(86) The Purpose of God’s Sovereignty

There have been rulers down through history who exercised a high level of sovereign control over their people. Some have been quite maddening in their capricious, aimless and foolish decisions. In glaring contrast, God’s sovereign rule is not random, erratic, or whimsical. God’s sovereignty is purposeful and intentional. He has a definite, skillfully designed and targeted plan. We touched on God’s plans and purpose when we studied the immutability of God but it bears repeating and closer scrutiny.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

(Psalm 33:11 NIV)

Through the parallelism of Psalm 33:11, we see both the ancient and enduring nature of God’s purposes and plans. Scripture repeatedly speaks of God’s purposes and plans as existing and being initiated in eternity past. In fact, Paul refers to God’s plan for the Cross and the Church as being part of His “eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:11).” He describes this purpose more fully in chapter one.

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (9)He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him. . . . (11)also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will . . . (Ephesians 1:5,9,11 NAU)

The Cross and the Church are part of God’s plan and purpose decreed from before He created anything. It is all part of God’s kind intention or purpose for the redeemed. If the Cross and the Church are part of God’s plan and purpose from before creation, so also, the fall Satan and man and the entry of sin into His creation fits within God’s ultimate plan and purpose.

Before God created, there existed in the mind of God a purpose for all He would create and a plan for that creation to fulfill His purpose. Proverbs 16:4 states this clearly, “The LORD has made everything for his own purposes. (NLT)” In their classic commentary Carl Friedrich Keil, and Franz Delitzsch clarify what this verse is teaching us.

All is made by God for its purpose, that is, a purpose premeditated by Him, the world of things and of events stands under the law of a plan, which has in God its ground and its end.

God has a perfect, wise plan and purpose for His-story that He devised in eternity past. He set in motion from before creation and He is sovereignly steering or orchestrating that plan in time.

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. (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)

God states it very clearly. In fact, He links His identity as God to the truth that He has made the end of history known from the very beginning of history. Before there was any history or even creation, all of history was established in the mind of God. He declared much of His plan for history to man and states here that all He has purposed to do in time will in fact take place. God rules with a perfect, wise, eternal purpose and plan.
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(85) What does it mean to say that God is sovereign?

What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign? The word sovereign sums up what scripture teaches about God’s rule and control. Scripture teaches us that God alone is the autonomous, free, independent ruler of all creation, exercising absolute control and direction over all creation. Let me break this down for you.

• God rules. When you say this, you have said nothing more than that God is in fact, God. He is King. With His all-seeing eyes and all-knowing mind, His perfect wisdom, goodness, righteousness and justice, God rules over all He created. That is, He rules over all existence outside Himself, from the dawn of creation to eternity. God rules over it all.

• God is an autonomous ruler. Autonomous comes from the Greek. It means self-law. It describes God as being self-governing, subject only to Himself and free of any other law or constraint.

• God is a free ruler. This further emphasizes God’s ability to act without external restraint. There is nothing and no one that exists that God is obligated to obey. There is no force of nature or humanity that diectates, constrains, or restrains His rule.

• God is an independent ruler. This emphasizes the truth that God is without obligation to any other person or ruler. Not only is God free to act, He is not obligated to act in anyway by some moral code outside Himself. God does not owe anyone anything He must be obliged to pay back..

• God exercises absolute control and direction. Scripture clearly teaches that there is nothing whether within Himself or in all of creation that is outside God’s control and direction. God exercises control and direction over all creation without qualification or exception.

• God rules and exercises absolute control and direction over all creation.  This includes all existence, past, present and future, in heaven and on earth. His sovereign rule and control of creation is complete and without exception to the most minute, sub-atomic detail. As theologian R.C. Sproul puts it, “There is not one stray molecule in all the universe.”

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 in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6)

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?" (Daniel 4:35 )

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

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Next: (86) The Purpose & Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

(84) The Sovereignty of God - Introduction

Let me suggest to you what I believe is one of the top ten most used but most misunderstood mantras of Christianity, “God is in control.” Christians say it when they want to find stability and encouragement in the face of frightening circumstances like the news of a serious illness. We say it when we want to believe we will make it through a tough financial time. Often, we will use it to try to bolster the confidence of a family member or friend who is hurting.

Then, there are other times we want nothing to do with this statement. For many Christians, when you are hit hard by the evil that is so prevalent in the world, we don’t quickly affirm that God is in control of the evil actions of wicked men.

