We Americans are storing up a lot of bad memories. I remember when the World Trade Center terrorism changed our lives significantly. Also when the Twin Towers went down. Islam may last for some time. I read many expressions of faith in God.
But I have heard one time too many that God is in control. In fact, one pastor made the following statement about my God. “What do we mean when we talk about the Sovereignty of God? In simplest terms, it means that God is in control, in the most absolute sense of the word control. In other words, the Sovereignty of God means that God is in control, causing everything - not just the good things that happen to us, but even the bad things - not just the weighty, significant things of life; but even the small, seemingly unimportant, insignificant things. God is in control causing everything that happens to accomplish His purpose and His plan. He is the Architect of the world and the universe and of our lives. Before this universe ever came to be, and before the details of our lives ever came into existence, those things already existed in minute detail in the Mind of God. That is God’s Sovereign Plan for all that is.”
I disagree with that pastor. I strongly disagree with his statement because this kind of theology is sending people to hell by stifling evangelism and turning people against God.
Well, then, Is God in control? Absolutely. But not as we may like. I believe the Bible shows us that in the end, God will bring about His purpose for this world.
2 Ti 1:9,10 God, has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before age times.
How was this grace given to us before age times?
God determined before the ages that Christ would have a body of believers who would be holy and blameless before Him.
We find in the 10th verse that this gracious gift was made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ when He died for us.
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
God then raised up Paul to make everyone see what this glorious message of unity was.
God had not revealed this universal blessing before He raised up the Apostle Paul.
Eph 3:8,9 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which has been hidden from the ages in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.
But what is His eternal purpose? Provision for our salvation.
That we would be justified out of Christ’s faithfulness when we believe.
Rom 3:21-28,30 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, unto all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through [His] faithfulness to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one out of the faith of Jesus. 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised out of faith and the uncircumcised through the faith.
Gal 2:16 is talking about the same thing, justification. Gal 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Another aspect of His eternal purpose was that our walk would be by faith.
Rom 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
If he eats when he doubts, he stands there condemned. This has nothing to do with his eternal life.
Col 2:6-7 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
What does He want us to do?
Rom 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Rom 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
In Christ,
Bob Hill
