God’s Sovereignty
TEACHER
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Lesson 7
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Romans 9.19-24,30-33
GOLDEN TEXT
For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”.
Romans 9.17
AIMS
Clearly discern the various aspects of the sovereignty of God;
Understand that God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are not mutually exclusive;
Understand the action of God's sovereignty in the salvation of the human being;
INTRODUCTION
Among the verses of Romans 9:1-18, Paul, the apostle, presents the theme of Israel's rejection of divine sovereignty. In His sovereign power, the Most High established that
no one could be justified by deeds, but by faith in the vicarious sacrifice of Christ (Rom 3:20; Gal 2:16).
Starting from verse 19, he presents the relationship between God's sovereignty and human free will. These themes have high importance in the Scriptures and in the human experience.
INTRODUCTION
The life of the saved must be lived in the light of unshakable truth that God reigns sovereignly over Creation and the human being is free to conduct himself as a person and make the choices you want for yourself, knowing in advance that the consequences for your actions are inevitable (Gal 6:7).
The sovereignty of God, side by side with human responsibility, is the subject of this lesson.
1. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
1.2. The meaning God’s sovereignity
Sovereignty is an exclusive attribute of God, usually referred to as: “divine perfection”.
God's sovereignty can be defined by the exercise of His omnipotence and His total control over everything and everyone. He is the only autonomous and self-sufficient being in the Universe. He alone is absolutely free to do what he wants, whenever he wants and any way he wants. In short, He will always do what He wants.(Is 55:11; Rom 9:19-23). Thus, the meaning of God's sovereignty can be summed up as follows: God is sovereign, He has supremacy and total domain over all things, being able to do everything that His will desires.
1.2. God’s sovereignity over Creation
The Bible says in Genesis 1:1 that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. By the cause-and-effect relationship, it means that behind everything that exists, there is a Creator. God not only created all things, but He keeps them running absolutely perfectly. God's creative actions were not done by some specific need, but solely for His choice and sovereign satisfaction.
In Romans 9:20,21, Paul argues about the sovereignty of the creator God with some questions. Paul's questions in the above verses highlight the real distance between God and man; between the created being, limited in time and space, and His creator, omnipotent and sovereign (v. 20b).
1.3. God’s sovereignity and power
God's power is inherent in His very nature. He is the Almighty (Gen 17:1); there is no other like it, much less another besides him (Isaiah 45:5). The power of God is derived only of himself. He is power itself, and the manifestation of that power is guaranteed in His Word (Ps 62:11).
The power of the Lord God is controlled by His wise and sovereign
will. There are no limitations as to what He can do (1 Sam. 15.29; 2 Tim 2:13)
1.4. God’s sovereignity and human suffering
Humans cannot understand sovereignty of God, especially regards to suffering. However, it is good to remember that God is not happy with the lack of righteousness nor with the affliction of the beings He created (Ps 5:4). God loves each person and cares for their safety and well-being.
Human suffering can have many causes. It's possible to go through intense suffering because of personal decisions and wrong choices or by the practice of evil and sin. There is, however, the suffering permitted by God which, pedagogically, contributes to the maturation and spiritual strengthening.
1.4. God’s sovereignity and human suffering
However, there is also the suffering that can come without a clear explanation. The apostle Paul presents a summary on the subject when he declares: We know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28 NRSV).
This promise is linked to human suffering and has its support also in Romans 8.17,18 (NRS). This two verses present the redeemed person as “son”, “heir of God” and “co-heir with Christ”. that's a privilege incomparable and teaches that He is in control of all facts that involve the life of everyone who is possessed by the Holy Spirit.
2. GOD’S SOVEREIGNITY AND FREE WILL
So far, we have seen that God is in control of all events of the universe by His holy and sovereign will (Isaiah 55:11).
From now on, the lesson will focus on the relationship between God's sovereignty and human free will.
2.1. Meaning and implication
God gave man the ability to discern between good and evil and decide for one or the other. However, freedom of choice also imposes on everyone responsibility for their attitudes and decisions (Gal 6:7)
2.2. Free will and God’s justice
Human beings of any time or culture have a moral code of conduct. Thus, each individual can be rewarded or punished justly according to the liberty which has to follow or not the premises of that moral code.
God's justice in man's condemnation is based on the fact that it has full capacity to make a difference between good and evil, just as he is free to choose between one path and another. (Deut 11:26- 28; Jas 4.7).
2.3. Free will, God’s sovereignity and salvation
The degradation of the first couple distances the human race from the Creator (Rom 3:23). However, there are plenty of texts in the Scriptures in which all men, without distinction, are called for repentance. God hopes that by repentance of sins and the confession of Christ as the Lord, all come to the knowledge of the Son of God (Rom 9:22,23; 10:9,10).
In this perspective, it is clear that there is no contradiction between free will, God's sovereignty, and eternal salvation. These are not exclusive, they are complementary.
2.4. Free will, God's sovereignty and
man's responsibility
God created man as a moral being. This basically means that he is able to understand the difference between good and evil and is free to choose between one thing and another. As a free being, this makes you responsible for your actions, choices and gestures. Yes, you have freedom of action; however, you will answer for all your decisions.
God's purpose is that man should follow truth, justice, and mercy (Micah 6:8). Mankind must have faith in justification in Christ and do the will of the Lord.
2.4. Free will, God's sovereignty and
man's responsibility
The Scriptures highlight the duties of human beings to with God and their neighbor, claiming an exclusive observance of His precepts. However, the practice of ethical systems or moral codes will be of no use to anyone alienated from justification by faith (Rom. 1:16, 17; 5:1, 2).
This is what Paul shows, with great sadness and pain, in the chapter 9.1-18 of his Letter to the Romans. similar to Moses, who asked God to forgive the people or to erase his name from the book, Paul says that he wished to be anathema for love of their brethren, fellow countrymen according to the flesh (Rom.9.3). The Jews were rejected by God because they rejected the only means of access to the Father: the sacrifice of Christ.
CONCLUSION
There is complete harmony between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. "God is sovereign, and man is responsible." The human beings can alter the course of their lives; they can change their way of thinking. They can repent of their sins and turn to Christ, the only hope and truth.
This explains Paul's effort and pain when referring to the rejection of Israel described in this passage of his Letter to Rome.
May God bless
your life!
EBD ADVEC
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