Communicating God's Sovereignty in Modern Times
Communicating God's Sovereignty
The concept of God's sovereignty is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing God's supreme authority and control over all things. The Bible instructs believers to communicate this sovereignty through preaching and teaching [1, 3]. Jesus commands his disciples to "preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'" [3], and the apostles continued this mission, preaching "the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance" [1].
In communicating God's sovereignty, believers are called to speak as those "conveying the words of God" [2]. This involves proclaiming the Gospel with power, as seen in the apostle Paul's ministry, which was characterized by "the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit" [4]. The message is not their own, but God's, and it is to be delivered with reverence and faithfulness [8].
The Bible is considered the inspired word of God, making it the authoritative source for understanding and communicating God's sovereignty [5]. As Easton's Bible Dictionary notes, the Bible is "God's word, because he speaks to us in its sacred pages" [5]. The writers of the Bible were "God's organs in communicating his will to men" [5].
Different Christian traditions have understood and communicated God's sovereignty in various ways. For instance, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, interprets Revelation 14:6 as describing a dispensation of providence and grace that rapidly spreads the Gospel throughout the world [6]. In contrast, the Baptist/Reformed tradition, as seen in John Gill's commentary, emphasizes the importance of boldly speaking God's word despite threats and challenges [7].
Sources
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- I Peter “I Peter 4:11 (BSB) — If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
- Matthew “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ -- Matthew 10:7”
- Romans “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; -- Romans 15:19”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 14:6: Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel - Whether this angel mean any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world; or whether it mean any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth, we know not. But the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible Society, whose object it is to print an”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 4:29: And now, Lord, behold their threatenings,.... Meaning not with his eye of omniscience, which he could not but do; but that he would so take notice of them, as in his providence to rebuke them for them, or restrain them, or make them fearless of them: and grant unto thy servants; the apostles, and all the ministers of the word, who are the servants of the most high God, and who serve him in the Gospel of his Son, with great cheerfulness and faithfulness: that with all boldness they may speak thy word; and not their own, or another's; the Gospel, which is God's speech”
- Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 2:4: Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord - Let them know that what thou hast to declare is the message of the Lord, that they may receive it with reverence. Every preacher of God's word should take heed that it is God's message he delivers to the people. Let him not suppose, because it is according to his own creed or confession of faith, that therefore it is God's word. False doctrines and fallacies without end are foisted on the world in this way. Bring the creed first to the Word of God, and scrupulously try whether it be right; and when this is done, leave ”