The Sovereignty of The Sovereignty of GodGod

Week TwoWeek Two

The Sovereignty of God The Sovereignty of God

and the Human Willand the Human Will

The Sovereignty of God The Sovereignty of God Over the Human WillOver the Human Will

Acts 4:27-28Acts 4:27-28

““For truly in this city there were For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” Your purpose predestined to occur.”

The Biblical Testimony of the The Biblical Testimony of the Human Will #1Human Will #1

Humans make choicesHumans make choices

Deuteronomy 30:19 Deuteronomy 30:19

““I call heaven and earth to witness I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and in order that you may live, you and your descendants” your descendants”

The Biblical Testimony of the The Biblical Testimony of the Human Will #2Human Will #2

Humans are responsible moral agentsHumans are responsible moral agents2 Thessalonians 1:6-92 Thessalonians 1:6-9

For after all it is only just for God to repay with For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.and from the glory of His power.

  

The Biblical Testimony of the The Biblical Testimony of the Human Will #3Human Will #3

Humans are in bondage to sinHumans are in bondage to sinRomans 3:9-12Romans 3:9-12

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, "THERE Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;THERE TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,THERE IS NOT EVEN IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." ONE."

The Issue of ForeknowledgeThe Issue of Foreknowledge

Arminianism Arminianism

CalvinismCalvinism

Open TheismOpen Theism

Defining “Free Will”Defining “Free Will”

Libertarian Free WillLibertarian Free Will

Compatibilistic Free WillCompatibilistic Free Will

A Definition from D.A. CarsonA Definition from D.A. Carson Compatibilism DefinedCompatibilism Defined

The Bible as a whole, and sometimes in specific texts, The Bible as a whole, and sometimes in specific texts, presupposes or teaches that both of the following presupposes or teaches that both of the following propositions are true:propositions are true:

1. God is absolutely sovereign, but his sovereignty never 1. God is absolutely sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions in such a way that human responsibility is functions in such a way that human responsibility is curtailed, minimized, or mitigated.curtailed, minimized, or mitigated.2. Human beings are morally responsible creatures—they 2. Human beings are morally responsible creatures—they significantly choose, rebel, obey, believe, defy, make significantly choose, rebel, obey, believe, defy, make decisions, and so forth, and they are rightly held decisions, and so forth, and they are rightly held accountable for such actions; but this characteristic never accountable for such actions; but this characteristic never functions so as to make God absolutely contingent.functions so as to make God absolutely contingent.

(D.A. Carson, How Long O’ Lord, (D.A. Carson, How Long O’ Lord, Chapter 11: The Mystery of Chapter 11: The Mystery of

Providence)Providence)

The Biblical Understanding:The Biblical Understanding:CompatibilismCompatibilism

Acts 2:22-23Acts 2:22-23

““Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- this midst, just as you yourselves know-- this Man, delivered over by the predetermined Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” and put Him to death.”

Compatibilism DemonstratedCompatibilism Demonstrated

Genesis 50:19-21Genesis 50:19-21

But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? "As for you, you for am I in God's place? "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people present result, to preserve many people alive. "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will alive. "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Next Week: ElectionNext Week: Election

Read Romans 9-11Read Romans 9-11

Ask: Why is Paul explaining these Ask: Why is Paul explaining these things? things?

What do the “objector’s” What do the “objector’s” questions tell questions tell us about Paul’s us about Paul’s teaching on election in teaching on election in chapter 9? chapter 9?