God’s Sovereignty – Our Responsibility

Last week I shared author Mark Buchanan’s definition of God’s sovereignty: “God made all, rules all, and overrules all that stands in his way” (“The Rest of God,” p. 74).  I also shared the definition I learned from a Bible teacher years ago: “God can do anything He wants, any time He wants, any way He wants, for any purpose He wants to accomplish.”

That could lead us to believe that God is in charge, and what we do with our lives, the choices we make, ultimately makes no difference.  Nothing could be further from the truth, especially as it relates to salvation and eternal life. 

Several years ago, I did an extensive study of Scripture so I could understand for myself what to believe about this mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility to choose to receive or reject His offer of salvation.  It is true that God is sovereign and has chosen or predestined some for salvation. But it is also true that He has given everyone free will to receive or reject His offer.  This is a difficult doctrine, but there are many Scriptures to support both.

Here are just a few of the verses that tell us we are chosen by God:

Ephesians 1:4 …He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.  In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself…

1 Peter 1:1-2 …chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you…

And here are a few verses that teach us about our free will to choose God:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved…

Romans 10:13 Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.

After studying the Scriptures for myself, I have come to strongly agree with this explanation from the Believer’s Bible Commentary on Romans 9:

“In His sovereignty, God has elected or chosen certain individuals to belong to Himself.  But the same Bible that teaches God’s sovereign election also teaches human responsibility.  While it is true that God elects people to salvation, it is also true they must choose to be saved by a definite act of the will.  The divine side of salvation is seen in the words, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.”  The human side is found in the words that follow: “and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37) …

How can God choose individuals to belong to Himself and at the same time make a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere?  How can we reconcile these two truths?  The fact is that we cannot.  To the human mind they are in conflict.  But the Bible teaches both doctrines, and so we should believe them, content to know that the difficulty lies in our minds and not in God’s.  These twin truths are like two parallel lines that meet only in infinity.”

One final thought from Romans 1:19: That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

            I pray this will help you as it has helped me.