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NASB | Psalm 103:19 ¶ The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 103:19 ¶ The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all [the universe]. |
Bible Question: "You don't hear much preaching these days," said David Jeremiah in a sermon broadcast on radio this afternoon, "on the sovereignty of God." He told of his amazement to find in Charles Haddon Spurgeon's sermons such a large number of sermons on God's absolute sovereignty. Dr. Jeremiah offered a large list of reasons why he believed that the subject of the sovereignty of God has grown so unpopular in the world today, even in the pulpits and pews of Christian churches. Without writing a full report on Dr. Jeremiah's sermon, I'll ask the Forum: Is it important to teach and preach and meditate upon the sovereignty of God? Why? And why do you think it has become so unpopular a subject? (Has humanism crept into the thinking of Christians? And how would this affect their thinking about the sovereignty of God?) Lastly, what does the Bible say about God's sovereignty? --Hank |
Bible Answer: Hank Wow how thought provoking! No you don’t hear much about God’s sovereignty from most pulpits today. That isn’t popular concept because if God’s in charge we aren’t. It is far more popular to allow God some control but make us the real decision makers as in WOF. Or take it to the other extreme and blame our failures on God as in … well I won’t go there. I think without a doubt people must understand and appreciate God’s sovereignty to possess a full understanding of salvation. With understanding God’s sovereignty you can’t get you arms around the grace of salvation. So yes this must and has to be a focal point in the walk of every Christian and one that must be regularly taught from the pulpit. As I stated above the reason it is so unpopular it takes man out of driver seat which is how man likes to think of himself, ‘The master of my own destiny’. Once we realize we aren’t in charge then we have to realize it isn’t our game and we don’t get to make the rules. Now all of sudden we have to look at God’s standards in a new light, not merely as suggestions for our consideration, but what they are, standards of which we MUST live by. That is bitter pill to swallow to find out your not in control and there is a standard by which you must live. Wow where did all the relative truth go, what about instincts and in born desires. You mean I can’t blame them for my inappropriate actions and I’m expected to behave to a standard? All of sudden all of man’s best contrived excuses evaporate in the light of God’s sovereignty. We have developed over the years a trait to excuse bad behavior as result of our genes. This has become widely accepted in church and out. It is humanism at it’s best. No longer are we responsible for our actions we were born with a penitence to act badly. Therefore God has no right in expecting any different behavior and who is this God to try to tell us what we can and can not do. Homosexuality is no longer aberrant behavior condemned of God but instead is a product of ones genes and therefore should be tolerated and even accepted by everyone. Once that premise is accepted then God moves from sovereignty to totalitarian. He is no longer the God that created all and knows all but now He is the God that doesn’t really understand man and is merely trying to force His will upon us. The Bible says God is sovereign, He knows all, He is all and more importantly He does what He wants. Thankfully God is also a loving Father and does what is best for His Children. EdB |