God's Sovereign Control in Human Affairs and Salvation

The concept of God's sovereign control is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing God's absolute authority and power over all creation and human affairs. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty is defined as "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" ^[1]. This understanding is supported by various scriptures, including Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, 1 Timothy 6:15, and Revelation 4:11.

The doctrine of predestination is closely linked to God's sovereignty, suggesting that God's eternal and immutable purpose governs all events, including salvation ^[2]. The Greek word "predestinate" is used in several New Testament passages, such as Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29-30, and Ephesians 1:5, 11, indicating that God's plan of salvation is predetermined.

God's sovereignty extends to various aspects of human life, including the natural world, brute creation, and human affairs. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that God's providence "extends to the free actions of men" ^[4], citing examples such as Exodus 12:36 and 1 Samuel 24:9-15. This understanding is reinforced by Psalm 66:5, which encourages believers to "come and consider the works of God; he is awesome in his dealings with the children of humankind".

In the context of salvation, God's sovereignty is evident in the doctrine of election. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, there are different types of election, including the election of individuals to office, nations to special privileges, and individuals to eternal life ^[3]. The ground of this election to salvation is attributed to God's good pleasure, as stated in Ephesians 1:5, 11, and Matthew 11:25-26.

The apostle Paul's writings in Ephesians emphasize the significance of God's sovereignty in salvation. In Ephesians 1:10, it is written that God "sums up all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth" ^[5]. This passage highlights God's plan to unite all things under Christ's lordship. Furthermore, Ephesians 2:5 and 2:10 explain that believers are made alive with Christ and created anew in him to do good works, emphasizing that salvation is a result of God's sovereign power and grace ^{[6, 7]}.

one commentary tradition on Ephesians 5:20 notes that believers should give thanks to God the Father for all things, including adversities, as they are part of God's sovereign plan ^[8]. This perspective is echoed in Lamentations 5:19, which affirms God's perpetuity and rule over human affairs, providing hope for restoration despite temporary oppression ^[9].

The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke's commentary on Job 40:14, underscores the idea that salvation is a prerogative of God alone, requiring unlimited power and mercy ^[10]. This understanding is consistent with the Protestant academic interpretation of 1 Corinthians 1:31, which states that salvation is a result of God's sovereign power, leaving no room for human pride ^[11].

Sources

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).”
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”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Election of Grace — The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:5, 11; Matt. 11:25, 26; John 15”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
Ephesians “Ephesians 1:10 (NASB) — with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:20: thanks . . . for all things--even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Col 3:17; Th1 5:18). unto God and the Father--the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption. Lord Jesus Christ--by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Rom 8:35, Rom 8:37; Co1 3:20-23).”
Lamentations (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Lamentations 5:19: (Psa 102:12). The perpetuity of God's rule over human affairs, however He may seem to let His people be oppressed for a time, is their ground of hope of restoration.”
Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 40:14: Thine own right hand can save thee - It is the prerogative of God alone to save the human soul. Nothing less than unlimited power, exerted under the direction and impulse of unbounded mercy, can save a sinner. This is most clearly asserted in this speech of Jehovah: When thou canst extend an arm like God, i.e., an uncontrollable power - when thou canst arm thyself with the lightning of heaven, and thunder with a voice like God - when thou canst deck thyself with the ineffable glory, beauty, and splendor of the supreme majesty of Jehovah - when thou canst dispense thy ”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 1:31: 1:31 This quotation is a paraphrase of Jer 9:24 (cp. 2 Cor 10:17). Because salvation is a result of God’s sovereign power (1 Cor 2:5) and his decision to save his people, there is absolutely no room for human pride (see 1:29).”

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