The Attributes of God
by Arthur W. Pink
The Sovereignty of God
The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy—see
preceding chapter. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He
is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by
none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases,
always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. So His own
Word expressly declares: "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My
pleasure" (Isa 46:10); "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as
nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of
the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him—What have you done?"
(Dan 4:35). Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in
name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things,
working all things "after the counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11).
Rightly did the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon say in his
sermon on Matthew 20-15—"There is no attribute more comforting to His
children than that of God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse
circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has
ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that
sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children
ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all
creation—the kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the throne
of God and His right to sit upon that throne.
"On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by
worldlings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great,
stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the sovereignty of the infinite
Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will
allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will
allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties.
They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or
light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but
when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth!
"And we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as
He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well,
without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and
execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His
throne—is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we
love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust."
"Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases."
Psalm 115:3. "I know that You can do anything, and no plan of Yours can be
thwarted." Job 42:2. "The Lord does whatever He pleases in heaven and on
earth, in the seas and all the depths." Psalm 135:6. Yes, dear reader, such
is the imperial Potentate revealed in Holy Writ. Unrivaled in majesty,
unlimited in power, unaffected by anything outside Himself. But we are
living in a day when even the most "orthodox" seem afraid to admit the
proper Godhood of God. They say that to press the sovereignty of God
excludes human responsibility; whereas human responsibility is based upon
divine sovereignty, and is the product of it.
God sovereignly chose to place each of His creatures on
that particular footing which seemed good in His sight. He created angels:
some He placed on a conditional footing, others He gave an immutable
standing before Him (1 Tim 5:21), making Christ their head (Col 2:10). Let
it not be overlooked that the angels which sinned (2 Peter 2:4), were as
much His creatures as the angels that sinned not. Yet God foresaw they would
fall, nevertheless He placed them on a mutable, creature, conditional
footing, and allowed them to fall, though He was not the Author of their
sin.
So too, God sovereignly placed Adam in the garden of Eden
upon a conditional footing. Had He so pleased, He could have placed him upon
an unconditional footing. He could have placed him on a footing as firm as
that occupied by the unfallen angels. He could have placed him upon a
footing as sure and as immutable as that which His saints have in Christ.
But, instead, He chose to set him in Eden on the basis of creature
responsibility, so that he stood or fell according as he measured up or
failed to measure up to his responsibility—obedience to his Maker. Adam
stood accountable to God by the law which his Creator had given him. Here
was responsibility, unimpaired responsibility, tested out under the most
favorable conditions.
Now God did not place Adam upon a footing of conditional,
creature responsibility, because it was right He should so place him? No, it
was right because God did it. God did not even give creatures being because
it was right for Him to do so, that is, because He was under any obligations
to create; but it was right because He did so. God is sovereign. His will is
supreme. So far from God being under any law of "right," He is a law unto
Himself, so that whatever He does is right. And woe be to the rebel that
calls His sovereignty into question: "Woe to him who quarrels with his
Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does
the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He
has no hands'?" (Isa 45:9).
Again; the Lord God sovereignly placed Israel upon a
conditional footing. The 19th, 20th and 24th chapters of Exodus afford a
clear and full proof of this. They were placed under a covenant of works.
God gave to them certain laws, and made national blessing for them depend
upon their observance of His statutes. But Israel was stiff-necked and
uncircumcised in heart. They rebelled against Jehovah, forsook His law,
turned unto false gods, and apostatized. In consequence, divine judgment
fell upon them, they were delivered into the hands of their enemies,
dispersed abroad throughout the earth, and remain under the heavy frown of
God's displeasure to this day.
It was God in the exercise of His high sovereignty which
placed Satan and his angels, Adam, and Israel in their respective
responsible positions. But so far from His sovereignty taking away
responsibility from the creature, it was by the exercise thereof that He
placed them on this conditional footing, under such responsibilities as He
thought proper; by virtue of which sovereignty, He is seen to be God over
all. Thus, there is perfect harmony between the sovereignty of God and the
responsibility of the creature. Many have most foolishly said that it is
quite impossible to show where divine sovereignty ends and creature
accountability begins. Here is where creature responsibility begins—in the
sovereign ordination of the Creator. As to His sovereignty, there is not and
never will be any "end" to it!
Let us give further proofs that the responsibility of the
creature is based upon God's sovereignty. How many things are recorded in
Scripture which were right because God commanded them, and which would not
have been right had He not so commanded! What right had Adam to "eat" of the
trees of the Garden? The permission of his Maker (Gen 2:16), without which
he would have been a thief! What right had Israel to "borrow" of the
Egyptians' jewels and clothing (Exo 12:35)? None, unless Jehovah had
authorized it (Exo 3:22). What right had Israel to slay so many lambs for
sacrifice? None, except that God commanded it. What right had Israel to kill
off all the Canaanites? None, but as Jehovah had bidden them. What right has
the husband to require submission from his wife? None, unless God had
appointed it. And so we might go on. Human responsibility is based upon
divine sovereignty.
One more example of the exercise of God's absolute
sovereignty. God placed His elect upon a different footing from Adam or
Israel. He placed His elect upon an unconditional footing. In the
Everlasting Covenant Jesus Christ was appointed their Head, took their
responsibilities upon Himself, and wrought out a righteousness for them
which is perfect, indefeasible, and eternal. Christ was placed upon a
conditional footing, for He was "made under the law, to redeem them that
were under the law," only with this infinite difference; the others failed;
He did not and could not. And who placed Christ upon that conditional
footing? The Triune God. It was sovereign will which appointed Him,
sovereign love which sent Him, sovereign authority which
assigned Him His work.
Certain conditions were set before the Mediator. He was
to be made in the likeness of sin's flesh; He was to magnify the law and
make it honorable; He was to bear all the sins of all God's people in His
own body on the tree; He was to make full atonement for them; He was to
endure the outpoured wrath of God; He was to die and be buried. On the
fulfillment of those conditions, He was promised a reward: Isaiah 53:10-12.
He was to be the Firstborn among many brethren; He was to have a people who
should share His glory. Blessed be His name forever, He fulfilled those
conditions, and because He did so, the Father stands pledged, on solemn
oath, to preserve through time and bless throughout eternity, everyone of
those for whom His incarnate Son mediated. Because He took their place, they
now share His. His righteousness is theirs, His standing before God is
theirs, His life is theirs. There is not a single condition for them to
meet, not a single responsibility for them to discharge in order to attain
their eternal bliss. "By one offering He has perfected forever them that are
sanctified [set apart]" (Heb 10:14).
Here then is the sovereignty of God openly displayed
before all, displayed in the different ways in which He has dealt with His
creatures. Part of the angels, Adam, and Israel, were placed upon a
conditional footing, continuance in blessing being made dependent upon their
obedience and fidelity to God. But in sharp contrast from them, the "little
flock" (Luke 12:32), have been given an unconditional, an immutable standing
in God's covenant, God's counsels, God's Son; their blessing being made
dependent upon what Christ did for them. The foundation of God stands sure,
having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His" (2 Tim 2:19). The
foundation on which God's elect stand is a perfect one: nothing can be added
to it, nor anything taken from it (Eccl 3:14). Here, then, is the highest
and grandest display of the absolute sovereignty of God. Truly, He has
"mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens" (Rom 9:18).