1LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO

LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE

THEO 525

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY I

BY

MICHAEL V. PADDY

STUDENT ID # 22282275

WAYNOKA, OKLAHOMA

MARCH, 2010
 THESIS STATEMENT

This paper concerns itself with trying to define to this author, the sovereignty of God, its

Biblical roots in the Old and New Testaments, and how these specific passages of Scripture have

influenced my thinking of God as sovereign.

Though it cannot be a comprehensive, exhaustive study and review, its brush strokes will

help the reader begin their own journey and systematic study of our God and his overall authority

and power within his created universe.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

THESIS STATEMENT………………………………………………………………………… 2

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………… 4

A WORKING DEFINITION OF SOVEREIGNTY…………………………………………… 4

OLD TESTAMENT VIEWS…………………………………………………………………… 6

NEW TESTAMENT VIEWS…………………………………………………………………... 7

Matthew 6:13 …………………………………………………………………………… 8

Romans 9 – 11 ………………………………………………………………………….. 8

Revelation 4 – 5 ……………………………………………………………………….. 10

CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………… 10
 INTRODUCTION

Throughout the ages the question of God’s sovereignty has stymied the most learned

theologian. Is God completely sovereign? Does God act completely without prejudice, his

sovereignty in creation, life, death and after-life of humanity? Is mankind a mere pawn in the

hands of a despot Divine or is there something else altogether that God knows and does which to

us seems so utterly confusing as to have us create an anthropomorphic design of God limiting

him in our minds to things that only we can comprehend and understand?

If God is all-powerful and all-knowing as well as all-present, how do we sync this

together to create an all-sovereign God world view that helps us in our faith to live soberly in an

evil world? The bottom-line is can we trust God? We will see that the sovereignty issues we

must face concerning God are vividly seen in the Scriptures.1 This study of God’s sovereignty

will take us through defining God’s authority referencing Biblical scholars and most importantly

the biblical records at hand.

A WORKING DEFINITION OF SOVEREIGNTY

Klooster writes concerning the sovereignty of God “The biblical teaching that God is

king, supreme ruler, and lawgiver of the entire universe.”2 He says later on that sovereignty

“expresses an inherent characteristic of God.”3

When we speak of sovereignty we are using these two descriptions which seem

prominent in any discussion of the authority of God, his sovereignty. But we cannot limit

ourselves to just one man’s understanding of this subject. Sovereignty is viewed by different

1
Mark G. Cambron. Bible doctrines: Beliefs that matter. (Grand Rapids MI.: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1977). 33.
2
Fred H. Klooster, Sovereignty of God. In Evangelical dictionary of Christian theology, 2nd ed.,
Ed. Walter A. Elwell. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001) 1131.
3
Ibid. 1131
people in varying degrees in its implementation both in his will and his power. And within this

defined context we must try to determine whether God who is self sufficient, self existent,

eternal and triune in nature limits himself to the limits of man’s comprehension of these terms

and truths.

It would seem that the strictest working definition would be akin to Bridges description,

God is in control; He is sovereign. He does whatever pleases Him

and determines whether we can do what we have planned. This is
the essence of God’s sovereignty; His absolute independence to do
as He pleases and His absolute control over the actions of all His
creatures. No creature, person, or empire can either thwart His will
or act outside the bounds of His will. 4

All other authority then in the universe is dependent on the truth of God being the

supreme authority. “All other forms of authority exist either by God’s command or by God’s

permission.”5

Without question, when we speak of God in supreme authority, as the sole acting agent of

the universe, it is in this strict definition we must confine ourselves. However, trouble occurs

when we try in our finite understanding to come up with answers which befuddle us and cause us

to question other communicable attributes of God we hold dear such as kindness, compassion,

justice, and love to name a few. This must not change the view of God’s sovereignty from a

scriptural perspective. We must pursue truth no matter how difficult it might be to embrace and

trust.

So this is our working definition, God is king, supreme ruler, and lawgiver of the entire

universe both in the execution of his will and his power.

