by David R. Heesen
| 2. The Testimony of Scripture |
In chapter 1 we gave numerous examples of how the doctrine of God's sovereignty has fallen into bad times. You'll remember how it was shown to be (1) redefined, (2) apologized for, (3) skirted, (4) missing, (5) misunderstood, and (6) just plain hated. Modern Christendom would—if it could—throw God out, like the proverbial babe, with the bathwater.
The obvious conclusion to the matter would be that instead of being Bible doctrines, the doctrines of God's sovereignty are dangerous heresy. One would think so, except for an indisputable testimony, the testimony of scripture.
Before we get into what God has to say about his own sovereignty, I feel it necessary to confess that I am quite partial to this area of theology. I suppose it is because of the eleven years which I spent blinded to these truths and yet holding a profession of Christianity. I cannot say that God's sovereignty was not preached to me during this period. But the general impression which I had of the God of the universe—given to me by the "brand" of Christianity which I experienced—the general impression was of a God who was trying, and indeed trying very hard, to save mankind. And it was obvious that He was not succeeding very well. The late editor of the BAPTIST BIBLE TRIBUNE, summed it up pretty well with the statement he made in the late `50s: "Hell is the ghastly monument to the failure of God to save mankind." It was reported that he qualified that statement later on, but nevertheless it presents the thrust of modern-day evangelical theology in a nutshell. What God says about all this is contrary to the modern notion, as we shall see.
The sovereignty, yea, the very existence of God is neither proven or defended in scripture, but rather, presupposed. This presupposition is not the weakness of the Bible, but the very essence of its strength and truth.
To quote from the little pamphlet, "God's Indisputable Sovereignty":[This booklet is enscribed: Star Route, Box 11, Alden, NY 14004. A letter sent to this address was "returned to sender." We have since received another booklet of the same title, very similar in content, inscribed "by I.C. Herendeen," distributed by Chapel Library, 2603 West Wright St., Pensacola, FL 32505]
The subject of "God's Sovereignty" is a matter concerning which we should humble ourselves. It is a profound, deep and humbling truth. No doctrine exalts or magnifies God and the finished work of Christ as that of "God's Sovereignty". And why, may we ask, should it not be reasonable to believe that God "worketh ALL things after the Counsel of HIS OWN will" (Ephesians 1:11) and not after the will of His creatures?
The only reason anyone believes in the absolute universal sovereignty of God is because it is revealed in the Bible. No other book in the world discloses this unqualified truth. Why this should be so is simple. The Book called the Bible is distinctly and exclusively the Word and Work of God. All other books are more or less the words and works of men. And further: the cause of anyone's faith in the unmodified "sovereignty of God" as revealed in the Bible is that it is DIVINELY GIVEN unto them to believe it. That is, the gracious sovereignty of God makes them able and willing to believe it (John 3:27).
In view of the reality that this truth is most distinctly and most certainly set forth throughout the Bible: the fact that men, religious or irreligious, oppose and seek to distort it to suit their feelings and fancies, is one of the best testimonies to the truth of this doctrine, though they mean it not so. This glorious "sovereignty of God" which they so spleen against has not as yet condescended to give them that grace which is needed to humble their pride and make them willing and able to heartily believe "that which is written" . . .
Most of the verses that follow are listed in this booklet, "God's Indisputable Sovereignty." This booklet has proven to be an eye- opener for many people. One man of my acquaintance had the usual concept of God's sovereignty—which is very little of none at all--and he did not understand the importance of it. He sat down with this booklet and his Bible and looked the verses up and studied the contexts involved. God used that little session to change this man's life. Gone was the presumptuous, assured attitude of "holy ease." His "easy-believe" methods vanished, too. It was as if his eyes were opened—and of course his spiritual eyes were.
[WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VERSES ARE FATAL FOR THE HAUGHTY, SELF- ASSERTING, FREE-WILLING HEART ATTITUDE. THEY GIVE ARROGANCE ITS PROPER FUNERAL. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THE BRAIN, BUT FOR THE HEART. THE BRAIN CANNOT HANDLE TRUTH AS GREAT AS THIS, AND ONLY GOD CAN GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH WHICH CAN BEGIN TO APPROPRIATE THESE TRUTHS. DO NOT SPEED-READ THEM. DO NOT MERELY READ THEM AT ALL. MEDITATE ON THEM.
READ THEM IN CONTEXT. IF YOU THINK THEY ARE A STRONG POTION BY THEMSELVES, TRY THEM IN CONTEXTUAL MIXTURE. YOU WILL FIND THEM AN EVEN STRONGER REVELATION OF THE GOD IN WHOM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING. IF YOU FIND THAT THIS ALL LEAVES YOU AS HELPLESS BEGGAR BEFORE AN OMNIPOTENT, SOVEREIGN GOD . . . IF YOU FIND THIS LEADS YOU TO DESPAIR, LET ME SAY THAT DESPAIRING OF SELF IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU MUST BE LED BEFORE YOU WILL EVER BE ABLE TO TRUST IN GOD.
