Two Infallible Proofs that God Is Sovereign and Man Is Responsible

Some wrongly place the doctrine of an absolutely sovereign God in opposition to the idea that we are responsible for our actions. The Bible teaches us to believe both.

Abraham’s great-grandson Joseph was treated unjustly by his brothers – they sold him as a slave and deceived their father, Jacob, into thinking he was dead. He found himself as the chief servant of Potiphar, but then was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife (who had tried to seduce him) and landed in prison. In prison, Joseph met two of Pharoah’s servants, interpreted their dreams – one would die and one would be restored. The promise was made to remember Joseph before Pharoah, but forgotten for two years. Yet through all this, the Bible reminds us that the LORD was with Joseph (Gen. 39:2-3, 21, 23).

Finally, Pharoah dreamed two troubling dreams. Then the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph. God enabled Joseph to interpret Pharoah’s dreams, which told of a coming famine. Pharoah promoted Joseph to second-in-command and God used him to preserve Egypt through the famine. But God also used Joseph to keep His promise to Abraham to make his descendents like the number of the stars in the sky and the sand by the sea.

But what does this portion of the Bible teach about divine sovereignty and human responsibility? It is encapsulated in Joseph’s observation to his brothers:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Gen. 50:20 ESV)

Joseph’s brothers did wrong. They sinned. They meant evil. But God did not merely “allow” them to do this. It was part of His plan. They unknowingly were advancing the means of their own preservation. God “meant it for good.”

But the ultimate proof of the fact that God is sovereign and man is responsible is seen in the cross.

Notice the words of Peter:

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (Acts 2:22-23 ESV)

Also, notice the prayer offered two chapters later:

“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’-- for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:24-28 ESV)

The Scriptures are clear. God is sovereign and man is responsible. God predestined Jesus' death and yet it was wicked that He was crucified. How should we respond to these truths?

1. Have faith in God. This God is sovereign and He is good. And He always wins. Our opposition is futile, and God is always faithful. We must trust Him.
2. Take sin seriously. God’s sovereignty doesn’t negate the reality of sin. When we do wrong, it is still wrong, and we have this sovereign God to reckon with.
3. Hope in God. These passages about Joseph and Jesus teach that those who suffer for righteousness do so according to the plan of God. Evildoers unwittingly accomplish God’s sovereign purpose.
4. Marvel at the mystery of these two truths and praise God that He can take the wicked things we do and have had done to us and bring good out of them. The cross was the worst crime ever committed, from the standpoint of human responsibility. It was utterly reprehensible to treat the innocent Jesus in such a way. Yet it was God’s plan and out of the worst evil, He has brought the greatest good of glory for Himself and salvation for all who trust Him. Who else but God could do such a thing?

Chilling Words: "Peace and Security in My Days"

2 Kings 20 is a chilling passage of Scripture.

In that chapter, Hezekiah, King of Judah, was about to die, but he prayed and God extended his life fifteen years. Presents and an entourage came from Babylon, since the king of Babylon had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Hezekiah welcomed them and granted them a full tour of his house and realm, including the showing off of treasures. The prophet Isaiah asked Hezekiah what the men had said, where they had come from, and what they had seen. Hezekiah informed him, and then Isaiah prophesied that those things would one day be carried away to Babylon and that Hezekiah's own sons would be taken away and "be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon" (2 Kings 20:18 ESV). After this came the chilling words: "Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, 'The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.' For he thought, 'Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?'" (2 Kings 20:19 ESV)

That Hezekiah, who had demonstrated faithfulness to God and dependence on Him in chapters 18 and 19, could utter such callous words seems incredible. How could he be content for peace and security to be around in his days and not grieve at the coming trouble upon the nation and his own family? He reminds me of folks whose concern about social security is such that they are not concerned about the next generation, so long as things go well with them now. He reminds me of those who are glad for the measure of freedom still present in the United States of America but do not worry about threats that another generation may have to relinquish that freedom. He reminds me of some pastors who serve themselves while neglecting the training of future ministers and the needed ministry of the Word into individual lives because all they care about is themselves. He reminds me of myself when I become so consumed with my agenda that I lose sight of the fact that there are eternal investments I need to be making, and that I do need to care about the future, not just for myself, but forothers who will come after me.

