The Sovereignty of God
My undertanding is that God is the Creator, and the sole authority of Heaven and earth and universe.... regardless of who "believes".... and regardless of who "accepts" His power and His sovereignty.... and regardless of who "rejects" Him, or denies His authority and supremacy.
GOD is unfazed and unaltered by various dogmatic "churchy" characterizations of Himself. GOD is neither circumscribed nor re-shaped by the numerous befuddling humanistic descriptions and restrictions that have been "dreamed-up" by us human-animals. (See link Circumventing God.)
God's people (God's People [link]) worship and serve GOD. They do not worship a "religion", nor a church; nor a preacher, priest, rabbi, or imam; nor a frozen "doctrine".
Read on, below.
A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
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by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)
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This "tablet" interrelates with Jesus is God -- God is Jesus (linked)
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For those who know the language of God (link) -- and for those who "hear" God -- it is superfluous, of course, to write about the "sovereignty of God". Note the following scriptures:
Isaiah 45: 5 (NRSV) I am the LORD, and there is no other. Besides me, there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, 6 so that all may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form light, and create darkness; I make weal, and create woe. I the LORD do all these things.
Romans 9: 18 (NRSV) So then He has mercy on whomever He chooses -- and He hardens the heart of whomever He chooses. 19 You will say to me then, "Why then does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?" 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay -- to make out of the same lump one object for special use, and another object for ordinary use?
Proverbs 16: 1 (NIV) To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him -- but motives are weighed by the LORD. 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. 4 The LORD works out EVERYTHING for HIS OWN ENDS -- even the wicked for a day of disaster.
Proverbs 20: 24 (NRSV) All our steps are ordered by the LORD. How then can we understand our own ways?
1 Corinthians 8: 5 (NRSV) Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven, or on earth -- as in fact there are many gods and many lords -- 6 yet, for us, there is one God, the Father -- from whom are all things, and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we exist. 7 It is NOT everyone, however, who has this knowledge.
Acts 17: 29 (NRSV) Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that The Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone.... an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.
Psalm 100: 3 (KJV) Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us -- and not we ourselves. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
And, see other Biblical references, below.
My understanding of the "Sovereignty of God" is that God alone created the Universe, and everything in it.... according to His intention.... and in keeping with His purposes. I believe that there is a single "Creator" (God), who designed and generated every living creature, including you and me. I accept the "sovereignty" of God, in all matters of Heaven and Earth and Universe.
I believe that I, personally, live and exist solely for the purposes of God; and that my notions about myself, and my plans for myself, are inconsequential -- except insofar as I live out my life accomplishing what God has set out for me (presumably in advance of my creation). I believe in God's guidance (molding) in my life; and I believe in God's instruction, and in God's "discipline" (bending, "pruning"), and in God's love -- for me.... and for all those individuals whom God accepts (chooses, claims, allows) to be His own "people" -- "God's people"..... "the elect", the chosen (link), the children of God (link), the "saved", the "righteous", the "justified". (See link: God's people.)
(For those who sense and understand the truth of God's Bible.... "The Book of God".... there is little need to speak of the validity of the statements about God, and about the sovereignty of God, as revealed in the Bible. As I see it -- the Bible is not simply a compendium of ethical axioms, which one may "accept" or "reject" according to his or her humanly "wisdom". God's word -- the Bible -- is either from God, and hence "true", and valid, and correct..... or it is simply an interesting man-made book of history, with certain postulates about a supreme-being, and about human nature, and "ethics". My belief is that there is no "in-between". To me, the Biblical references, quoted below, concerning the "sovereignty" of God, state what God intends for His people to understand, about Him.)
(What do you say? Would you say that an individual may accept or reject the Bible, or certain parts of it, according to his own "opinion" about the truth of God (see link)? I say not. My personal conclusion, after a lifelong search for a Gold Standard (link) about God, and about the truth concerning God -- is that "The Bible", alone, reveals the "truth" -- God's truth -- about Himself -- and about His ways, His plans, and His purposes.)
There is another major point about "sovereignty", a point which I have stressed in other "tablets" (chapters) of this book.... as follows: the truth (link) from God, and the truth about God, and the truth concerning God's sovereignty and His power.... these "God's truths" do not "magically" become true.... and do not spontaneously come into effect in one's life.... simply because someone "decides" to believe them -- or because one "professes" to "accept" these truths.... or because one "joins" a certain church or sect.