JESUS SAID, "STRIVE TO ENTER AT THE STRAIT GATE." STRIVE. NEVER GIVE UP UNTIL CHRIST IS YOURS AS SAVIOR AND LORD.]
Isaiah 40:13-14. "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?" Isaiah 14:27. "For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"
Psalm 115:3. "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."
Job 38:4. "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding." Romans 9:20b-21. ". . . Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"
Key word: CHOSEN
Selected from a number, picked out, elect, choice—Webster.
Matthew 20:15. "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?" ". . . for many be called but few chosen" (Matthew 22:14).
Mark 13:20. ". . . but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days" (verses 22, 27).
John 15:16. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you . . ." (verse 19).
Acts 9:15. "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me . . ."
Acts 22:14. "And he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee
. . ."
Acts 10:41. "Not to all people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us . . ."
1 Corinthians 1:27. "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the word . . ." (verses 26, 28) (speaking of the elect—Matthew 11: 25).
2 Thessalonians 2:13. "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation . . ." (One of the greatest reasons a true Christian has for praising God).
Ephesians 1:4. "According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world . . ." (Read the whole chapter).
1 Peter 2:9. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [or purchased] people . . ."
James 2:5. ". . . Hath not God chosen the poor of this world . . ."
(1 Kings 3:8, Psalm 89:3, 105:6, 106:5, etc.).
Revelation 17:14. ". . . and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (verse 8) (chapter 19:9).
Psalm 33:12. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."
John 13:18. "I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen" (Romans 16:13).
Deuteronomy 7:6. "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Isaiah 43:20).
Key word: ELECT
To determine in favor of, to designate, choose or select as an object of mercy or favor, predestinated in the divine councils, one chosen or set apart, one chosen or designated by God for salvation, collectively, the saved (Webster) . . . "This election is an act of distinguishing love, of divine sovereignty, eternal, absolute and irrevocable, personal" (Cruden).
Matthew 24:22. . . . but "for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (verse 24).
Matthew 24:31. "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds . . ."
Luke 18:7. "And shall not God avenge his own elect . . ."
Romans 8:33. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? . . ." (Colossians 3:12).
2 Timothy 2:10. . . . "therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (Speaking of the elect that have not yet believed).
Titus 1:1. "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect . . ."
1 Peter 1:2. "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father . . ." (2 John 13).
Isaiah 45:4. "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name. I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me."
Isaiah 65:9. "And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there" (verse 22).
2 John 13. "The elder unto the elect lady and her children."
Key word: ELECTION
DIVINE CHOICE, predetermination of God, by which persons are distinguished as objects of mercy, become subjects of grace, are sanctified and prepared for heaven, the elect (Webster).
Romans 9:11. "For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth" (God speaking of his love for Jacob and his hate for Esau even before they were born—verse 13).
Romans 11:5. "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Romans 9:27).
Romans 11:7. "What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded" (Romans 11:28).
1 Thessalonians 1:4. "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of
God."
2 Peter 1:10. "Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure . . ."
Romans 11:28. ". . . but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sake" (verse 29; Ephesians 1:9).
Key word: CALLED
To designate or characterize as, to affirm to be (Webster).
Key word: CALLING
Divine summons, state of being divinely called; call (Webster).
Romans 1:6. "Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ" (verses 5, 7).
Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (verse 30).
1 Corinthians 1:24. "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (verses 9, 26, 27; Colossians 3:15).
1 Timothy 6:12. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called . . ."
Galatians 1:15,16. "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me . . ." (Not until it pleases God are any awakened and saved—
Acts 13:2).
1 Peter 5:10. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, . . ."
Acts 2:39. "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
1 Thessalonians 2:12. "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (4:7).
Hebrews 9:15. ". . . they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Revelation 17:14; Jude 1; 2 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:15; Galatians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:26).
2 Timothy 1:9. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
Ephesians 4:4. "There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling" (verse 1).
2 Thessalonians 1:11. "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling . . ." (Hebrews 3:1; Ephesians 1:18).
Key word: APPOINTED
To fix, to settle, to establish or fix by decree or decision (Webster).
1 Peter 2:8. "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed."
1 Thessalonians 5:9. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 3:3; Acts 22:10; Psalm 79:11).
Job 14:5. "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass" (23:14).
Acts 17:26. "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation."
Proverbs 31:8. "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction."
1 Kings 20:42. ". . . Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, . . ."
Key word: ORDAINED
To decree, to appoint, to arrange, to prepare (Webster).
Jude 4. "For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation . . ."
Acts 13:48. ". . . And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
Ephesians 2:10. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (1:4).
Habakkuk 1:12. "Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou has established them for correction" (Romans 13:1; 1 Corinthians 2:7).
