The Sovereignty of God, CONCLUSION

"Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!" Revelation 19:6

In our Foreword to the second edition, we acknowledge the need for preserving the balance of Truth. Two things are beyond dispute: God is sovereign, man is responsible. In this book we have sought to expound the former; in our other works we have frequently pressed the latter. That there is real danger of over-emphasizing the one, and ignoring the other—we readily admit; yes, history furnishes numerous examples of cases of each. To emphasize the sovereignty of God, without also maintaining the accountability of the creature tends to fatalism! To be so concerned in maintaining the responsibility of man, as to lose sight of the sovereignty of God, is to exalt the creature and dishonor the Creator!

Almost all doctrinal error is, really—Truth perverted, Truth wrongly divided, Truth disproportionately held and taught. The fairest face on earth, with the most lovely features, would soon become ugly and unsightly—if one member continued growing while the others remained undeveloped. Beauty is, primarily, a matter of proportion. Thus it is with the Word of God—its beauty and blessedness are best perceived when its manifold wisdom is exhibited in its true proportions. Here is where so many have failed in the past. A single phase of God's Truth has so impressed this man or that man, that he has concentrated his attention upon it, almost to the exclusion of everything else. Some portion of God's Word has been made a "pet doctrine", and often this has become the distinctive badge of some party. But it is the duty of each servant of God to "declare all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).

It is true that the degenerate days in which our lot is cast, when on every side man is exalted, and "superman" has become a common expression, there is real need for a special emphasis upon the glorious fact of God's supremacy. The more so where this is expressly denied. Yet even here much wisdom is required, lest our zeal should not be according to knowledge." The words "food in due season" should ever be before the servant of God. What is needed, primarily, by one congregation, may not be specifically needed by another. If called to labor where Arminian preachers have preceded, then the neglected truth of God's sovereignty should be expounded—though with caution and care, lest too much "strong meat" be given to "babes". The example of Christ in John 16:12, "I have many things yet to say unto you—but you cannot hear them now", must be borne in mind. On the other hand, if I am called to take charge of a distinctly Calvinistic pulpit, then the truth of human responsibility (in its many aspects) may be profitably set forth. What the preacher needs to give out is not what his people most like to hear—but what they most need, that is those aspects of truth they are least familiar with, or least exhibiting in their walk.

To carry into actual practice what we have inculcated above will, most probably, lay the preacher open to the charge of being a turncoat. But what does that matter—if he has his Master's approval? He is not called upon to be "consistent" with himself, nor with any rules drawn up by man; his business is to be consistent with Holy Writ. And in Scripture each part or aspect of truth is balanced by another aspect of truth. There are two sides to everything, even to the character of God, for He is "light" (1 John 1:5) as well as "love" (1 John 4:8), and therefore are we called upon to "Behold, therefore the goodness and severity of God" (Romans 11:22). To be all the time preaching on the one to the exclusion of the other, caricatures the Divine character.

When the Son of God became incarnate, He came here in "the form of a servant" (Phil. 2:6); nevertheless, in the manger He was "Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11)! All things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26)—yet God "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). Scripture says, "Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2); yet the same chapter insists "every man shall bear his own burden" (Galatians 6:5). We are enjoined to take "no anxious thought for the morrow" (Matthew 6:34); yet "if any does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1 Timothy 5:8). No sheep of Christ's can perish (John 10:28, 29); yet the Christian is bidden to make his "calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). And so we might go on multiplying illustrations. These things are not contradictions, but complementaries: the one "balances the other". Thus, the Scriptures set forth both the sovereignty of God—and the responsibility of man. So too should every servant of God, and that, in their proper proportions.

But we return now to a few closing reflections upon our present theme. "O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You!" (2 Chron. 20:5, 6). Yes, the Lord is God, ruling over all the kingdoms of men, ruling in supreme majesty and might. Yet in our day, a day of boasted enlightenment and progress, this is denied on every hand. A materialistic science and an atheistic philosophy have bowed God out of His own world, and everything is regulated, forsooth, by (impersonal) laws of nature. So in human affairs: at best God is a far-distant spectator, and a helpless one at that. God could not help the launching of the dreadful war, and though He longed to put a stop to it—He was unable to do so—and this in the face of 1 Chronicles 5:22 and 2 Chronicles 24:24! Having endowed man with "free agency" God is obliged to let man make his own choice and go his own way, and He cannot interfere with him, or otherwise his moral responsibility would be destroyed.