4
Jerry Bridges, Trusting God, (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1988) 36
5
R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God. (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale Publishers, 1989) 24
 OLD TESTAMENT VIEWS

The earliest Biblical expression of God’s sovereignty happened right at the start both in

his creation6 and in his declared authority over creation, specifically man, when he told Adam, to

tend and care for the created Eden and his prohibition of Adam of eating the fruit from the tree of

knowledge of good and evil.7 Though it is implied that God had sovereignty over Adam, the

shame and eventual banishment of Adam and Eve from Eden proves power and authority over

man, man could not argue his case or stop God from implementing the punishment.

From there to the Genesis historical records of Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, the

tower of Babel and the rest of the historical record of beginnings found in the first book of the

Bible establishes that God is sovereign over his creation, nature, animals, and mankind. “The

implications of this are great. First, it means that everything that exists must be under God’s

control. The Creation must be in subjection to the Creator.”8

The providential plan concerning Joseph both in the salvation of Israel from a great

famine to the bringing out of Egypt the people of Israel in God’s divine salvation from the hands

of the Egyptians continue the picture of a God who knows all and moves his will in the affairs of

men.

The Old Testament shows God not only controls affairs of men but also their hearts. The

narrative of God’s hardening the heart of Pharaoh,9 (we will discuss this later in another section),
6
See Genesis 1:1 – 2:25; Psalm 19 and Romans 1:18 – 20.
7
Genesis 1:26-31; 2:15-17.
8
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, eds. The Bible knowledge commentary: An exposition of
the Scriptures by Dallas seminary faculty, Old Testament. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1994).
27.
9
Ex 4:21, 7:4-5
shows that God can bring the will of man under the subjection of his will for specific purposes

and plans.

God's sovereignty is progressively revealed 10 and consistently developed

throughout the Old Testament. Dr. Warfield says concerning the doctrine of God’s

sovereignty in the Old Testament, “The Almighty Maker of all that is represented in the

Old Testament is shown to be the irresistible Ruler of all that He has made; Jehovah sits

as King forever.” 11

One of the most definitive descriptions of God’s sovereignty in the Old Testament comes

from the lips of a king not of Jewish descent but a foreigner to God, Nebuchadnezzar, king of

Babylon. He not only acknowledges God’s sovereignty, but exalts him in praise.12

From the law to the historical books to the poetical books to the Major and Minor

Prophets, the people who were a part of that time and the readers of these books

preceding the New Testament writings believed that God is sovereign both over man and

his creation. 13

NEW TESTAMENT VIEWS

Three passages from various sections of the New Testament can establish the views of

the early church concerning the sovereignty of God.

Matthew 6:13

Trevor McIlwain and Nancy Everson. Building on firm foundations. (Sanford, FL: NTM
10

Publishers, 1985). 6

Gary L. W. Johnson. B.B. Warfield: Essays on his life and thought. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R
11

Publishing, 2007) 45

Daniel 4:34, 35
12

James Montgomery Boice. The sovereign God. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1978).
13

150.
 Though some older texts omit the latter part of this verse, in the Authorized Version it

reads, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”14 That statement

closely resembles the declaration of David when in 1 Chronicles 29:10 – 14,

Then David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole

assembly:  “O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be
praised forever and ever! Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the
power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the
heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom.
We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor
come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and
might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made
great and given strength. “O our God, we thank you and praise
your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that
we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come
from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!15

The context of the Matthew passage is in connection to prayer. Jesus’ instruction to the

request of the disciples to have him teach them to pray ended with an acknowledgement that

prayer, the answer to our prayers, and even God listening to our prayers is dependent on a

sovereign God.16 This established in the minds of his disciples that the historical understanding

of God as supreme carried over to them in the teaching of Jesus.

Romans 9 - 11

In the epistle to the Romans God through Paul is answering questions both asked and

unasked concerning the gospel, faith, sanctification, and practical spiritual helps.17 When he gets

14
Matthew 6:13
15
1 Chronicles 29:10 - 14

Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray on prayer. (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1998)
16

236
17
Charles Hodge. Alistair McGrath and J.I. Packer eds. Romans: The Crossway classic
commentaries. (Wheaton, IL.: Crossway Books, 1993). ix.
to chapter nine he is dealing with the fact that God’s righteousness is revealed in sovereign

choices.18

Paul implicitly and explicitly uses the name of God in connection with his sovereignty

twenty-six times.19 “Another feature is the liberal use of OT quotations, partly to emphasize the

sovereignty of God…”20 Of all the writings of the New Testament these three chapters give a

great overview of God as supreme in his will and power.

