The Sovereignty of God

Few Biblical doctrines have been more controversial than the doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty. Yet, few doctrines are more reflective of God's glory as God or more essential to the health of the church as is this. The denial of this truth in terms of its full-orbed Biblical expression makes way for all sorts of falsehoods and devious ideas.

What do I mean by the doctrine of God's sovereignty? The following is a concise answer to that question. It is taken from the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 and represents the majority view of Baptists until this century. It is also reflective of the majority view of Presbyterians as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith. This quote is taken from chapter three having to do with "God's Decree":

God hath (a) Decreed in himself from all Eternity, by the most wise and holy Councel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things whatsoever comes to passe; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin, (b) nor hath fellowship with any therein, nor is violence offered to the will of the Creature, nor yet is the liberty, or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather (c) established, in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power, and faithfulness (d) in accomplishing his Decree.

Although God knoweth whatsoever may, or can come to passe upon all (e) supposed conditions; yet hath he not Decreed anything, (f) because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.

This statement concisely states several essential elements belonging to a proper understanding of the sovereignty of God:

  • There is neither pure accident or chance in the events of world history. Rather, whatever happens happens according to the eternal decree of God.
  • God's decree is not predicated on what He foresees as coming to pass. What God foresees is what He Himself has ordained. There would be nothing to foresee unless certain events are sure to happen. And that which makes events sure to happen is the decree of God.
  • God's decree included sin yet not in a way that makes God the blameworthy cause of evil. God created man morally perfect, yet did not make that perfection immutable. Instead, God left it with man to preserve his own integrity and thereby confirm himself in blessedness. And God did this knowing that apart from His aid man would be unable to preserve himself. God created the test whereby man would either persevere or fall, knowing the certainty of man's fall apart from supernatural help. Thus, God decreed man's fall; yet, the fall was all man's. Adam knowingly and willfully disobeyed God entirely on his own, with the solicitation of Satan and his wife.
  • God's decree does not in any way nullify the free exercise of man's will; neither does it render as worthless the use of second causes. Much to the contrary, God has ordained the place of second causes in bringing about His will. If man does not use second causes, he thereby invites the harm that he dreads. For instance, God has decreed that prayer rendered through faith in Christ and in His promises will be a prominent factor in the blessings, which He will bestow. Therefore, if men adopt a fatalistic view and refuse to pray they cut themselves off from blessing.

These thoughts challenge our weak, earth-bound, man-centered minds. Nevertheless, the refusal to think such thoughts or the denial of these truths makes way for skepticism about God and about existence itself. I did not say that a denial of these truths is a denial of God but that such denials make room for serious doubts about God. Moreover, such denials are in fact a denial of God's glory.

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'