God Is Sovereign: Table of Contents
- Biblical Definition and Context of 'Sovereign'
- How Does God’s Sovereignty Impact My Everyday Life?
- If God is Sovereign, Did God Create Evil?
- If God is Sovereign, Why Pray?
- Is God's Sovereignty Limited?
- God's Sovereignty and Human Free Will
Biblical Definition and Context of 'Sovereign'
If you were to look up the word “sovereign” in the dictionary, you would find words and phrases like “superior,” “greatest,” “supreme in power and authority,” “ruler,” and “independent of all others” in its definition. But the way I like to explain God’s sovereignty best is simply to say, “God is in control.”
There is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority. As King of kings and Lord of lords, God has no limitations. Consider just a few of the claims the Bible makes about God:
- God is above all things and before all things. He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He is immortal, and He is present everywhere so that everyone can know Him (Revelation 21:6).
- God created all things and holds all things together, both in heaven and on earth, both visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).
- God knows all things past, present, and future. There is no limit to His knowledge, for God knows everything completely before it even happens (Romans 11:33).
- God can do all things and accomplish all things. Nothing is too difficult for Him, and He orchestrates and determines everything that is going to happen in your life, in my life, in America, and throughout the world. Whatever He wants to do in the universe, He does, for nothing is impossible with Him (Jeremiah 32:17).
- God is in control of all things and rules over all things. He has power and authority over nature, earthly kings, history, angels, and demons. Even Satan himself has to ask God’s permission before he can act (Psalm 103:19).
That’s what being sovereign means. It means being the ultimate source of all power, authority, and everything that exists. Only God can make those claims; therefore, it’s God’s sovereignty that makes Him superior to all other gods and makes Him, and Him alone, worthy of worship.
How Does God’s Sovereignty Impact My Everyday Life?
1. God’s Sovereignty calls for our submission. God’s sovereignty compels us to bow before Him, not out of fear of punishment, but because of His love for us. Romans 8:28 shows that God works all things for the good of those who love Him.
2. God’s Sovereignty provides us with comfort. Knowing that nothing happens without God’s decree or allowance brings comfort, even in hardship, as God is in control of all circumstances.
3. God’s Sovereignty inspires us to worship Him. Because God is perfectly good and sovereign, He is worthy of worship. His greatness, provision, and guidance compel us to praise Him (Psalm 145:3).
If God is Sovereign, Did God Create Evil?
Watch Kay Arthur explain this complex question about how God in His sovereignty brings both prosperity and disaster.
“My husband and I have been through trials we never thought we’d go through. But we can walk in peace because we know that God is sovereign. And this God that sits on the throne, that creates good, that creates adversity; He is love.”
Verses that Arthur references in her video: Isaiah 45:1-7, Amos 3:6-7, Daniel 4:35, 1 John 4:7-10
If God is Sovereign, Why Pray?
Some may feel that if God is in control, there’s no need to pray. However, the Bible specifically calls us to pray and assures us that God hears and responds to prayers according to His will.
- 2 Chronicles 7:14 promises, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray...I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin...”
- The Psalmist praises God for hearing his prayer in Psalm 6:9.
- Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4.
- Paul instructs the Church to “pray continually” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Is God's Sovereignty Limited?
God’s sovereignty is not limited. Scripture teaches that nothing happens apart from His will, even small details like the fall of a sparrow (Matthew 10:29).
John Piper explains that when we surrender the sovereignty of God to avoid discomfort with calamity, we also lose the very source of strength that helps us endure trials. God’s sovereignty is the foundation of our hope in difficult circumstances.
- excerpt provided by John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
Additional Context: God's Sovereignty and Human Free Will
One of the most discussed topics in theology is the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human free will. If God controls everything, how can humans have free will? The Bible affirms both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. God, in His infinite wisdom, ordains all things without negating human choice.
For example, in Acts 2:23, Peter speaks of Jesus’ crucifixion as both God’s plan and an act carried out by wicked men. This illustrates that God’s sovereign will operates alongside human decisions, ultimately accomplishing His purposes without infringing on human agency.
Understanding this balance gives us peace and humility, knowing that while we make real choices, God’s plans will always prevail for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Answer taken from Why do You Worship God? written and used by Chip Ingram (c) 2004.
Photo Credit: Thinkstock/ArtyFree
