How is sovereignty defined?
The word sovereign means, “Highest, supreme,” or “chief.”
The theme of God’s sovereignty is evident throughout the Bible in diverse manners. Although the Greek term for “sovereign” underscores the concept of kingly authority and dominion, the Bible depicts God as omnipotent and having authority over all, encompassing natural laws and human history.
In essence the sovereignty of God as His absolute right & ability to do all, things according to His goodwill.
GODS SOVEREIGNTY:
“The inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But God does ACCORDING to His own Will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; And NO ONE can ward off His hand, or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
– Daniel 4:35
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I WILL DO ALL THAT I PLEASE. ‘… What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”
Isaiah 46:9–11
God says to Moses:
God has mercy on whom He desires and hardens whom He desires. The potter has the right to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use. God endures vessels of wrath to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory.
Romans 9:15-24
God’s absolute sovereignty is vividly depicted through the analogy of the potter and vessels. It powerfully illustrates His unwavering control over who receives His mercy and who remains hardened.
God Himself intricately shaped every individual’s destiny. Even though vessels of wrath may arise, this serves as a profound testament to God’s glory, acting as a contrast with the incredible mercy and grace given to them whom He has chosen. Such is the undeniable authority and majesty of our supreme Creator.
Another example of His Sovereignty: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:2
‘In the beginning’ implies God created Time, showing that He was outside of Time.
God created the heavens, the sky, and outer space. God created the concept of space before He created the heavens themselves.
God is eternal because He exists outside of this time/ space continuum. He designed all these things in another dimension.
God is sovereign over ALL of His Creation: Physical & Spiritual.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created”
(Rev. 4:11).
He works ALL things according to the counsel of his will. -Ephesians 1:11
He does whatever He wants, and no one can stop him. Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:34-35
God’s sovereignty knows no limits. With absolute foresight and control, He predestines all things according to His divine purpose and for His ultimate glory. It is beyond human comprehension, for we lack the sovereignty that He possesses. Nevertheless, through His Word and the guidance of His Spirit, we can gain insight into the greatness of His sovereignty.
God exists outside of time. He created everything that exists before time even began. God sees every moment in time as the present. We humans can only experience time in a linear manner. Time, in our perception, is a straight line, and we move slowly through life from one point to another, only remembering the past, which we have already traveled through, yet unable to see the future that we are approaching.
God is the eternal Creator. He constructed this world and everything in it, including the space/time dimensions (length, width, and depth).
God dwells in a different realm, the spirit realm. He exists beyond the perception of our physical senses. He’s not limited by these physical laws and dimensions, as we are. He created the physical laws himself. He is limitless.
No matter what plans or decisions we make, its ultimately up to God what the outcome will be.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps…. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:9, 33).
“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23).
“For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:27- 28).
A creation truly hasn’t been completed until it dies, and the spirit goes back into God’s nostrils, and the soul makes its departure for eternal life or Hell. God sees His creation through to its destination. Simple.
If God is working IN me to will and to work for the purpose of His good pleasure, where does the freedom of my will come in to play? Am I half in my free will, half in God’s will?
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
– Philippians 2:13
“For by Him all things were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him….”
If everything seen & unseen is made by Him & for Him, why would He end His creation’s progress too soon? God isn’t incapable.
” He is BEFORE all things, in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. …. He is the BEGINNING, firstborn from the dead, so IN EVERYTHING He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, & through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:16-20
“…Him we proclaim, warning everyone & teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone MATURE in Christ. For this I toil, STRUGGLING WITH ALL HIS ENERGY THAT HE POWERFULLY WORKS WITHIN ME.” Colossians 1:28-29
†… “God, who saved us & called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose & grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus BEFORE THE AGES BEGAN…” 2 Timothy 1:9
† “… For BY Him ALL THINGS were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him & FOR HIM.”
Colossians 1:16
† “… He chose us in Him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy & blameless before Him.”
Ephesians 1:4
† “… By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so what is seen WAS NOT made out of things that are visible.”
Hebrews 11:3
† “… For thus says the One who is high & lifted up, who INHABITS ETERNITY, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high & holy place, & also with him who is of a contrite & lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, & to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 57:15
† “… God is Spirit, & those who worship Him must worship in Spirit & Truth.”
John 4:24
“… with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, & a thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8
“..He is BEFORE all things, & in Him all things hold together. & He is the head of the body, the church. …. He is the BEGINNING, the firstborn from the dead, that IN EVERYTHING He might be Supreme. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, & through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”
Colossians
He creates All things, in the physical & the Spiritual.
He creates His creations completely, He sees His creation ALL THE WAY through.
He develops His creations & sees then through to their the finish line. If His creation is incomplete or unfinished in any way then He doesn’t see all things through.
I believe Him, that He sees ALL THINGS through to their end.
As Paul is sure of this for the Philippians of their Faith, I am sure of this for all who are in Christ also,
“I am sure of this, that He who BEGAN a good work in you WILL bring it to COMPLETION on the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
God’s energy worked in Paul, powerfully ans effectually…
Was Paul able to be brought into Gods free will? Or do our free wills invite God’s will in when we so freely choose?
Absolutely NOTHING, is outside of His complete control, even our very faith He appoints.
Romans 12:3 states: “For by the Grace given to me I say to everyone do not think himself more highly than he ought to think, think with sober judgment, †EACH ONE ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF FAITH THAT GOD HAS ASSIGNED.”
God is so sovereign that He assigns what it means to be sovereign.
