God’s sovereignty is inseparable from His authority. He has all authority in the dealings of every human being from the beginning. He holds the power from the creation of each totally unique human being until their death. His passionate desire is for His creation to come under His loving and caring control.
Scriptural Proof of God’s Sovereignty and Authority
- God’s Authority Over Creation
- Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
- Psalm 24:1-2: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.”
- Colossians 1:16-17: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
- God’s Authority Over Individuals
- Psalm 139:13-16: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”
- Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
- God’s Authority in Governance
- Daniel 2:21: “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
- Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
Greek Definitions and Root Words
The New Testament uses various Greek words that reflect God’s sovereignty, authority, and power. Notably, three key terms often translated as “commandments,” “authority,” and “power” share a common root:
- Commandments (ἐντολή – entolē)
- John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments (ἐντολάς – entolas).”
- Authority (ἐξουσία – exousia)
- Matthew 28:18: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority (ἐξουσία – exousia) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'”
- Power (δύναμις – dynamis)
- Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power (δύναμιν – dynamin) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Greek root for “commandments” (entolē), “authority” (exousia), and “power” (dynamis) emphasizes God’s comprehensive and sovereign control. These terms underscore His rightful authority to issue commands, His inherent power to enforce His will, and His sovereign rule over all creation.
Illustrations of God’s Sovereignty in Scripture
- God’s Sovereignty in Human History
- Exodus 14:21-22: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
- God’s Sovereignty in Personal Lives
- Job 1:21: “And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.'”
These scriptures provide powerful illustrations of God’s sovereign acts throughout history and in individual lives, demonstrating His ultimate authority and control.
The sovereignty of God encompasses His supreme authority and power over all creation and human affairs. From the creation of each unique individual to their life’s journey, God’s sovereign will is paramount. His passionate desire is for His creation to come under His loving and caring control, experiencing the fullness of life He intends. By understanding and acknowledging God’s sovereignty, we can find peace and assurance in His perfect and loving governance over all aspects of our lives
2. God’s Sovereignty in Providence
God’s sovereignty is also displayed in His providential care and governance of the world. He sustains and directs all things according to His purposes.
- Psalm 103:19: “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”
- Proverbs 19:21: “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”
God’s providence ensures that His will is accomplished, regardless of human plans or actions.
3. God’s Sovereignty in Salvation
The sovereignty of God is powerfully demonstrated in His work of salvation, where He chooses and calls individuals to Himself according to His grace.
- Ephesians 1:4-5: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
- Romans 8:29-30: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
These passages highlight God’s sovereign choice and action in the salvation of believers.
4. God’s Sovereignty in History
God’s sovereignty extends over all historical events, orchestrating them to fulfill His divine purposes.
- Daniel 2:21: “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
- Acts 17:26: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”
These verses reveal that God controls the rise and fall of nations and the course of human history.
5. God’s Sovereignty in Personal Lives
God’s sovereignty also encompasses the details of individual lives, guiding and directing each person according to His will.
- Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
- Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
God’s sovereign plan for each individual includes His intention for their ultimate good and His glory.
Conclusion
The sovereignty of God is a foundational truth that permeates every aspect of creation, providence, salvation, history, and personal lives. By understanding and acknowledging God’s sovereignty, we find assurance in His supreme authority and control over all things. Trusting in God’s sovereign will helps us navigate life’s uncertainties, knowing that He is orchestrating everything according to His perfect plan and purpose. B
God Is good.
All the time!