Finally, I am able to bring myself to continue on my series on the doctrines recovered at the time of the reformation. I want to begin this post with a question. “Why bother?” If we are to be perfectly honest with ourselves, these truths are not what you would choose to build a mega church or to start a massive scale campus harvest. This system of theology is not one that would make you extremely popular with the current generation, in fact you may be frequently accused of being too dogmatic and too concerned with head knowledge. It just doesn’t work that way.
The doctrines of the reformation are truths that begin and end in the pages of Scripture, that of which our flesh so naturally reviles against. God’s absolute sovereignty, man’s total depravity and God’s electing grace among others. These are truths that man is invariably prepared to war against.
So why bother? There could be a possibility that I may be discussing something that is nothing more but devices, a secondary issue that has no real impact in Christian living and piety, so why spend time to talk about these issues? Well, it’s the very same reason why a man in his 70s would engage in a written debate to defend these doctrines, Augustine with Pelagius, just as much as 1100 years after in the time of the reformation between Luther and Erasmus. Here my friend is the reason why, because the Gospel is at stake.
The Gospel is at Stake
An errant view of the Gospel has spread widely in Christendom throughout the years. A cancer-like spread seeping to the very bone and marrow of Christian religion even so searing the affections and reason of Christian men and women blinding them in their traditions that they may not see and understand the unity of Scripture concerning these things. An errant view of God, an errant view of His nature, justice and requirements, disappearance of the reality and nature of sin, and the perversion of the meaning of grace. Why bother? Because the Gospel is at stake.
It all began in the garden of Eden where Eve was approached by the serpent saying, “Did God actually say? (Genesis 3:1)” In Christianity today, Satan’s devices has not changed much, what still is in question is what has God said and revealed. I am convinced that the crucial issue that lays before us today in this rebellion is most fundamentally the questioning of what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture.
Your Thoughts of God are Too Human
In Arthur W. Pink’s book “The Attributes of God” he opens his chapter on God’s Supremacy with one of Martin Luther’s letters to Erasmus, he recounted:
“Your thoughts of God are too human.” The distinguished and educated scholar might have resented such a denunciation, especially coming from a mere miner’s son; nevertheless, it was thouroughly deserved. Likewise, although we have no standing among our contemporary religious leaders in this degenerate age, we level the same charge against the majority of our modern preachers, and against those who, rather than searching the Scriptures, lazily accept specious teachings from others. The most dishonoring and degrading notions of the rule and reign of the Almighty are now held almost everywhere. To countless thousands, even among those professing to be Christians, the God of the Scriptures is quite unknown.[i]
I am convinced that the same indictment from Arthur W. Pink’s time is frighteningly fitting for ours. Our thoughts and notion of God are far, far too human. Reminiscing of God as He spoke to apostate Israel, “Thou thoughtest that I was altogether as thyself.” (Psalm 50:21) In modern Christendom God is often spoken of in romantic terms, in the context of relationship and friendship, a loving father and sweet companion. Not that those are false in themselves as part of God’s nature and attitude toward His people, but it’s painfully obvious how this one-sided caricature of God denies the whole of the God-hood of God.
God is not merely a “personal Savior”, He is the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the earth bearing the full weight of the wrath of God thereby being the propitiation for our sins. God is not merely “a friend of mine”, He laid His life down for His friends, endured the Cross and despised the shame. God is not merely a “loving father”, but He is our Father in Heaven who forsook even His Son for the remission of sins. God is not merely our “sweet companion” but He is the thrice Holy One where even the most pure of angels tremble before Him.
Surely we must think of God in higher and grander terms, since after all He is God, yet there’s that inveterate pull in the heart of man to pull God down and in ways as to put God in a position of serving us. God to serve us as our friend, father, and portion. This is the view of God of the 21st century Christian man.
