Articles

Question
What is meant by the sovereignty of God? What is the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility?

Answer
The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent. He does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases (Psa. 115:3). None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him (Isa. 46:10; Dan. 4:35). He is on the Throne of the universe directing all things, working all things 'after the counsel of His own will' (Eph. 1:11).

He sovereignly chose to place each of His creatures on that particular footing which seemed good in His sight. He created angels: some He placed on a conditional footing, others He gave an immutable standing before Him (I Tim. 5:21), making Christ their head (Col. 2:10). The angels which sinned (II Peter 2:5) were as much His creatures as the angels that sinned not. Yet God foresaw they would fall, nevertheless He placed them on a mutable, creature, conditional footing, and suffered them to fall, though He was not the Author of their sin.

God sovereignly placed Adam in the garden of Eden upon a conditional footing. Adam stood accountable to God by the law which his Creator had given him. His responsibility was tested under the most favorable conditions. God did not place Adam upon a footing of conditional, creature responsibility, because it was right. It was right because God did it. God in His essence is holy and that holiness is immutable. Whatsoever He does is right and woe to the rebel who calls His sovereignty into question (Isa. 45:9; Romans 9:14-24).

Some say that the sovereignty of God excludes human responsibility; however, this is not true. Human responsibility is based on Divine sovereignty. What right did Adam have to 'eat' of the trees of the Garden? The permission of his Maker is what made it right (Gen. 2:16), without which Adam would have been a thief. What right did Israel have to 'borrow' the Egyptians' jewels and raiment (Ex. 12:35)? None, unless Jehovah had authorized it (Ex. 3:22). What right did Israel have to slay so many lambs for sacrifice? None, except that God commanded it. What right does a husband have to expect submission from his wife? None, unless God had appointed it. The list is endless. Human responsibility is based upon Divine sovereignty.