And then, we don’t gravitate toward embracing God’s control when things continually don’t go the way we like. We don’t mind God being in control of everything as long as it fits with how we think things should be. We don’t mind celebrating the sovereignty of God as long as He doesn’t interfere with how we think things should go.

The sovereignty of God is possibly the most debated and easily misunderstood and misapplied of all the attributes of God. We will take this study one step at a time, relying heavily on scripture as our guide and beginning with a narrow focus on God’s sovereignty as an essential aspect of His nature. It is critical that we start with this focus on God and His nature as sovereign so as not to cloud or pollute the nature of God by thoughts of what this means to us and our supposed personal sovereignty over our own lives. In other words, we must focus on what scripture reveals about God’s sovereignty first, and later, think about what this means for us and our lives.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12 ESV)

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(83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion

God is holy, one-of-a-kind, infinitely unique. He is unique in every aspect of His character. He is unique in His thinking and His actions. God is so unlike us, so inhuman.

Because God is infinitely unique, so different from us, we will have to make a conscious effort to appreciate and live according to His unique character. We will always need to be careful that our view of God, His character and ways has not slipped into a man-conceived idea of who God is. We must make sure our view of God does in fact reflect who God is as revealed in the scriptures. It may seem that once we have studied the scriptures and accurately understood God’s character that this exercise would be finished. It is not. We can easily slip into viewing God in accordance with what makes sense to us. We can easily adopt the view of our culture. And in both cases we will be wrong in our view of God. When you are conscious of it, you will be surprised at how quickly and easily your view of God slips from the truth presented in scripture.

In our humanness, we will naturally think in keeping with human thinking. We will naturally think in a way that makes sense from a human point of view. We will naturally do things the way every human does things. We will not naturally think and act in keeping with God’s unique character, thinking, and ways. Our thinking and actions needs to be brought in line with God’s unique thinking and ways.

So, we must consciously strive to understand God’s unique thoughts and ways, guided by His Word and His Spirit. Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique thinking. We will think differently than most people because God thinks differently.

Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique values. We will value different things and we will have different desires than most people because God’s values are different, God’s desires are different than man’s.

Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique actions. We will act differently than most people because God’s ways are different than man’s.

Living out God’s holiness means we must consciously and carefully purge our lives from anything that is contrary to the character and ways of God.

So, I ask myself, “Am I thinking man’s way or God’s way?” “Am I looking at life from man’s viewpoint or God’s?” “Are my values and actions a reflection of God’s uniqueness?” “Am I really living a holy life?”

How about you? Does your life reflect a vital relationship with the holiness of God? Are you a person living out the reality of God’s holiness? Do you look at life differently, with new purpose and passion. Are you unique because you reflect the character of God? God is holy . . . unique . . . different . . . are you? Are you exclusively His?

Prayer of Commitment:

Holy God,

I want to know you in your holiness. I want to understand your uniqueness. Reveal to me how I have lowered you to the level of mankind. Show me how my view of you is less than what you really are. I want to demonstrate your holiness in my life. Help me to see where I am like man when you have redeemed me to be like you. Change my thinking. Change my values. Change my life in every way.

Make me holy, unique as you are.

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(82) Exclusively His

We like to think that our lives are ours to live as we want. We don’t like other people telling us what to do, how to live our lives. We have our ideas, we make our plans, and we set out to fulfill our plans. We don’t like it when someone or something frustrates our plans. And all this thinking flies in the face of what it means to live in recognition and response to the holiness of God.

Remember, holiness has to do with difference or uniqueness. It also has to do with distinction and separation. As we have seen, God is infinitely distinct, separate from all creation. He also applies this holiness to believers.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)

At the time of salvation, God makes us holy, He sets us apart from the mass of humanity to make us His people making us different, unique. Peter explains this change and what it means very clearly.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Peter refers to believers as a “chosen race.” The Greek word is genos and refers to the offspring of a person or people group, or a nationality. This may seem peculiar to us. After all, we are all from different races. But, Peter is thinking of the fact that God has chosen people from all races to become His people, forming a new and distinct group of people. In fact, by the second century, Christians are referred to as a “new race.” Perhaps in the time that Peter was writing, Christians were already being recognized as a distinct group of people who are separate and unique among the mass of humanity.

Second, Peter refers to us as a “royal priesthood.” This could also be translated as “the king’s priests.” Here believers are viewed as both royalty and priests. This is another statement of distinction from the world. Believers are part of God’s royal family and also serve as mediators between Him and those who remain outside the family of God.