In other words, "the truth".... about God, and about any other subject.... does not suddenly become true, and real, and functional in one's existence.... just because that particular "someone" has "made a decision" to "accept" that truth. And, contrariwise, the "truth" about God does not become untrue or ineffective, simply because an individual, within his or her humanly understanding, has concluded that God, and the power of God, are a "matter of opinion", and hence of dubious fact or consequence.
(In another chapter, I analogized the "spiritual truth" about God, with the truth and the effect of the "physical" laws of God's "mechanical universe". The "Law of Gravity", for example, [let's call it, here, the "Truth of Gravity] does not wait upon an individual's acceptance, before gravity can become effective in that individual's life. That is, "gravity" does not become true and valid and effective just because you "choose" to believe it; and it does not wait to become effective until you have made up your mind to accept it! Neither does the "Truth of Gravity" go away, or become ineffective, simply because your humanly brain cannot understand it; or because you decide not to "accept" it; or because you change your opinion, and decide that it is not believable.)
And so it is with "spiritual truth". The truth is true, whether or not you, or anyone else, believes and accepts the truth. An individual's profession of doubt or unbelief does not NEGATE the truth.
Read out loud the following Biblical quotations concerning the sovereignty of God, and about the futility of considering other "gods", and worldly "idols" (some of these quotations are repeated, from above):
Isaiah 44: 24 (NRSV) Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things; who alone stretched out the heavens; who by myself spread out the earth; 25 who frustrates the omens of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns back the wise, and makes their knowledge foolish; 26 who confirms the word of His servant.... and fulfills the prediction of His messengers....
Proverbs 20: 24 (NRSV) All our steps are ordered by the LORD. How then can we understand our own ways?
1 Corinthians 8: 5 (NRSV) Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven, or on earth -- as in fact there are many gods and many lords -- 6 yet, for us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we exist. 7 It is NOT everyone, however, who has this knowledge.
Isaiah 55: 8-11 (NEB): This is the very word of the Lord: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts; and as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return until they have watered the earth, making it blossom and bear fruit, and give seed for sowing and bread to eat..... so shall the word which comes from my mouth prevail. It shall not return to me fruitless, without accomplishing my purpose, or succeeding in the task I gave it.
Collosians 1: 15 (NRSV) He (Jesus, the Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created -- things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created through Him, and for Him. 17 He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Isaiah 40 (NIV) 21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught, and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground -- than He blows on them, and they wither -- and a whirlwind sweeps them away, like chaff. 25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Deuteronomy 32: 39 "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death, and I bring to life. I have wounded, and I will heal; and no one can deliver out of my hand. I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and repay those who hate me.
Isaiah 43: 10 (NIV) "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed, and saved, and proclaimed -- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"
Isaiah 45: 22 (NRSV) Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: "To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." 24 Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength.
Romans 9: 18 (NRSV) So then He has mercy on whomever He chooses -- and He hardens the heart of whomever He chooses. 19 You will say to me then, "Why then does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?" 20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay -- to make out of the same lump one object for special use, and another object for ordinary use?
Job 42: 1 (NRSV) Then Job answered the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Psalm 127: 1 (NIV) Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Daniel 2: 20 (NRSV) Daniel said: "Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are His. 21 He changes times and seasons, deposes kings, and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness -- and light dwells with Him.
Amos 3: 6 (NIV) When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?
Lamentations 3: 37 (NRSV) Who can command, and have it done, if the Lord has not ordained it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? 39 Why should any who draw breath complain about the punishment of their sins? 40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD. 41 Let us lift up our hearts -- as well as our hands -- to God in heaven.
Isaiah 54: 16 (NRSV) See, it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy.
Acts 17: 24 (NRSV) The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26 From one ancestor He made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and He allotted the times of their existence, and the boundaries of the places where they would live
Daniel 4: 25 (NRSV) (Daniel re: Nebuchadnezzar's vision) "You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the KINGDOM of MORTALS, and gives it to whom He will."
I consider these scriptures to "prove the point".... Biblically.... about the sovereignty of God. What else needs to be added? What do you say?
And.... to repeat a paragraph from the beginning of this "tablet":
My undertanding is that God is the Creator, and the sole authority of Heaven and earth and universe.... regardless of who "believes".... and regardless of who "accepts" His power and His sovereignty.... and regardless of who "rejects" Him, or denies His authority and supremacy.
God is unfazed and unaltered by various dogmatic sectarian characterizations.... and by befuddling humanistic descriptions and restrictions that have been "dreamed-up".... by human-animals.
6/18/06