Sovereignty and Sin

Sovereignty and Sin

2014-03-09

Romans 9:14-23

English Standard Version (ESV)

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

Nothing in Scripture indicates that some things are outside God's sovereign control,

• Isa 46:10-11, Ps. 135:6, Dan 4:35, Eph. 1:11, Rom 8:28

Then what is the relationship between God & evil in world?

• God is clearly willing to let Satan exist, otherwise He would destroy him.
• If evil came though God and He did not want it…couldn’t more unintended evil come, & how could God use it for His purposes or triumph over it?

o   There is no reason to believe Satan is ever out of God's ultimate control.

The examples of God providentially using evil for His ultimate good purposes are numerous.

• Joseph, Job, Paul, the crucifixion…Gen 50:20, Job 1:10-12 & 21b, Acts 2:23, Luke 22:22; Act 4:27-28,
• God did not just watch evil events unfold with no design or purpose and then bring good out of them. i.e. cross.
• In a way not understood & not revealed to us, God caused them to make willing choices to do what they did.

God uses evil for His purposes but He never does evil, never takes pleasure in it or is to blame for it. Jam 1:13-14, Mt 18:7,

• If God Himself does evil, He is not good & righteous.

• Evil is not done by God but through secondary causes; humans and/or fallen angels who willingly choose to do evil & are then responsible for it.

Jonathan Edwards helped me understand how sin/obedience are brought forth in different ways.

• God brings about obedience by positive influence.
• The Holy Spirit enables us to do good & to walk in obedience.
• Sin arises from the withholding of His action.
• J. Edwards analogy: sun brings light and warmth by its nature, but doesn’t cause dark and cold by dropping below the horizon.
• Evil & sin come by God permitting man’s natural tendencies to reassert themselves temporarily.
• So blame for evil is always on the creature (man/demon) who does it & is thus worthy of punishment.

Whether God permits or causes a thing directly, He wills it because He allows it to happen or brings it about Himself.

• Therefore, all things that happen fall under God's providence.

God uses all things to fulfill His purposes, and even uses evil for His glory & our good.  Ps 76:10, Phil 1:12-14, Rom 9:17-23, Is 58:8

·      Somehow the glory of Jesus Christ is seen more magnificently in a world with Satan & evil than if Satan and evil was destroyed seconds after he first sinned.

o   The darker it is the brighter the light shines.

o   Also, God is glorified through the demonstration of His justice, holiness, and power. 

·      We may not always understand God’s ways or designs, but we can’t doubt His sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, wisdom, mercy, love & absolute reliability of His promises for future.