Defining the Sovereignty of God
Sovereignty is the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies.[1] In political theory, sovereignty is a functional term designating supreme legitimate authority over some political entity. It is the ultimate overseer, or authority, in the decision-making process of the state and in the maintenance of order.[2]
The sovereignty of God refers to His position of supreme authority and power. He rules over and owns everything because He made everything. Much like man’s sovereignty, God has legitimate authority over His universe. As the sovereign One, God has a predetermined plan and purpose for everything that happens in that universe. Not only does He have a plan (Ephesians 1:11
) but God oversees and makes decisions which fulfill His divine plan. God upholds all things and all things owe their existence to Him (Hebrews 1:3).[3]
The Right to Supreme Authority
God’s sovereignty is a natural consequence of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. God is described in the Bible as all-powerful and all-knowing (Psalm 147:5), outside of time (Exodus 3:14; Psalm 90:2), and responsible for the creation of everything (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1). These divine traits set the minimum boundary for God’s sovereign control in the universe, which is to say that nothing in the universe occurs without God’s permission.
God has the power and knowledge to prevent anything He chooses to prevent, so anything that does happen must, at the very least, be allowed by God. When we speak of the sovereignty of God, we mean He rules the universe. The debate begins when and where His control is direct and when it is indirect. This will be explored at a later time.
God’s Plan Unfolding in His Sovereignty
With everything that is occurring in our nation and our cities, it’s easy to wonder if God really cares about us. There are those who have a cartoonish view of God’s sovereignty.
God’s relationship with His creation is pictured as “a man viewing an ant in a fish bowl”. He is seen as distant, detached, and disconnected. That may be how we feel as we view the world around us today. But as I stated at the beginning of this teaching, God has a plan.
The Triune God orchestrated their plan before the creation of the world. That redemptive plan (Romans. 5:2) has been unfolding through the history of mankind and continues even today in the 21st century.
As chronicled from Genesis to Revelation, God has an eternal plan that restores man’s fellowship with God by the creation of an escape from death’s curse (Romans 5:2) and the rediscovery of the spiritual life. It is God’s plan to bring mankind to Himself (Ephesians 1:7-11) and ultimately to a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1).
It is by His divine power and gracious will that we live, and move, and have our meaning (Acts 17:28). Knowing God is sovereign is enough to give us a good hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16). It is enough to assure us of our future well-being (Jeremiah 29:11).
[1] Wikipedia
[2] Britannica.com
[3] Insight for Living Canada