The Sovereignty of God

Every thinking person readily sees that some sovereignty rules his life. He was not asked whether or not he would have existence; nor when, where, or what he would be born; whether in the twentieth century or before the flood; whether white or Negro; whether in America or in China. It has been recognized by Christians in all ages that God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He is the ultimate source of all the power that is found in the creatures. All our skills and gift's come from him alone and not simply from ourselves. Hence nothing can come to pass apart from his sovereign will.

God is before all things,

Col 1; 16-17 "For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things and in him all things consist".
Ps 90; 2 "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God"
2 Tim 1; 9 "For God was there before the beginning of time".

God upholds all things,

Heb 1; 3 "God is sustaining all things by his powerful word"
Col 1; 17 " He is before all things and in him all things hold together"

God knows all things,

Ps 147; 5 "Great is our Lord and Mighty in power his understanding is infinite".
Isa 46; 10 " God knows the end from the beginning".

God accomplishes all things,

Isa 46; 9-11 " I’am God and there is no other, I’am God and there is none like me. My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please, what I have said that I will bring about, what I have planed that will I do".

Ps 135; 6 " Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps".

Isa 43; 12-13 "And I am God. Even from eternity I’am he, And there is none who can deliver out of my hand, I act and who can reverse it’.

Job 42; 2 "I know you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted".

The scriptures very clearly teach that all things out side of God owe not merely their original creation, but their continued existence, with all their properties and powers, to the will of God.
It is unthinkable that a God of infinite wisdom and power would create a world without a definite plan for that world. And because God is thus infinite his plan must extend to every detail of the world’s existence.

The Westminster confession states that,

"It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, in the beginning, to create or make of nothing the world and all things therein whether visible or invisible.

Also that,

God, from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever come to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. ( This material I will go over in detail in another post)

God did not have to create at all, but he chose to create to display his eternal glory and will.

"The heavens are declaring the glory of God, the vast expanse displays his handiwork. Day after day they pour speech, Night after night they display knowledge. They have no speech, there are no words; no sound is heard from them. Their voice goes out into the earth, Their words to the end of the world" (Psalm 19;1-4)

Our world clearly shows the work of a creator displaying his glory. In Gods plan and creation he will guide it to its ended purpose. This is what is meant by God’s providence.