Such are the popular beliefs of the day. One is not surprised to find these sentiments emanating from German neologians, but how sad that they should be taught in many of our Seminaries, echoed from many of our pulpits, and accepted by many of the rank and file of professing Christians.

One of the most flagrant sins of our age, is that of irreverence—the failure to ascribe the glory which is due to the august majesty of God. Men limit the power and activities of the Lord in their degrading concepts of His being and character. Originally, man was made in the image and likeness of God—but today we are asked to believe in a god who is made in the image and likeness of man! The Creator is reduced to the level of the creature! His omniscience is called into question, His omnipotency is no longer believed in, and His absolute sovereignty is flatly denied. Men claim to be the architects of their own fortunes and the determiners of their own destiny. They know not that their lives are at the disposal of the Divine Determiner. They know not they have no more power to thwart His secret decrees—than a worm has to resist the tread of an elephant! They know not that "The Lord has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all!" (Psalm 103:19).

In the foregoing pages we have sought to repudiate such paganistic views as the above-mentioned, and have endeavored to show from Scripture that God is God, on the Throne of universal dominion—and that so far from the recent war being an evidence that the helm had slipped out of His hand, it was a sure proof that He still lives and reigns, and is now bringing to pass that which He had fore-determined and fore-announced (Matthew 24:6-8 etc.). That the carnal mind is enmity against God, that the unregenerate man is a rebel against the Divine government, that the sinner has no concern for the glory of his Maker, and little or no respect for His revealed will—is freely granted. But, nevertheless, behind the scenes, God is ruling and over-ruling, fulfilling His eternal purpose, not only in spite of, but also by means of, those who are His enemies!

How earnestly are the claims of man contended for, against the claims of God! Has not man power and knowledge—but what of it? Has God no will, or power, or knowledge? Suppose man's will conflicts with God's—then what? Turn to the Scripture of Truth for answer. Men had a will on the plains of Shinar and determined to build a tower whose top should reach unto heaven—but what came of their purpose? Pharaoh had a will when he hardened his heart and refused to allow Jehovah's people to go and worship Him in the wilderness—but what came of his rebellion? Balak had a will when he hired Balaam to come and curse the Hebrews—but of what avail was it? The Canaanites had a will when they determined to prevent Israel occupying the land of Canaan—but how far did they succeed? Saul had a will when he hurled his javelin at David—but it entered the wall instead! Jonah had a will when he refused to go and preach to the Ninevites—but what came of it? Nebuchadnezzar had a will when he thought to destroy the three Hebrew children—but God had a will too, and the fire did not harm them. Herod had a will when he sought to slay the Child Jesus, and had there been no living, reigning God, his evil desire would have been effected; but in daring to pit his puny will against the irresistible will of the Almighty, his efforts came to nothing. Yes, my reader, and you, too, had a will when you formed your plans without first seeking counsel of the Lord, therefore did He overturn them! "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails!" (Proverbs 19:21).

What a demonstration of the irresistible sovereignty of God, is furnished by that wonderful statement found in Revelation 17:17, "For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled." The fulfillment of any single prophecy is but the sovereignty of God in operation. It is the demonstration that what He has decreed—He is able also to perform. It is proof that none can withstand the execution of His counsel or prevent the accomplishment of His pleasure. It is the evidence that God inclines men to fulfill that which He has ordained—and perform that which He has fore-determined. If God were not absolute Sovereign, then Divine prophecy would be valueless, for in such case no guarantee would be left that what He had predicted would surely come to pass.

"For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17). Even in that terrible time, when Satan has been cast down to the earth itself (Revelation 12:9), when the Antichrist is reigning in full power (Revelation 13), when the basest passions of men are let loose (Revelation 6:4), even then God is supreme above all, working "through all" (Ephesians 4:6), controlling men's hearts and directing their counsels to the fulfilling of His own purpose.

