Theology Proper - Who is God?                                                                     Lesson 21

Review:

 

 

 

 

 

  4. The Problem: The Sovereignty of God and the Volition of Man

Sovereignty: Isa. 46:9-10; 43:13; 14:24,27;   

Volition:  all the “whosoever wills” all the commands; all the 3rd class conditions

 

 

 

As we search out the solutions to such mysteries of God’s Word, a couple of dangers must carefully be avoided:

1. The danger of imposing human reason over divine revelation.

 

2.   The danger of going to one extreme or the other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way men have typically approached God’s sovereignty and human responsibility has caused no little debate and perplexity among students of the Bible.

But these truths which are clearly taught in Scripture must be accepted without trying to divorce one from the other or to force one over the other.

 

   5. Are a number of False conclusions from little minds

      a. If God controls then God condones.  [sounds logical]

         1. They sinned in putting Him on the cross!

         2. It was the execution of the purpose of God!

         3. Is He not saying that He controlled the events there?

         4. Therefore God must condone the sin! Sounds reasonable -             doesn't it?

    

      b. Let's look at this human logic

         1. Crucifying Christ is sin!

            Did He get what He deserved?

           

            - Acts 2:36; 3:14,15; 4:10

         2. His death was part of God's plan.

            - who planned the cross?

        

         3. Can't you say therefore that God condones sin and is             therefore not righteous?

 

       ** Prin: Something may be crystal clear, sound logical and yet be pure heresy?

 

          Our human logic many times is going to have to give way to Scripture; the faith principle. Heb. 11:1

     

      So what have we established?

      - God does control. Acts 4:26-28

      - Does He condone sin NO!>  Yet He controls!

      - Can we rationally and logically put this together? NO!

      - Its a false conclusion coming form a little mind!

 

 

 

 

   Another faulty conclusion!  Commonly heard!

c. Since God is Sovereign - man has no volition and therefore no responsibility - no culpability at all.

      - after all since He is in control - man has no responsibility

- God is going to work it all out anyway, therefore we have no volition, no responsibility since God is the supreme ruler of the universe. (sounds logical)

- He works all things after the council of His own will, He does all things He pleases.

- Therefore I conclude that since He does what He pleases, I have no volition at all and without volition, I have no responsibility. (logical?)

 

 

   Sovereignty does not reject human volition or responsibility.

      Must remember there are primary and secondary causes.

      Mt 27:35  Did the guys sit down and decide?

       - > John 19:24; prophecy Psa. 27:18

        

       Acts 27:24f This one ties both the Sov of God and human responsibility together.

       - 27:31 = human responsibility

       - result = 27:44 all safely land.

 

       Some say that Sovereignty = fatalism i.e. things are directed by chance.  [slime plus time = life]

       Sovereignty does not mean that, it means that all things are directed by an all wise God who is supreme over all.  What is wrong with that?

       Is that not relaxing?

       Things are in God's hands! (or do you think that they would be better off in yours?)

       That's really the encouragement that flows from understanding of the sovereignty, the ruler ship of God.

       He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He is forever.