The message implies purpose in encouraging the Jewish nation stating that God is not yet

through with them. A fatalistic view could be held telling Jews that God has forgotten them

permanently but God in his sovereignty will use Israel once more for God’s purposes and God’s

will.

Paul concludes this section of Romans and implicitly expresses praise at God’s

transcendence exclaiming,

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and
through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.21

The doxology could seem futile and hopeless if not read to the end. Trusting God by faith

for our salvation is one step the other is the daily faith for living out our Christian experience.22

18
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, eds. The Bible knowledge commentary: An exposition of
the Scriptures by Dallas seminary faculty, New Testament. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1994).
476
19
Everett F. Harrison. Frank E. Gaebelein, ed. The expositors Bible commentary: Romans.
(Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 1976). 101.
20
Ibid. 101
21
Romans 11:33-36
22
Jerry Bridges. 203.
 Revelation 4 and 5

The scene is an almost prophetic occurrence pronounced in the epistle to the Philippians,

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is
above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.23

The scene taking place in heaven is one where all comes into place. Angels and elders

sing bringing glory to the one who is supreme, sovereign, the Worthy One, the Holy One, the

Living Lamb of God. The number of those who are singing and praising are innumerable, “ten

thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands…every creature which is in the heaven

and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea…”24

It would seem the ultimate experience of heaven is wrapped around God’s sovereignty. It

leaves open the question, “Will we finally understand everything we were trying to discover

about God while still on earth?”25

CONCLUSION

God is sovereign, hallelujah! To what extent God determines to exert his sovereignty,

that was not the scope of this paper but those who read and/or review the notes and the

referenced scriptures can come to no other conclusion, God is sovereign. The next step for the

reader would be to try and come to grips with the extent to which God would exert and/or limit

his sovereign acts and will. I must come to the conclusion that sovereignty is all inclusive. The

rest must be a life long journey of faith trusting God for who he is and how he determines to act

23
Philippians 2:9 - 11
24
Revelation 4:1 – 5:14
25
Lawrence O. Richards. Teacher’s commentary. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987) 1079
towards creation, mankind and me personally. And in doing so we must come to the conclusions

that will increase our capacity to be a disciple of our Lord.

We must understand that this subject is too complex for one paper to bring all knowledge

and understanding to this difficult subject, the sovereignty of God. Volumes have been written

by more learned men and women concerning this subject. Wars have been fought with this issue

being in the background of argument and debate. Nations have struggled with embracing an

independence and autonomy apart from the great truth of sovereignty. And so it will continue. Is

God sovereign, all sovereign over all his created work and acts?

Jesus when asked by his young, new disciple Andrew, “Where are you staying?” Jesus

replied, “Come and see.” Is this not what we must all do when coming to God; Father, Son, and

Holy Spirit? Go and see, seek, find the presence of God in all we believe concerning him through

the prayerful study of his word? My prayer is that this discussion of his sovereignty might stir us

to know more about the transcendent, sovereign God we love and serve.
 Bibliography

Boice, James Montgomery. The Sovereign God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1978.

Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts, Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1988.

Cambron, Mark G. Bible Doctrines: Beliefs That Matter. Grand Rapids MI.: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1977.

Harrison, Everett F., Frank E. Gaebelein, ed. The Expositors Bible Commentary: Romans. Grand
Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 1976.

Hodge, Charles, Alistair McGrath and J.I. Packer eds. Romans: The Crossway Classic
Commentaries. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993.

Johnson, Gary L. W. B.B. Warfield: Essays on His Life and Thought. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R
Publishing, 2007.

Klooster, Fred H. Sovereignty of God. In Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Theology, 2nd ed.,
Ed. Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.

Murray, Andrew. Andrew Murray on Prayer. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1998.

McIlwain, Trevor and Nancy Everson. Building on Firm Foundations. Sanford, FL: NTM
Publishers, 1985.

Richards, Lawrence O. Teacher’s Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987.

Sproul, R.C. Chosen by God. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale Publishers, 1989.

Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck, eds. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of
the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty, Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books,
1994.

Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck, eds. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of
the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty, New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books,
1994.