Third, we are called a “holy nation.” The word for nation here is ethnos and again refers to a distinct people group. This is a people group that is “holy.” And again we see that we have been set apart. We are a distinct group of people in the world of humanity.

Finally, we are called, “A people for God’s own possession.” Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest explains that the Greek word that is translated “possession” literally means “to make around,” that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership. It speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God. Each saint is God’s unique possession just as if that saint were the only human being in existence.

Through three unique descriptions, Peter makes it clear that believers have been placed in a new position as God’s people, His possession. We are no longer like the average human being, we are different, set apart, unique. We are now part of a new race, a new priesthood, a new nation. We are now God’s people, part of His family. And so, our lives are not ours to live as we please. We belong to God. Peter continues and explains that God has a specific purpose for us as His people.

God chose us to be His people for a very specific purpose, to “proclaim the excellencies” or praise of the one who “called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” In other words, God made us His people so that we would live, with exclusive purpose, to give Him glory. It is a reasonable expectation that we would live exclusively for the praise and glory of God because it is God who made us His people and gave us the gift of His mercy (v.10) .

Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14 ESV)

Christ redeemed us “for Himself”, to be God’s possession. God has separated us to Himself. We have been set apart as His people, His possession, to live for His purposes EXCLUSIVELY! God expects His people to live as people who are distinctively different, unique, and set apart from the lost world in that we live our lives exclusively for His purposes, by His design, to fulfill His desires. This it what it really means to be holy.  Holiness is not jsut about moral purity.  It is about being different.  It is about living our lives in a way that is quite unique compared to the way unbelievers live.  Being holy means living my life as a child of God, according to God's desires alone, to fulfill His plans and purposes alone, for His praise and glory alone.  Holiness is about being distinctively and uniquely God's.

So, I must ask myself, “Am I really different in my values, desires and lifestyle?” “Does my thinking, planning, and choices in life reflect a unique, distinct and all encompassing demonstration of life lived for God and His glory?” "Am I really living a holy life?"  Or, in my values, desires, and lifestyle, do I look a lot like the average unbeliever in my community? Think about it. Does God really have all of you?
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Next: (83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion

(81) Living in Response to the Holiness of God

What exactly does it mean to honor the holiness of God? What exactly does it mean for us as believers to live holy lives? In order to answer these questions accurately, we need to briefly return to a few fundamental concepts as it relates to the meaning of holiness.

Remember, we have discovered from the root meaning of the Hebrew word qodesh that holiness means to be set apart from other things to be used exclusively for God’s purposes. Holiness at its core is about uniqueness, distinction.

The holiness of God means that God is unique, truly and absolutely one of a kind, infinitely separated from all that is common or profane, different from all we know, different even than what we can conceive. Holiness is a matter of difference, distinction, and uniqueness.

To live in response to the holiness of God is to pursue His uniqueness. It involves allowing Him to move us from our humanistic thinking, values, and ways. We must be careful not to reduce God to our thinking and concepts of God. We must diligently assure that our concepts of God match with His uniqueness as revealed in the scriptures.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)

When I begin to think about the awesome uniqueness of God, I am struck with a series of questions, “Do I really see God as infinitely unique?” “Do I really treat God like He is the one -and-only, unique God of all creation?” “Do I really act like He is God or do I act like He’s just a little bit better version of me?”

That last question might seem almost blasphemous, and if it was a statement and not a question, it would be. But I must be honest. Sometimes the way I treat God isn’t any better than I would expect to treat another human being who was just a bit better than me. Quite frankly, I’m not sure I treat God better than I would a human dignitary at times. Does this sound shocking to you? Then perhaps you need to take a closer look at your own heart.

Let me illustrate. If I was going to make a financial decision and I knew someone I rubbed shoulders with every day was really, really, I mean exceptionally good with financial things, I would seek his advice. If I was considering a career move and I had another close acquaintance who was clearly gifted in guiding people, and giving excellent counsel in matters like this, I would seek her out for advice. If there was someone in my life that I really held in high regard, deeply appreciated, and viewed with great respect, I would look for, excitedly anticipate, and greatly enjoy spending time with him. I would be careful not to dishonor him, hurt him, disrespect him. I would want to please him, protect him from unkindness, make him happy. I would count it a profound privilege and be greatly humbled by the honor of knowing this man and having a personal relationship with him.