Key word (thought): PREDESTINATED or PREDESTINATION
The decree of God by which He has, from eternity unchangeably, appointed or determined whatever comes to pass. It is used particularly to denote the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery and is a part of the unchangeable plan of the Divine government; in other words, the unchangeable purpose of an unchangeable God (Webster).
Romans 8:29,30. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: . . ."
Ephesians 1:5. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Ephesians 1:11. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Isaiah 46:9,10). John 6:37. "All the Father giveth me shall come to me . . ." (verse 39).
John 6:44. "No man can come to me, except the father which hath sent me draw him . . ." (verses 64, 65).
John 3:27. ". . . A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven."
John 10:26. "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep . . ." (verses 27, 28, 29).
John 10:16. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice . . ." (Christ had a definite work to do, and thus a definite number to die for).
Acts 18:10. "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."
John 11:52. "And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."
John 17:6. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: . . ."
John 17:2. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him" (rather definite is it not?).
Jeremiah 1:5. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee . . ." (Matthew 7:23, "never knew you"!).
Galatians 4:28. "Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise" (Romans 9:8).
Romans 4:16. "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; . . ."
Isaiah 53:10. ". . . When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, . . ." (Who are his seed? See Genesis 3:15). Webster says that sovereign means "supreme in power, independent of and unlimited by any other." Who can we attribute this to but God? Surely His Word we have been considering, and what is yet to follow, indisputably shows God as sovereign, not only in salvation but in all things and in all His ways.
Romans 9:22. "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction."
Romans 9:13. "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (verse 11).
Romans 9:21. "Hath not the potter power over the clay; of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" (Isaiah 45:9).
Isaiah 64:8. "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
Isaiah 45:9. "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker . . . Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What maketh thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?"
Isaiah 43:7. "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him" (verse 21).
Isaiah 45:7. "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things" (verse 12).
Jeremiah 27:5. "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me."
Psalm 100:3. "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; . . ."
Psalm 33:11. "The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations" (verse 12; Acts 4:27,28).
Luke 4:25-29. (Note in verses 26 and 27, "unto none of them", etc. Have we not a glimpse of God's sovereignty in these verses, in doing according as He wills? Note verses 28 and 29; the same thing happens today when God's sovereignty is preached).
John 12:39,40. "Therefore they could not believe, . . . He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts; . . ."
Romans 11:8. "(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear); unto this day" (verse 7).
Matthew 11:25. ". . . I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes" (Luke 10: 21,22).
Matthew 11:27. ". . . neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him."
John 9:39. "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."
Romans 9:18. "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth" (verse 15).
Proverbs 16:4. "The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil" (Romans 9:22; Job 21:30).
Romans 9:23,24. "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us whom he has called . . ." (verse 29).
Matthew 19:25,26. ". . . Who then can be saved? . . . With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:26, 27; Luke 18:26, 27).
Romans 9:16. "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
Luke 1:17. ". . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (What does this mean? When were they prepared? Look again at Ephesians 1:4).
Matthew 15:13. "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (solemn thought this, Matthew 16:17).
2 Peter 2:12. "But these as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, . . ." (contrast 1:3).
2 Thessalonians 2:11,12. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned, . . ." (Is God changeable? James 1:17: Are not God's decrees all made in eternity and, like God himself, unchangeable? Malachi 3:6: God loves from eternity and He hates from eternity. "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him" Ecclesiastes 3:14).
Hebrews 2:13. ". . . And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me." (If God had given all without exception to Christ, then all must or will be saved. Read again John 6:27, etc.; John 10:29).
Philippians 1:29. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."
Colossians 1:12. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."
Hebrews 2:10. "For it became him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory . . ."
Hebrews 6:17. "Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, . . ."
Ephesians 3:11. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
Romans 9:20. "Nay but O man who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" (Are not our mouths stopped at His word?) (Isaiah 29:16).
Ephesians 2:8. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Matthew 20:23. ". . . but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."
Matthew 16:17. ". . . for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
Mark 10:26,27. ". . . Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
James 1:17. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Isaiah 14:24. "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand" (verse 27).
Isaiah 43:21. "This people have I formed for myself; . . ." (verses 1, 13; 8:18).
Isaiah 44:24. "Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; . . ." (verses 1, 2, 18).
* * * * * * *
What should our response be to all this evidence? We can argue with the hyper-Calvinist, we can argue with John Calvin, we can argue with Augustine of Hippo, we can argue with John Gill, with Charles Spurgeon, with John Owen, with Bishop Ryle, with Charles Hodge, with Jonathan Edwards, with Mr. Warfield, Mr. Newton, Mr. Bunyan, Mr. Brainerd, Mr. Dabney, Mr. Boettner, Mr. Zancchius, Mr. Packer, Mr. Nettleton—we can argue with all of these men, BUT CAN WE ARGUE WITH GOD?
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