God, our Lord and King
But this is not the teaching of Scripture, that fundamentally God is in the Heavens looking for every opportunity to do us good and serve us. Rather we are but servants before him. He is the Potter, we are but the clay in His hands, to be molded into vessels of honor, or to be dashed into pieces (Psalm 2:9) as He pleases.[ii] And we will but speak as the psalmist speaks: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1)”, all to the glory of His name. And as the apostle speaks, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)”
But no, we as fleshly human beings don’t like that. We, as 21st century Christians, don’t really have a category for kingship and God’s absolute right of Rulership anymore. We don’t have this notion or even a glimpse of the possibility of a person having absolute unbending authority over us, oh no, ‘coz of course we are a free people, we have the bill of rights. Well, unless we recover this forgotten category of kingship, more specifically God’s kingship we will unavoidably and invariably in the great majority of instances have a faulty view of every teaching Christian religion has to offer.
Supremacy and Sovereignty
What do I mean when I speak of God’s kingship? Well, what I mean in essence is God’s supremacy and sovereignty over all things. Fundamentally it is the “God-hood” of God. God’s fundamental nature and default disposition in being God which inextricably involves absolute supremacy and sovereignty over all. He is God. He is God, creator of all things. It is a fundamental principle that the Creator has an absolute right over all His creation.
Arthur W. Pink continues in his book:
The “god” of this twentieth century no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun. The “god” who is now talked about in the average pulpit, spoken of in the ordinary Sunday School, mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day, and preached in most of the so-called Bible Conferences is the figment of human imagination, an invention of maudlin sentimentality. The heathen outside of the pale of Christendom form “gods” out of wood and stone, while the millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a “god” out of their own carnal mind. In reality, they are but atheists, for there is no other possible alternative between an absolutely supreme God, and no God at all. A ”god” whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt.[iii]
Sir Arthur may have said it too strongly for the tastes of others, but is it not true? What alternative do we have from an absolutely supreme and sovereign God? A slightly supreme God? Why would we worship a “god” like that? One who can be thwarted and frustrated out of his desires and plans? Would you trust your soul on a “god” like that? Nay, the one true God that is revealed in the pages of Holy Writ is one who is absolutely supreme and sovereign. He is God and King. His decrees are unbending, His wisdom perfect.
God is God
As the prophet testifies,
Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ a calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country[iv]. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass . . . (Isaiah 46:8-11)
God is God and there is no other, there is none like Him. He declares the end from the beginning. He has spoken, and He brings to pass His decrees. This is the God of Scripture. His plans are never thwarted, His will cannot be anything but fulfilled in His appointed time. He is not a wishful Lord, hoping and worrying that human beings would cooperate for His plans to succeed. No, He is the Sovereign King, He has spoken. He has declared the end from the beginning. There is no blushing in this passage. There is no apologizing saying, “but you know, God still is respectful of man’s feelings. If man will experience pain and discomfort, man can say no and God won’t let His plan come to fruition.” No, the text of Scripture says none of that.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” (Psalms 115:2-3)
God does whatever He pleases and all that He pleases.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6)
There it is again, whatever the Lord pleases, He does! And the writer gets specific, in heaven, on earth, in the seas and all deeps. What does that mean? It means the Lord does what He pleases in the whole of creation. And anything that happens in His created universe happens only because He was pleased to let it happen. He is not moved by human weeping and emotion as a prime motivator for His actions and decrees. Everything that God does He does because He was so pleased to do so. He is God. He is Sovereign. He is King.
God is not wishy-washy, writing letters to Santa hoping people would approve of Him
That may be a bit long for the title of this section but let me say it again, God is not wishy-washy, writing letters to Santa hoping that people would choose and approve of Him, specifically the purposes that He planned in Himself. No. That may be the “god” of the great majority of Christians today, but that is not the God of the Bible.
The God of the Bible is worthy of worship. The God of the Bible is almighty. Nothing in this universe can come to being, move, breathe or even keep on existing in any way shape or form without the empowerment of God. The only reason you and I are still alive this very moment is because God is pleased to do so.
Some would say that this is a frightening thing to say that God is actually absolutely Sovereign. Thereby saying that we will be nothing but robots, and everything else will be artificial and horrifying!
God is Sovereign. God is King. Yet He is Our Father.