May the Lord grant that we be those who do care about the future generation and live in a way that demonstrates that concern. Here is an incentive for unselfish living and the wise use of our time. Here is an incentive to speak out and work against evils such as the murder of the unborn. But ultimately, the next generation will only reap eternal benefits if they know the Gospel of Jesus Christ and respond to it in repentance and faith. So here is an incentive to be diligent in teaching spiritual truth and modeling it before our children. And here is an incentive to share the Gospel with the unconverted in the hopes that they will know peace and security, not necessarily in this life, but for eternal days in the next one.

A Surprising Incentive for Replacing Sin with Obedience - Others!

All sin is a failure to glorify God (Rom. 3:23). Instead of displaying God's supreme importance, it demonstrates that we would rather be in charge. Sin is so serious that Christ died on the cross to take the punishment of sinners who deserved God's judgment, so that all who trust in Him may be forgiven. Having received this forgiveness, one of the reasons we should hate sin is because it belittles the glory of God.

During our church's monthly men's theology discussion this month, we took on the topic of mortification of sin (killing sin in our lives). One of the men brought up passages that teach that we must not only get rid of sin but replace it with something positive. Another pointed out that there was no such thing as a private sin, that eventually our rebellion works its way out and demonstrates itself, and it has effects on others. This should be no surprise to us, but perhaps we need to be reminded. We are to love God supremely, and then to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40). The Ten Commandments themselves include instructions that explicitly have reference to our dealings with others (particularly the ones detailed in Exodus 20:12-17).

Our sin is inherently selfish, focusing on gratifying our own sinful desires. It does not regard the glory of God and it is dangerous to the true good of others. Perhaps that is why Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit exhorts his readers the way he does in Ephesians 4.

After reminding us to put off the old man (Eph. 4:22) and to put on the new man, Paul reminds us that this new man is created by God "in righteousness and true holiness." So, we are to be living for the glory of God. But notice what follows several of his instructions (I have added underling below):

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (v. 25 KJV)

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (v. 28 KJV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as it fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (v. 29, ESV)

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking [slander, ESV], be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (v. 32)

According to these passages, it is not enough merely to stop these sins. We must go a step further. It will not suffice to stop lying; we must speak the truth and do so because we belong to one another. It is not enough to stop stealing; rather, we ought to work hard so that we can share with others, desiring to be "givers" rather than "getters." Our speech should be more than harmless, it should be positively helpful to others. We must do more than shed malicious attitudes and talk, but should actively show kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness to others since God has forgiven us for Christ's sake.

One area in which we can readily see the relevance of this teaching is that of abortion. This is a sin that obviously harms others, in this case, an unborn child who is completely helpless. We remember that 35 years ago, Roe v. Wade legalized the murder of the unborn. We certainly should desire to see the day come that such an ungodly decision would be overturned. It should figure into our voting. But it is important that those of us who are anti-abortion are also truly pro-life. We should not merely be against abortionists and the decisions of those who choose abortions, but we should positively encourage and help young mothers and young mothers-to-be who are in need. One way of doing this is through donating money, goods, or time to a ministry such as abortion alternatives/crisis pregnancy centers. Another way is by befriending mothers who have unwanted, unexpected and even out-of-wedlock pregnancies, even in our local churches. If we have opportunity to interact with the men involved in such a situation, we should try show them that abortion is not the solution to their "problem." Instead, a man should be a responsible provider for the children he fathers. We certainly ought not to condone sin, but helping someone in need is not always the same as endorsing the actions that got them into that need. We must offer the forgiveness of Christ, who can forgive those who get pregnant outside of marriage as well as those who perform, encourage, or choose abortions. These people should know from our lips and lives the power of God to change a sinner from one who only cares about his or her self to one who truly loves God and others, and to help those who are trusting Him to continue in such a path. It is not enough to be against the killing of the unborn, but we must positively work from a perspective that views children and parenthood as gifts from God.

As we who are followers of Jesus continue to put to death the sin in our own lives, let us consider the danger we pose to others when we disobey God. The poor example others might follow, the harm we might inflict, and the good we neglect should be sober reminders of the ugliness and deceitfulness of sin. May God grant that we replace sinful attitudes and behaviors with mindsets and actions that seek to actively benefit others, so that God would be glorified in our lives and theirs.