Submission to God's Sovereign Purposes in Life
Submission to God's Sovereign Purposes in Life
Submission to God's sovereign purposes is a fundamental aspect of Christian living, rooted in the understanding that God is sovereign over all aspects of life. The biblical basis for this concept is found in various passages that emphasize the importance of aligning one's life with God's will. For instance, I Peter 4:2 encourages believers to live according to God's purpose rather than human desires [1]. Similarly, I Thessalonians 2:12 exhorts believers to live in a manner worthy of God, who has called them into his kingdom and glory [3].
The concept of submission to God's sovereign purposes is closely tied to the idea of God's decrees, which are described as "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be" [8]. This understanding of God's sovereignty underscores the importance of trusting in His plan and submitting to His will. As expressed in Psalms 50:14, believers are called to "sacrifice to God confession" and fulfill their vows to the Most High, demonstrating a life of obedience and submission [2].
In the New Testament, Luke 1:75 highlights the importance of serving God in holiness and righteousness, indicating a life dedicated to God's purposes [4]. Romans 13:1 further emphasizes the need for submission, instructing believers to be subject to governing authorities, as they are ordained by God [5]. This theme of submission is echoed in various Christian traditions. For example, the Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the importance of living a life of communion with God, with a continual regard for God's precepts [10].
The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as seen in Adam Clarke's commentary on Romans 13:1, underscores that submission to higher powers is a divine mandate, essential for the peace of the world. This perspective is shared by the Eastern Orthodox tradition, with John Chrysostom interpreting Romans 13:1 as a call to orderly conduct under the laws introduced by Christ, promoting the better ordering of society [11].
The Protestant academic tradition highlights the significance of seeking God's kingdom and submitting to His authority, as noted in the Tyndale House commentary on Luke 12:31 [9]. This involves adopting God's value system and pursuing His purpose in the world. The Presbyterian tradition, represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, emphasizes the transformation that occurs through the renewing of the mind, enabling believers to discern God's will and live accordingly [12].
In practical terms, submission to God's sovereign purposes involves living a life characterized by holiness and obedience. As Easton's Bible Dictionary notes, personal holiness is a work of gradual development, requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance [7]. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights the role of prayer in aligning one's life with God's will, emphasizing that prayer is commanded by God and is a means of expressing dependence on Him [6].
Sources
- I Peter “I Peter 4:2 (BBE) — So that you may give the rest of your lives in the flesh, not to the desires of men, but to the purpose of God.”
- Psalms “Psalms 50:14 (YLT) — Sacrifice to God confession, And complete to the Most High thy vows.”
- I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 2:12 (BBE) — So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.”
- Luke “Luke 1:75 (YLT) — To serve Him, in holiness and righteousness Before Him, all the days of our life.”
- Romans “Romans 13:1 (KJV) — Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
- 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: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- 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”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:31: 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God: Adopt God’s value system, pursue his purpose in the world, and submit to his authority.”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: 511 Homily XXIII. Rom. XIII. 1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” Of this subject he makes much account in other epistles also, setting subjects under their rulers as household servants are under their masters. And this he does to show that it was not for the subversion of the commonwealth that Christ introduced His laws, but for the better ordering of it, and to teach men not to be taking up unnecessary and unprofitable wars. For the plots that are formed against us for the truth’s sake are sufficient and we have no need to be addin”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 12:2: And be ye not conformed to this world--Compare Eph 2:2; Gal 1:4, Greek. but be ye transformed--or, "transfigured" (as in Mat 17:2; and Co2 3:18, Greek). by the renewing of your mind--not by a mere outward disconformity to the ungodly world, many of whose actions in themselves may be virtuous and praiseworthy; but by such an inward spiritual transformation as makes the whole life new--new in its motives and ends, even where the actions differ in nothing from those of the world--new, considered as a whole, and in such a sense as to be wholly unattain”