We cannot do better than quote here, the excellent comments of our esteemed friend Walter Scott upon this verse, "God works unseen—but not the less truly, in all the political changes of the day. The astute statesman. the clever diplomatist, is simply an agent in the Lord's hands. He knows it not. Self-will and motives of policy may influence to action—but God is steadily working toward an end—to exhibit the heavenly and earthly glories of His Son. Thus, instead of kings and statesmen thwarting God's purpose, they unconsciously forward it. God is not indifferent—but is behind the scenes of human action. The doings of the future secular powers—are not only under the direct control of God—but all is done in fulfillment of His words."

Closely connected with Revelation 17:17 is that which is brought before us in Micah 4:11, 12, "Many nations have gathered together against you, calling for your blood, eager to gloat over your destruction. But they do not know the Lord's thoughts or understand His plan. These nations don't know that He is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled like bundles of grain on a threshing floor." Here is another instance which demonstrates God's absolute control of the nations, of His power to fulfill His secret counsel or decrees through and by them, and of His inclining men to perform His pleasure—though it is performed blindly and unwittingly by them.

Once more. What a word was that of the Lord Jesus as He stood before Pilate! Who can depict the scene! There was the Roman official, and there also was the Servant of Jehovah standing before him. Said Pilate, "Where are You from?" And we read, "Jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate unto Him, "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" (John 19:10). Ah! that is what Pilate thought. That is what many others have thought. He was merely voicing the common conviction of the human heart—the heart which leaves God out of its reckoning. But hear the Lord Jesus as He corrects Pilate, and at the same time repudiates the proud boasting of men in general, "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11).

How sweeping is this assertion! Man—even though he is a prominent official in the most influential empire of his day—has no power except that which is given him from above, no power, even, to do that which is evil, that is, carry out his own evil designs, unless God empowers him so that His purpose may be forwarded. It was God who gave Pilate the power to sentence to death His well-beloved Son! And how this rebukes the sophistries and reasonings of men, who argue that God does nothing more than permit evil! Why, go right back to the very first words spoken by the Lord God to man after the Fall, and hear Him saying, "I will put ENMITY between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed" (Genesis 3:15)! Bare permission of sin does not cover all the facts which are revealed in Scripture touching this mystery. As Calvin succinctly remarked, "But what reason shall we assign for His permitting it—but because it is His will?"

At the close of a previous chapter, we promised to give attention to one or two other difficulties which were not examined at that time. To them we now turn. If God has not only pre-determined the salvation of His own—but has also fore-ordained the good works which they are to walk in (Ephesians 2:10), then what incentive remains for us to strive after practical godliness? If God has fixed the number of those who are to be saved, and the others are vessels of wrath fitted to destruction—then what encouragement have we to preach the Gospel to the lost? Let us take up these questions in the order of mention.
 

1. God's Sovereignty and the believer's growth in grace.

If God has fore-ordained everything that comes to pass, of what avail is it for us to "exercise" ourselves "unto godliness" (1 Timothy. 4:7)? If God has before ordained the good works in which we are to walk (Ephesians 2:10), then why should we be "careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8)? This only raises once more—the problem of human responsibility. Really, it should be enough for us to reply—because God has bidden us do so. Nowhere does Scripture inculcate or encourage a spirit of fatalistic indifference. Contentment with our present spiritual attainments, is expressly disallowed. The word to every believer is, "Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). This was the apostle's aim, and it should be ours. Instead of hindering the development of Christian character, a proper apprehension and appreciation of God's sovereignty will forward it.

Just as the sinner's despair of any help from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer's growth in grace! And just as the sinner despairing of help from himself will cast him into the arms of sovereign mercy, so the Christian, conscious of his own frailty, will turn unto the Lord for strength. It is when we are weak—that we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). That is to say, there must be consciousness of our weakness, before we shall turn to the Lord for help. While the Christian imagines that he is sufficient in himself, while he imagines that by mere force of will he shall resist temptation, while he has any confidence in the flesh—then, like Peter who boasted that though all forsook the Lord, yet he would not—so we shall certainly fail and fall. Apart from Christ—we can do nothing (John 15:5). The promise of God is, "He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might (of their own) He increases strength" (Isaiah 40:29).

