“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).
I have to say that as I studied the Sovereignty of God I found no more defining a statement as that made my A.W. Pink. “The Sovereignty of God. What do we mean by this expression? 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). Such is the God of the Bible.”
The doctrine of the sovereignty of God is so defined in Scripture. The sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, infinite. “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” (Psalm 115:3). Ours is a Mighty God who revealed through Isaiah that we should “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…” (Isaiah 46:9-10). This is a God that gives us hope. This is a God that is in control and works all things for our good for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28). This is God that is revealed to us in His Word.
Just these verses tell us that everything that exists in the universe exists because God allowed it, decreed it, and called it into existence. Admittedly, those truths are hard for the human mind to embrace, but Scripture is very clear. God controls all things, right down to choosing who will be saved. There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1). He has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. (Romans 9:18).
To say that God is sovereign is to say that He is supreme over all things, that there is no other authority but Him. It is to say that His Lordship over creation means that there is nothing out of His control, nothing that God hasn’t foreseen and planned. It means that His plans for our salvation are guaranteed through the absolute power and might of His will. It means all of creation will be subjugated to His will and “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 10). The sovereignty of God and the will of God are bound up together. As we ponder this we must take heart because all the promises of God including His purposes for our lives are bound up through His determination and He works His determination for our good. We know this because He has told us that “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purposes.” (Isaiah 46:10). We know this because He has assured us “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
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