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Submission to God's Sovereign Will in Christian Theology

Submission to God's sovereign will is a core tenet in Christian thought, emphasizing the believer's acknowledgment of God's absolute authority and purpose [4]. This submission involves aligning one's life with divine commands and accepting God's providential dealings, even in challenging circumstances [1].

The concept of God's sovereignty underpins this submission. God's sovereignty refers to his absolute right to act according to his own pleasure, as seen in passages like Daniel 4:25, 35 and Romans 9:15-23 [4]. This divine prerogative extends to all events, including his plan for salvation, which is often discussed in terms of predestination or election [7]. While the doctrine of predestination presents complexities, it highlights God's eternal and immutable purpose governing all things [7].

Biblical examples illustrate this submission. Christ himself set an example by submitting to the Father's will, particularly in the face of suffering and death (Matthew 26:39-44; John 12:27; 18:11) [1]. Believers are commanded to exhibit similar resignation, as exhorted in Psalms 37:7 and 46:10, and to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10) [1]. This includes submission to God's purposes, as articulated in Romans 9:20-21 [1].

Submission is not merely passive acceptance but an active orientation of one's life. It involves "throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) [2, 8]. This implies a conscious effort to conform one's mind and actions to Christ's teachings. Doing God's will encompasses repentance from sin, faith in God, and following Jesus [10].

The scope of submission extends to various aspects of life:

The motivation for submission stems from God's character, particularly his love. God's love is described as sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting [3]. It is not based on human merit but is freely given to perishing sinners, saints, and the destitute [3]. This understanding of God's benevolent character provides a foundation for trusting and submitting to his will.

Adam Clarke, commenting on James 4:7, emphasizes that submission to God involves continually bowing to his decisions and dispensations [13]. This active submission is contrasted with resisting the devil, who cannot conquer those who continue to resist him in the name of Jesus [13].

Submission to God's will is also evident in practices like baptism, which Christ sanctioned through his own submission (Matthew 3:13-15; Luke 3:21) [5]. For those being baptized, it signifies a public profession of Christianity and an acknowledgment of Christ as Savior and Sovereign [12]. The concept of a "free-will offering" (Leviticus 22:23; Ezra 3:5) further illustrates a voluntary act of devotion, distinct from offerings made due to vows or expiation of sin [6].

Sources

  1. 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:”
  2. 2 Corinthians “throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; -- 2 Corinthians 10:5”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Baptism — As administered by John -- Mt 3:5-12; Joh 3:23; Ac 13:24; 19:4. Sanctioned by Christ's submission to it -- Mt 3:13-15; Lu 3:21. Adopted by Christ -- Joh 3:22; 4:1,2. Appointed an ordinance of the Christian church -- Mt 28:19,20; Mr 16:15,16. To be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- Mt 28:19. Water, the outward and visible sign in -- Ac 8:36; 10:47. Regeneration, the inward and spiritual grace of -- Joh 3:3,5,6; Ro 6:3,4,11. Remission of sins, signified by -- Ac 2:38; 22:16. Unity of the Church effected by -- 1Co 12:13; Ga 3:27,2”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Free-will offering — A spontaneous gift (Ex. 35:29), a voluntary sacrifice (Lev. 22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in expiation of some offence.”
  7. 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”
  8. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 10:5 (Darby) — overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the knowledge ofGod, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ;”
  9. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:19: Submitting yourselves one to another,.... Which may be understood either in a political sense, of giving honour, obedience, and tribute, to civil magistrates, since they are set up by God for the good of men, and it is for the credit of religion for the saints to submit to them; or in an economical sense; thus the wife should be subject to the husband, children to their parents, and servants to their masters, which several things are afterwards insisted on, as explanative of this rule; or in an ecclesiastic sense, so the Ethiopic version renders it, "subject yourse”
  10. 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).”
  11. 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 ”
  12. Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 10:48: To be baptized in the name of the Lord - That is, in the name of Jesus Christ; which implied their taking upon them the public profession of Christianity, and believing on Christ Jesus as their Savior and Sovereign; for, as they were baptized in his name, they professed thereby to be his disciples and followers. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days - They felt the necessity of farther instruction, and prayed him to continue his ministry a little longer among them; and to this he no doubt consented. This was properly speaking, the commencement of the Christian C”
  13. James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 4:7: Submit - to God - Continue to bow to all his decisions, and to all his dispensations. Resist the devil - He cannot conquer you if you continue to resist. Strong as he is, God never permits him to conquer the man who continues to resist him; he cannot force the human will. He who, in the terrible name of Jesus, opposes even the devil himself, is sure to have a speedy and glorious conquest. He flees from that name, and from his conquering blood.”
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