The question now before us is of great practical importance, and we are deeply anxious to express ourselves clearly and simply. The secret of development of Christian character, is the realization of our own powerlessness, acknowledged powerlessness, and the consequent turning unto the Lord for help. The plain fact is—that of ourselves we are utterly unable to practice a single precept, or obey a single command that is set before us in the Scriptures. For example, "Love your enemies"—but of ourselves we cannot do this, or make ourselves do it. "In nothing be anxious"—but who can avoid and prevent anxiety when things go wrong? "Awake to righteousness and sin not"—but who can help sinning? These are merely examples selected at random from scores of others.

Does then God mock us by bidding us do what He knows we are unable to do? The answer of Augustine to this question is the best we have met with, "God gives commands we cannot perform, that we may know what we ought to request strength from Him." A consciousness of our powerlessness should cast us upon Him who has all power. Here then is where a vision and view of God's sovereignty helps, for it reveals His sufficiency and shows us our insufficiency.
 

2. God's Sovereignty and Christian service.

If God has determined before the foundation of the world, the precise number of those who shall be saved—then why should we concern ourselves about the eternal destiny of those with whom we come into contact? What place is left for zeal in Christian service? Will not the doctrine of God's sovereignty, and its corollary of predestination, discourage the Lord's servants from faithfulness in evangelism? No! Instead of discouraging His servants, a recognition of God's sovereignty is most encouraging to them.

Here is one, for example, who is called upon to do the work of an evangelist, and he goes forth believing in the freedom of the will and in the sinner's own ability to come to Christ. He preaches the Gospel as faithfully and zealously as he knows how; but, he finds the vast majority of his hearers are utterly indifferent, and have no heart at all for Christ. He discovers that men are, for the most part, thoroughly enrapt up in the things of the world, and that few have any concern about the world to come. He beseeches men to be reconciled to God, and pleads with them over their soul's salvation. But it is of no avail. He becomes thoroughly disheartened, and asks himself, What is the use of it all? Shall he quit, or had he better change his mission and message? If men will not respond to the Gospel, had he not better engage in that which is more popular and acceptable to the world? Why not occupy himself with humanitarian efforts, with social work, with the morality campaign? Alas! that so many men who once preached the Gospel are now engaged in these activities instead.

What then is God's corrective for His discouraged servant? First, he needs to learn from Scripture that God is not now seeking to convert the world—but that in this age He is "taking out of the Gentiles" a people for His name (Acts 15:14). What then is God's corrective for His discouraged servant? This—a proper apprehension of God's plan for this Dispensation. Again, what is God's remedy for dejection at apparent failure in our labors? This—the assurance that God's purpose cannot fail, that God's plans cannot miscarry, that God's will must be done. Our labors are not intended to bring about that which God has not decreed!

Once more: what is God's word of cheer for the one who is thoroughly disheartened at the lack of response to his appeals and the absence of fruit for his labors? This—that we are not responsible for results: that is God's side, and God's business. Paul may "plant," and Apollos may "water," but it is God who "gives the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6). Our business is to obey Christ and preach the Gospel to every creature, to emphasize the "Whoever believes", and then to leave the sovereign operations of the Holy Spirit to apply the Word in quickening power to whom He wills, resting on the sure promise of Jehovah, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it!" (Isaiah 55:10, 11).

Was it not this assurance that sustained the beloved apostle when he declared "Therefore (see context) I endure all things for the elect's sake" (2 Timothy 2:10)! Yes, is not this same lesson to be learned from the blessed example of the Lord Jesus! When we read that He said to the people, "But as I told you, you’ve seen Me, and yet you do not believe. Every one the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out." (John 6:36, 37). He knew that His labor would not be in vain. He knew God's Word would not return unto Him "void." He knew that "God's elect" would come to Him and believe on Him. And this same assurance fills the soul of every servant who intelligently rests upon the blessed truth of God's sovereignty.

