, the Resurrection, and His Grace.

    Read the bible. All we need is given to us, by, through, and in Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:2-4, Titus 2:11-14, Phil 1:6, 2:1-13, 3:8-15, 4:6-9, 1 Cor 15:10 for starters.
    Just keep reading, and talking to God.

    Thank you Jesus, and Heavenly Father, for you have revealed such things to us, whom you made like Children, and have hidden them from the wise and erudite of this life….

  30. “dust”
    Do a full Bible search on just this word. Compare “dust” in Genesis to “dust” in Revelation.

    Whenever I post I am also speaking of and to myself.

    You will find a verse that states God knew our names when were we dust before the foundation of the world.

    How humbling is that?
    God sovereign?
    Absolutely!

    Without the Living Water of Our Savior molding our dust into a clay pot of the Alpha and Omega’s choice we will remain dust.

    God is God and we are not.

    I have always been careful with the “elect” word. Can I trust in Jesus enough to withstand Satan and his fallen angels’ fiery darts? Only with Jesus is this possible. I pray continually for believing God with my heart, soul, mind, and all of my strength.

    Imagine the challenge of all the Apostles, St. Stephen, and the Angel of Smyrna who Polycarp the Bishop who was appointed by St. John who followed our Savior’s example until their martyred deaths.

    A very important study as we are in the Reformation Week.

    Never forget the “whomsoevers” lest we fall out of grace judging others tossing around the “elect” word.

    Narrow is the gate.
    God always has been on the throne and always will be.

    Be humble.
    Stay humble.

  31. Read: Isaiah 10:12-15, 1 Samuel 2:25, Deuteronomy 2:30, Joshua 11:20, 2 Chronicles 10:15, 2 Chronicles 36:22, Psalm 105: 23-25, Exodus 12:36, Jeremiah 14:22, Ephesians 1:11, etc. These verses show one thing: GOD IS IN CONTROL AND DOES WHATEVER HE PLEASES. THERE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES OF GOD WANTING SOMEONE TO SIN, AND THEN CAUSING THEM TO SIN IN THE BIBLE. READ THE LIST. Then read Romans chapter nine. THIS is the real way that God acts, and the real way that our AWESOME God accomplishes salvation for those he chooses!

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