Is God in Control? | 4 Views on the Sovereignty of God
- Chad Lee
- Nov 14, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2023
Type of Doctrine: Secondary
"29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
-Matthew 10:29-31 ESV
Why does it matter?
Is God in control of every detail and every event that happens in the universe? Is he in control when we have good days, normal days, and bad days?
If he is in control, then it brings Christians great comfort since he has the power to answer prayers. We can trust that he can work things together for good (Rom. 8:28). We can have confidence that he will overcome Satan and the demons. However, it brings challenges as well. For example, if God is in control then does he cause suffering? Does he allow suffering? Moreover, where did evil come from? Did God ordain evil? Can people choose to be saved or must God ordain it?
If he is not in control of every detail, then Christians may feel comforted that he was not involved in evil and people choose whether to be saved, but there are challenges on this side as well. For example, if God is not in control, how can he answer prayer? Should we pray for someone to be saved if he cannot impact it? How can we be assured that he can work all things together for good (Rom. 8:28)? How can we have confidence that God will overcome Satan and the demons?
This doctrine is likely secondary, because it significantly affects the way the Bible is interpreted, preached, and used to counsel. Thus, it will likely affect the church one chooses. However, mature Christians could disagree on this issue and remain in the same church. So, in some cases, this could be a tertiary issue.
What is it?
What is the sovereignty of God? The word "sovereign" has the idea of a king ruling his kingdom. It is concerned with the idea of control. Is God in control of his universe? All Christians agree that he is sovereign, and his purposes and plans will be accomplished. All Christians also agree that humans are responsible for their actions. Additionally, they agree that ultimately it is a mystery how God's sovereignty and human responsibility relate.
However, the question, and point of disagreement, comes when we began to discuss the extent of his control. Is he generally in control of the universe? Or, on the other hand, is he in control of every single detail? Is he in control of evil? Does he have control of the human will?
Here are some of the key Bible verses on this topic to study:
"Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases" (Psa 115:3 ESV).
"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2 ESV).
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand" (Pro 19:21 ESV).
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28 ESV).
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph 1:11 ESV).
"The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all" (Psa 103:19 ESV).
"Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps" (Psa 135:6 ESV).
"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will" (Pro 21:1 ESV).
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Gen 50:20 ESV).
"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD" (Pro 16:33 ESV).
"The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble" (Pro 16:4 ESV).
"I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things" (Isa 45:7 ESV).
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Col 1:16-17 ESV).
" . . . this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it" (Act 2:23-24 ESV).
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day" (Jhn 6:44 ESV).
"Then the LORD said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?'" (Exo 4:11 ESV).
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered" (Mat 10:29-30 ESV).
Some theologians prefer to distinguish between the word "control" (controls every detail) and being "in charge" (a king is in charge but not necessarily in control of every detail). Some speak of God causing events, while others prefer to speak of God allowing or permitting events. The former point out that even if we claim that God allows it, God still ultimately causes it. If he has the power to prevent it and he allows it, then he is still choosing for it to take place. Some theologians point out that both God and other causes happen together. In other words, God is always the primary cause, but there can be other secondary causes (i.e., human decisions, Satan, demons, etc.).
4 Views on the Sovereignty of God
This conversation has surfaced a few times in church history (i.e., including famously between Augustine and Pelagius). However, the following four views are the most commonly accepted views in church history. It is highly debated, however, that the Open Theism view should be accepted as a Christian view. Many consider that view heresy since it denies that God knows the future. Therefore, I have highlighted the Open Theism view in gray in the chart below.
The following chart is based on the information found in chapter sixteen of Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, this Got Questions article on Molinism, and this podcast episode from Remnant Radio.
Views | What? | Emphasis | Challenge |
Calvinism | God is fully in control and ordains/causes all things to happen. Humans have responsibility for their choices, but they do not have free will. Some, called compatibilists, say that both God's sovereignty and human responsibility are compatible. In other words, God is sovereign and humans are responsible for their actions at the same time, but it's a mystery how they relate to each other. God's plan is specific (rather than general like Arminians). He has a plan for every single detail of creation. God knows all things (including the future). | The Sovereignty of God (over every detail of creation) | Can make us feel like we can't make real decisions and struggle with understanding suffering and evil |
Arminianism | Humans have free will. God cannot cause our actions because it would eliminate real freedom and choice. God's plan is general, but it can be accomplished in different ways. He does not have a plan for every specific event, object, or person. God knows all things (including the future). | Human Free Will | Can make it seem like God is not truly sovereign but instead humans make decisions that God cannot impact or change |
Molinism | God knows all things (including the future) and all possible outcomes of things that do not even happen (middle knowledge). He then places people in situations where they respond with free will according to his desires. Thus, trying to preserve God's sovereignty and human free will. | Middle Knowledge (God knows all possible outcomes) | Are decisions really free if God places us in certain situations knowing we'll respond in a certain way? |
Open Theism | God does not know the future (therefore he does not know all things), but instead he is really good at responding to events as they happen. (Many think that this view is heresy; in other words, the view is not a valid Christian view.) | God's ability to respond to events as they happen | God does not know the future |
Application
Regardless of one's view on the topic of God's sovereignty, it should bring us great peace and comfort that God will accomplish his plan for the universe. We do not need to fear (Matt. 10:29-31), because God has the power to bring good out of the worst situations (Rom. 8:28). Sometimes we go through situations that we do not understand, but we can take comfort in the fact that God does understand it. He knows exactly how it fits into a cosmic plan which will bring himself glory and us joy. Ultimately, he will execute justice and eliminate evil and suffering so that we can live with him in a perfect world (Rev. 21-22).
Where can I learn more?
Bibliography:
- Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.
