Submission to God's Sovereign Plan in Scripture

Submission to God's sovereign plan is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing humanity's role in acknowledging and aligning with divine will. This concept involves a deep trust in God's overarching purposes, even when those purposes are difficult to comprehend or accept ^[1].

The Bible presents numerous examples and commands regarding submission to God's will. Jesus Christ himself serves as the ultimate example, demonstrating resignation to the Father's plan in moments of profound distress, such as in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39-44) ^[1]. Similarly, believers are commanded to exhibit submission, as seen in passages like Psalm 37:7 and 46:10, which encourage quiet trust and acknowledgment of God's control ^[1]. This submission extends to various aspects of life, including the prospect of death (Acts 21:13), the loss of possessions (Job 1:15, 21), the death of children (Job 1:18, 21), and enduring chastisements (Hebrews 12:9) ^[1].

A core aspect of God's sovereignty is His "determinate purpose" or predestination, which governs all events ^[3]. While this doctrine can be complex and belongs to the "secret things" of God, the revealed word of God guides understanding ^[3]. The coexistence of God's sovereignty and human responsibility is affirmed in Scripture; for instance, Jesus foreknew his betrayal as part of the divine plan, yet Judas was still condemned for his actions (Mark 14:21, John 19:11) ^[6]. This highlights that God's plan does not negate human accountability.

Submission to God's plan is intrinsically linked with obedience to His commands. Obedience to God is commanded throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 13:4) and is impossible without faith (Hebrews 11:6) ^[4]. This includes obeying His voice, His law, Christ, and the Gospel, as well as keeping His commandments ^[4]. Matthew Henry notes that surrendering oneself to God is the "spring of all duty and obedience" (Romans 12:1) ^[8]. This surrender involves presenting both body and soul to God ^[8].

The concept of doing God's will encompasses repentance from sin, faith in God, and following Jesus (Mark 3:35) ^[7]. It is also expressed through prayer, which is commanded (Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 7:7) and directed to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit ^[2]. Prayer is a means of communicating with God, described as bowing the knees, lifting up the soul, and pouring out the heart ^[2].

Submission also involves acknowledging God's authority over earthly powers. Romans 13:1-2 instructs believers to submit to governing authorities, recognizing that these authorities are established by God ^[5]. However, this submission is always subordinate to ultimate submission to God (Acts 4:19-20) ^[5].

The Psalms frequently emphasize the importance of acknowledging God's strength and dominion. Psalm 68:34 calls for ascribing strength to God, recognizing Him as the mighty God and attributing works of power to Him ^[10]. Psalm 2 speaks of the Lord's appointment of a king who will bring all nations into submission or destruction, with the New Testament identifying Jesus as this descendant (Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5) ^[9].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 13:1: 13:1-2 The basic command of 13:1-7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, we answer to those in positions of authority. Our submission to them will usually take the form of obedience. However, because God stands over all governments, our submission to governing authorities must always be in terms of our ultimate submission to God (see Acts 4:19-20). The Roman Christians might have been resisting government (see study note on Rom 13:6) based on a false understanding of the Good News, as if no longer copying “the behavior and customs ”
Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 14:21: 14:21 must die, as the Scriptures declared: See, e.g., Isa 52:13–53:12. Jesus foreknew this betrayal as part of the divine plan (cp. 8:31-33), but his betrayer was condemned. Jesus and the Gospel writers do not explain how God’s sovereignty and Judas’s human responsibility can coexist, but both are stated without compromise (see John 19:11).”
Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 3:35: 3:35 Doing God’s will includes repentance from sin, faith in God, and following Jesus (1:15, 18, 20).”
Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 12:1: We may observe here, according to the scheme mentioned in the contents, the apostle's exhortations, I. Concerning our duty to God, We see what is godliness. 1. It is to surrender ourselves to God, and so to lay a good foundation. We must first give our own selves unto the Lord, Co2 8:5. This is here pressed as the spring of all duty and obedience, Rom 12:1, Rom 12:2. Man consists of body and soul, Gen 2:7; Ecc 12:7. (1.) The body must be presented to him, Rom 12:1. The body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body, Co1 6:13, Co1 6:14. The exhortation is here int”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 2:1: Ps 2 This royal psalm pertains to the Lord’s appointment of a king descended from David. It celebrates the mission of all the kings in David’s line, and it introduces the hope of an ideal ruler who will accomplish the Lord’s goal of bringing all nations into submission (2:11) or to destruction (2:9). The New Testament identifies Jesus as this descendant (see Acts 13:33; 1 Cor 15:25-27; Heb 1:5; 5:5; Rev 19:15). 2:1-3 Their futile paths lead to death (1:4, 6), but fallen human beings unite in opposing the true God and his Messiah. 2:1 plans: The Hebrew verb rendered”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 68:34: Ascribe ye strength unto God,.... The Messiah; by asserting him to be the mighty God, even the Almighty; by attributing works of strength and power to him: such as the creation of all things; upholding all things in their being; the redemption and preservation of his people; the resurrection of the dead, &c. by applying to him, and exercising faith on him for spiritual strength, and giving him the glory of it: so the Targum, "give the glory of strength to God.'' Moreover, this may be understood of ascribing dominion and power to him by the kingdoms of the earth, ”

Ask Your Own Question