What is meant when the scripture says that God is sovereign? (Gospel, Jehovah)
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Are we to understand sovereign as God is in control/knows the end from the beginning/purposed everything to happen a certain way/has a perfect plan, or that he gave man the ability to go against all of that?
I agree that God is sovereign and the end is known and decreed but we do have choices in how we live our life.
What we sow, we reap.
A verse that I believe shows our accountability and Gods sovreignity is this one.
1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
To me it seems that judgment is about the flesh which is destined for destruction, and resurrection and living is of the spirit.
I agree that God is sovereign and the end is known and decreed but we do have choices in how we live our life.
What we sow, we reap.
A verse that I believe shows our accountability and Gods sovreignity is this one.
1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
To me it seems that judgment is about the flesh which is destined for destruction, and resurrection and living is of the spirit.
I don't see how you get that from that verse.
Yes, we do have choices, but those choices will only lead us down the path that God foreordained. We can't choose against what is to happen.
Flaminghedge, I think your poll may be ambiguous if you think about it.
God is indeed sovereign, so that no man can choose to do anything different than God already knows what will happen. In fact God has declared everything that will happen (Isaiah 46:10).
But in fact men still choose to do what they want to do. Its just that God has foreordained all these choices. So either poll choice is valid IMHO - they can be saying the same thing, but from different perspective (man's vs God's). But I voted for the first choice.
Beats the hell out of me. How does anyone know that in the translation of "God's word", that some lark didn't set everything to mean the OPPOSITE of what was conveyed?
So in this case, what was really said was, "God is NOT sovereign."
Flaminghedge, I think your poll may be ambiguous if you think about it.
God is indeed sovereign, so that no man can choose to do anything different than God already knows what will happen. In fact God has declared everything that will happen (Isaiah 46:10).
But in fact men still choose to do what they want to do. Its just that God has foreordained all these choices. So either poll choice is valid IMHO - they can be saying the same thing, but from different perspective (man's vs God's). But I voted for the first choice.
But man cannot go against what God knows.
Is it still ambiguous? I tried to correct it so that wouldn't happen, as I understand everything the way you stated as well. Hopefully it is understood what I meant, that man chooses the future and not God for the second choice.
The scriptures say specifically that the steps of men are ordered of the lord ...
Psa 37:23
From Jehovah are the steps of a man, They have been prepared, And his way he desireth.
Pro 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps
Jer 10:23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
And God created the wicked for the day of evil ...
Pro 16:4
The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
I know most people hate the truth of these things, because they want to believe they are in control of their own destinies, but that is simply not what the scriptures tell us ... God is in control, of everyone and everything. For better or worse ... I believe for the better ....
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