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Original post @ https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2021/04/07/gods-attribute-the-sovereignty-of-god-part-1/

God’s attribute: The Sovereignty of God Part 1

April 7, 2021 by SLIMJIM

This is a series on the attributes of God.

Purpose: In this session we will explore the sovereignty of God by seeing the universal scope of His control specifically His control over inanimate creation, animal creatures and human history.

Definition of the sovereignty of God

1. Before we give definitions, A.W Pink lamented in the early part of the Twentieth Century this fact: “But, today, to make mention of God’s Sovereignty is, in many quarters, to speak in an unknown tongue. Were we to announce from the average pulpit that the subject of our discourse would be the Sovereignty of God, it would sound very much as though we had borrowed a phrase from one of the dead languages.”[1]

2. Wayne Grudem’s definition: “God’s sovereignty is his exercise of his rule 9as ‘sovereign’ or ‘king’) over his creation.” [2]

3. Bruce Ware’s definition: “God plans and carries out his perfect will, as he alone knows is best, over all that is in heaven and earth, and he does so without failure or defeat. So sovereignty is really a statement about God’s control over all that is, his ruling over all that is, and his planning and executing of that plan. He plans and he carries out a perfect will.”[3]

4. W. Pink’s definition: “We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is “The Governor among the nations” (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the “Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15).” [4]

5. Simply put, God’s sovereignty is His self-control and His control over all things.

Biblical Teaching

God’s control over His inanimate creation

1. We see this early on during God’s creation of the world: “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and we read, ‘There was light.’ ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear,’ and ‘it was so.’”[5]

2. Note how in the creation account in Genesis 1, God says something and it will happen!

3. Psalm 135:6-7

   1. Note in beginning of verse 6: “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,”

   2. Where was this the case? “In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps” (Psalm 135:6b)ßIn essence, everywhere!

   3. Three examples of this control with:

      1. “vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth” (Psalm 135:7a)

      2. “Who makes lightnings for the rain” (Psalm 135:7b)

      3. “Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.” (Psalm 135:7c)

   4. “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33)

      1. We often thing casting of lots is driven by “chance.”

      2. Here we see God’s control in that it’s “decision” is “from the Lord.”

God’s control over animals

1. “Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the [a]sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19)àGod is able to bring animals to man in order for man to name them.

2. Sparrow cannot fall apart from His will: “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)

3. We can think of examples such as God bringing animals into Noah’s ark, the plagues of Egypt with the frogs, flies and locusts; the lions with Daniel, etc.

God’s control over human history

1. “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,” (Acts 17:26)

   1. Notice that God is control with the nations in that He has “determined their appointed times”

   2. Notice that God is control with the nations’ “boundaries of their habitation.”

2. “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:31)

   1. Who wins and loses wars shapes history.

   2. Notice man’s attempt: “horse is prepared for the day of battle”

   3. Yet the result is controlled by God: “But victory belongs to the Lord.”

3. “10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.” (Psalm 33:10-11)

   1. Can man’s plan stop God’s plan? Verse 10 says no in two lines!

   2. God’s plan is forever as taught in verse 11.

Implications

1. Our plans must be made with consideration of His will (James 4:13-15)

2. Recall again Jesus’ teaching about God’s control of the sparrow; the reason why He taught that was to not fear man but God instead who controls all things (Matthew 10:28); do you have loving reverence for God?

3. We can rejoice in God for His sovereignty over history for the very Psalm that teaches us His control over History also talks about rejoicing in God in Psalm 33:1.

[1] Arthur Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, 2013), Location 234 of 3884.

[2] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 217.

[3] Source: https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/sovereignty-god-i/systematic-theology-i/bruce-ware.

[4] Arthur Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, 2013), Location 239-244 of 3884.

[5] Arthur Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, 2013), Location 479 of 3884.

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