God's Sovereign Control over Human Decisions in Theology
God's Sovereign Control over Human Decisions
The concept of God's sovereign control over human decisions is rooted in biblical teachings that emphasize God's absolute authority and power over all creation. According to Daniel 4:35, God "does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth" [4]. This understanding is reinforced by various biblical passages that highlight God's sovereignty in governing human affairs.
The decrees of God are described as "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition" [1]. This definition underscores the comprehensive nature of God's sovereignty, encompassing all events and decisions.
In the context of human decisions, God's sovereignty is often associated with the doctrine of predestination. The term "predestination" refers specifically to God's plan or purpose of salvation, as seen in passages like Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5, 11 [3]. According to John Gill, predestination is part of God's "eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree" that governs all events, including human decisions [5].
The Bible also emphasizes God's justice in exercising his sovereignty. The "justice of God" is described as "that perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does" [2]. This justice is not arbitrary but is an inherent aspect of God's nature, guiding his legislative and distributive justice.
Different traditions interpret the extent and implications of God's sovereignty over human decisions. For instance, the Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, emphasizes the unconditional nature of God's decrees and the sovereignty of God in salvation [5, 6]. In contrast, other traditions may focus on the balance between God's sovereignty and human responsibility.
The Psalms frequently affirm God's sovereignty over creation and human affairs. Psalm 135:6 states, "Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and in earth" [7]. Similarly, Psalm 115:3 notes that God "does whatever he pleases" [8]. These passages reinforce the idea that God's sovereignty is not limited by human decisions or actions.
The biblical account also highlights the relationship between God's sovereignty and human accountability. According to Matthew Henry, God's commandments to humanity, such as those given in Genesis 2:16, demonstrate his authority over humans as rational and free beings [9]. This authority is exercised in conjunction with God's sovereignty, underscoring the complex interplay between divine control and human responsibility.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justice of God — That perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law. His rectoral or distributive justice is his dealing with his accountable creatures according”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- Daniel “Daniel 4:17 (LEB) — The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decision by the command of the holy ones, ⌞in order that⌟ the living will know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and ⌞to whomever⌟ he wills he gives it, and he even sets the humblest of men over it.””
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 2:2: But we are sure that the judgment of God,.... By "the judgment of God", is not meant what is exercised on and towards men in this life, but what will follow after death; which is called judgment to come, is represented as certain, will be universal as to persons and things, and is here called "the judgment of God", in opposition to the judgment of men; and because it will be carried on by God only, who is omniscient and omnipotent, and will be definitive: this is and will be, according to truth, against them which commit such things; in opposition to all hypocrisy an”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 14:2: The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men,.... As he did when all flesh had corrupted its way, and before he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly, Gen 6:12. This is said in direct opposition to the atheistic thoughts and reasonings of wicked men, in Psa 14:1. There is a God, and he takes notice of the children of men, and of what is done by them; though his throne is in the heavens, and his dwelling there, yet he looks down from thence, and takes cognizance of all human affairs. This must be understood consistent with the omniscience and omnip”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 135:6: 135:6 God is sovereign over the whole created order—he does whatever pleases him him. • The phrase heaven and earth refers to all of creation.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 115:2: 115:2-3 Where is their God? People deny God’s presence or power when he does not act as they think he should (cp. 14:1; 42:3, 10). However, God is in the heavens—he has all power, authority, and knowledge. He does as he wishes, not what people think he should do. He works out his plans in accord with his will (Eph 1:11) and acts in his own time and in ways he chooses.”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 2:16: Observe here, I. God's authority over man, as a creature that had reason and freedom of will. The Lord God commanded the man, who stood now as a public person, the father and representative of all mankind, to receive law, as he had lately received a nature, for himself and all his. God commanded all the creatures, according to their capacity; the settled course of nature is a law, Psa 148:6; Psa 104:9. The brute-creatures have their respective instincts; but man was made capable of performing reasonable service, and therefore received, not only the command of a C”