Now, if I would act this way toward human beings, and I honestly believe I would, what does this say about how I act toward God who is infinitely more special, unique, one-or-a-kind? Do I deeply cherish and value Him as my Father, friend, and counselor? Do I really have a sense that it is an unspeakably profound privilege and honor to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him? Am I determined to honor Him and do I have a healthy fear of dishonoring Him? Do I act like I can disregard and ignore Him, speak little of Him or too Him, dishonor Him, disobey Him and with cavalier, indifferent casualness act like its no big deal. Would I even treat a dear friend with such callousness?

We need (I need) to continually refocus our view of God to bring it into a sharp, clear view of the holiness of God. We need to lift our eyes and see the one-and-only majestic, brilliant, marvelous, perfect, infinite, unique God of all glory. We need to see God, high and lifted up, with the awesome heavenly beings surrounding His throne crying out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy . . .”

We need to fall face down in humble worship, surrender, and absolute honor of Yahweh. Then, we need to get up, and live every moment, in every thought, and in every action to honor and glorify the Holy One.

Be filled with wonder as the people of Israel were:

Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! (Deuteronomy 5:24 NLT)

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(80) Isaiah Is Called to Jehovah’s Service

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

(Isaiah 6:8)

The first invitation given to the repentant and redeemed is to go and tell others of the grace that has been given. The first response of the one who has come to appreciate the glory of God’s holiness and the gift of His grace is, “Here am I, send me!”

God invites Isaiah to join Him in what He is doing. He is offered a new position. Isaiah now became a man who was separated to God. He became a servant of God; and so unique as God is unique, different from the common man who is simply living for himself.

In his new position, Isaiah has a new purpose for living as he now was filled with the passion of knowing God and glorifying Him. This is evidenced by the way Isaiah lived his life in service to God.

This is the effect the a true understanding of the holiness of God has on a believer. We see ourselves in a new position. We are no longer "of" the world. We are now separated unto God to go back into the world to declare and demonstrate His character and glory.

When we see the holiness of God, we to will have a new passion. A passion to know God, to honor and glorify God. The world's passions are position, power, pleasure, prestige. Ours is the glory of God.

What’s your passion in life. What are you really living your life for? Are you passionate about knowing God and demonstrating His glory? Of course our first reaction to these questions is to say that we are living for God, we are passionate about knowing Him, demonstrating His glory? But, could be self-deceived? Could we just be giving the answer we know we should give? Is it really true? How do you know for sure? Here’s my suggestion: follow the trail of you thoughts, time, your money, your energy. What’s at the end of the trail? This is what your life is really all about.

As believers, we have been set apart from sin, from the world, to God, to live to honor Him and His glory in everything we do.  This is the implications of holiness for the believer.  It grows out of an appreciation of the glorious holiness of God.  Do you find yourself lacking in passion for God and His glory?  Get a fresh vision of the holiness of God.  Meditate on how infinitely unique He is.  Meditate on His majesty and beauty.  Behold His glory as Isaiah did and you will see yourself in a new position with a new passion for God.
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(79) Isaiah Is Redeemed by Jehovah’s Grace

What happened when Isaiah saw the holiness of God and his wretched condition? Was there silence in Heaven for a moment? I can only imagine if I were in his place what would be going on in my mind. The words already expressed would continue to resonate in my head. My heart pounds. Tears flow freely from my eyes. I shake my head in complete bewilderment . . . with my own sinfulness. The thoughts that go through my mind . . . “O God, I am so unworthy to be in your presence. This is too much to bear. Your holiness! My sin! O God, forgive me. Have mercy on me. I have nothing to offer, nothing to claim. No explanations. No excuses. I am guilty! Woe is me! Take my life. I deserve no less.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.

“Your guilt is taken away. Your sin is atoned for.” Glorious, gracious redemption! Ruined and broken and hopeless before the majesty and holiness of God one moment. Redeemed and forgiven the next. All this as a free gift given at God’s initiative by His grace. The most beautiful words a sinner could ever hear in the presence of the burning glorious holiness of God: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

When Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God he was changed. He received a new purity from God. He was humbled by his impurity in the face of the holiness of God and bowed in repentance. God cleansed him. Isaiah was now set apart from sin. Isaiah had identified with the sinfulness of the nation. Now, God set him apart from the people as one who was now redeemed, one who was holy.

It is only when you see the glory of God’s holiness and the ugliness of your sin that you come to fully appreciate the glory of God’s grace. When you see the glory of God’s holiness you realize that it is only by an unmerited, unwarranted gift of God’s grace that you can stand before His holiness.
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Next: (80) Isaiah Is Called to Jehovah’s Service