The truth of the Sovereignty of God should not and must not cause us to cower in fear. Yes we should fear God in the reality of His absolute omniscience and omnipresence where He sees even our secret sins. But in regards to God’s sovereignty we should not fear Him as we would fear a tyrant or a despot. This Sovereign God and King is our Father! If today you are one of His own, He works together all things for your good, you who are called according to His purpose that you may be conformed to the image of His Son.
Vital Truth
Many would say that this doctrine is not all that important. Not important they say? Yet God’s Sovereignty and Kingship would hit you in the face going out to the subway on the way to work. When a loved one dies. When the bank account gets dried up. God’s Sovereignty is not something to be feared, it’s the only thing that we can rest our heads on at night!
These preachers would tell you that the reason you are poor and helpless is because you didn’t have enough faith or that you didn’t pray enough and tithe enough. Let them have their religion and let them take it to their graves, that is not the religion of the Bible. The Bible tells us of the Sovereign God who does whatever He pleases, and what He was ultimately pleased to do was to glorify Himself by sending His Son to suffer the Cross to purchase a people for Himself to the praise of His glorious grace. That God cannot and will not be thwarted or frustrated with His purposes. And dear friend, if He has purposed you to be saved, rest assured you will.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but r gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than y conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)
If God is not absolutely Sovereign, if God’s absolute Kingship is not true then you have no cause to hang your soul upon this passage of Scripture. The whole rhetoric of Paul falls apart. The whole of God’s purposes fails in saving any man because there can be those who can be against you, and cause you not to be saved. There can be those who would bring a charge against you though you are the elect of God even if it is God who justifies. It just destroys the essence of the Gospel! And yet this is the theology that so many people adore and love?! Only an insane man would favor this system of faith. It causes nothing but despondency and despair.
Dear friends, the only doctrine that can give us certain hope is that which speaks of this Sovereign King who rules over all the affairs of this world. It’s a truth that allows us to lay at bed at night and resign ourselves to sleep, the reality that God is my Sovereign, He is my King. This doctrine is not a bed of thorns, but a balm to the soul for us feeble saints.
In This Series:
I appreciate your zeal. Grace and peace brother.
Thank you brother. You are an encouragement to me as well. Grace and peace!
Excellent article! Beautiful and well thought out =)
Brother – excellent article and a very timely message!
You wrote, “These preachers would tell you that the reason you are poor and helpless is because you didn’t have enough faith or that you didn’t pray enough and tithe enough. Let them have their religion and let them take it to their graves, that is not the religion of the Bible.”
It couldn't be truer. The heresy of American individualism has infiltrated most churches in America and out of it (for sadly, we export so much heresy in supposed “missions). The religion in most churches is that of “Do good and God will do good to you” – whether it take the form of prosperity preaching, charismatic “faith power”, or even down to false theologies of prayer. It is nothing more than the religion of those in the east of karma and divine retribution.
It belies the truth that you so articulately proclaimed: That God is a sovereign and that none can stay His hand. His will is eternal as is His decree – no man shall change it with his feeble hands. This is the glorious hope of His true children and the terrorizing fear of the heathen. Yet, this is the Lord our God. Let us never preach another, but this mighty King.
Thank you very much for this article – for fearlessly pronouncing our God. I pray that He would make and send out more laborers like yourself. God bless, bro! =)
Brother, that is well said! Romans 9:15 – “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion”. Some recieve mercy and the rest recieve justice! God is not our divine “bellboy”. God did not create us for our pleasure! He is all about His glory!
Very sound and good to hear! Keep it up brother!
Thank you sister! I appreciate the feedback.:)
[...] God’s Sovereign Kingship Pink, A. W. (1996). The sovereignty of God. Index created by Christian Classics Foundation. (electronic ed.) (12). Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation. [↩]Pink, A. W. (1996). The sovereignty of God. Index created by Christian Classics Foundation. (electronic ed.) (12). Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation. [↩]A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2008), 37 [↩]R.C. Sproul, http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/AuthorIndex/37/1980_Holiness_and_Justice/ [↩] Read Also…Who is Regulating Affairs on Earth, God or the Devil?God’s Sovereign KingshipO, That I Had a Thousand Voices!My Father Planned It All!Reformation Theology: An Introduction [...]