Ah, fellow Christian worker, God has not sent us forth to "draw a bow at a venture". The success of the ministry which He has committed into our hands is not left contingent on the fickleness of the wills in those to whom we preach. How gloriously encouraging, how soul-sustaining are those words of our Lord's, if we rest on them in simple faith, "I have other sheep ("have" mark you, not "will have"; "have," because given to Him by the Father before the foundation of the world), whom are not of this fold (that is the Jewish fold then existing). I must bring them also, and they shall listen to My voice." (John 10:16). Not simply, "they ought to hear My voice," not simply "they may hear My voice", not "they will do so if they are willing." There is no "if", no "perhaps", no uncertainty about it. "They shall listen to My voice" is His own positive, unqualified, absolute promise! Here then, is where faith is to rest!

Continue your quest, dear friend, after the "other sheep" of Christ's. Be not discouraged because the "goats" heed not His voice as you preach the Gospel. Be faithful, be Scriptural, be persevering, and Christ may use even you to be His mouthpiece in calling some of His lost sheep unto Himself. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain!" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

It now remains for us to offer a few closing reflections, and our happy task is finished.

God's sovereign election of certain ones to salvation is a MERCIFUL provision. The sufficient answer to all the wicked accusations that the doctrine of Predestination is cruel, horrible, and unjust—is that, unless God had chosen certain ones to salvation, none would have been saved, for "there is none that seeks after God" (Romans 3:11). This is no mere inference of ours—but the definite teaching of Holy Scripture. Attend closely to the words of the apostle in Romans 9, where this theme is fully discussed, "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant shall be saved. . . . Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah" (Romans 9:27, 29). The teaching of this passage is unmistakable: but for Divine interference, Israel would have become as Sodom and Gomorrah. Had God left Israel alone, human depravity would have run its course to its own tragic end. But God left Israel a "remnant". Of old the cities of the plain had been obliterated for their sin, and none were left to survive them; and so it would have been in Israel's case—had not God "left" or spared a remnant. Thus it is with the human race—but for God's sovereign grace in sparing a remnant—all of Adam's descendants would have perished in their sins! Therefore, we say that God's sovereign election of certain ones to salvation, is a merciful provision.

And, be it noted, in choosing the ones He did, God did no injustice to the others who were passed by—for none had any right to salvation. Salvation is by grace, and the exercise of grace is a matter of pure sovereignty—God might save all or none, many or few, one or ten thousand, just as He saw best. Should it be replied, But surely it were "best" to save all. The answer would be: We are not capable of judging. We might have thought it "best" never to have created Satan, never to have allowed sin to enter the world, or having entered, to have brought the conflict between good and evil to an end long before now. Ah! God's ways are not ours—and His ways are unfathomable!

God fore-ordains everything which comes to pass. His sovereign rule extends throughout the entire Universe and is over every creature. "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things" (Romans 11:36). God initiates all things, regulates all things, and all things are working unto His eternal glory. "There is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him" (1 Corinthians 8:6). And again, "According to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). Surely if anything could be ascribed to chance it is the casting of lots, and yet the Word of God expressly declares, "The lot is cast into the lap—but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33)!!

God's wisdom in the government of our world shall yet be completely vindicated before all created intelligences. God is no idle Spectator, looking on from a distant world at the happenings on our earth—but is Himself shaping everything to the ultimate promotion of His own glory. Even now He is working out His eternal purpose, not only in spite of human and Satanic opposition—but by means of them. How wicked and futile have been all efforts to resist His will—shall one day be as fully evident as when of old He overthrew the rebellious Pharaoh and his hosts at the Red Sea.

It has been well said, "The end and object of all, is the glory of God. It is perfectly, divinely true, that God has ordained whatever comes to pass—for His own glory!"

That what we have written gives but an incomplete and imperfect presentation of this most important subject, we must sorrowfully confess. Nevertheless, if it results in a clearer apprehension of the majesty of God and His sovereign mercy—we shall be amply repaid for our labors. If the reader has received blessing from the perusal of these pages, let him not fail to return thanks to the Giver of every good and every perfect gift, ascribing all praise to His inimitable and sovereign grace!

"Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigns!" (Revelation 19:6).