GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
The Sovereignty of God
Arthur W. Pink
June, 1918
Arthur W. Pink
June, 1918
The
Sovereignty of God is an expression that once was generally
understood. It was a phrase commonly used in religious literature. It
was a theme frequently expounded in the pulpit. It was a truth which
brought comfort to many hearts, and gave virility and stability to
Christian character.
The
Sovereignty of God. What do we mean by this expression? We mean the
supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say
that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God
is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according
to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest
Thou? (Dan. 4:35).
To say that
God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor
of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His
counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3).
To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations." (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best.
To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible.
To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations." (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best.
To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible.
The trend
of modern theology-if theology it can be called-is ever toward the
deification of the creature rather than the glorification of the
Creator, and the leaven of present-day Rationalism is rapidly
permeating the whole of Christendom. The malevolent effects of
Darwinianism are more far reaching than most are aware. Many of those
among our religious leaders who are still regarded as orthodox would,
we fear, be found to be very heterodox if they were weighed in the
balances of the Sanctuary.
Even those
who are clear intellectually, upon other truths, are rarely sound in
doctrine. Few, very few, today, really believe in the complete ruin
and total depravity of man. Those who speak of man's "free
will," and insist upon his inherent power to either accept or
reject the Saviour, do but voice their ignorance of the real
condition of Adam's fallen children. And if there are few who believe
that, so far as he is concerned, the condition of the sinner is
entirely hopeless, there are fewer still who really believe in the
absolute Sovereignty of God.
In addition
to the widespread effects of unscriptural teaching, we also have to
reckon with the deplorable superficiality of the present generation.
To announce that a certain book is a treatise on doctrine is quite
sufficient to prejudice against it the great bulk of church-members
and most of our preachers as well.
The craving today is for something light and spicy, and few have patience, still less desire, to examine carefully that which would make a demand both upon their hearts and their mental powers. We remember, also, how that it is becoming increasingly difficult in these strenuous days for those who are desirous of studying the deeper things of God to find the time which such study requires.
The craving today is for something light and spicy, and few have patience, still less desire, to examine carefully that which would make a demand both upon their hearts and their mental powers. We remember, also, how that it is becoming increasingly difficult in these strenuous days for those who are desirous of studying the deeper things of God to find the time which such study requires.
The
Sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible,
infinite. When we say that God is Sovereign we affirm His right to
govern the universe which He has made for His own glory, just as He
pleases. We affirm that His right is the right of the Potter over the
clay, i. e., that He may mold that clay into whatsoever form He
chooses, fashioning out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and
another unto dishonor.
We affirm that He is under no rule or law outside of His own will and nature, that God is a law unto Himself, and that He is under no obligation to give an account of His matters to any.
We affirm that He is under no rule or law outside of His own will and nature, that God is a law unto Himself, and that He is under no obligation to give an account of His matters to any.
If the joy
and comfort which have come to the author while penning these pages
are shared by those who may scan them, then we shall be devoutly
thankful to the One whose grace alone enables us to discern spiritual
things. A.W.P.