God's Absolute Control in All Things
The concept of God's absolute control in all things is rooted in biblical teachings that affirm God's sovereignty over creation. According to Ephesians 1:10, God has a plan to "head up all things in Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things on earth" [1]. This plan is part of God's eternal and unchangeable purpose, which comprehends all things that ever were or will be [4].
The biblical basis for God's absolute control is further established in passages that describe God's power and authority. Colossians 1:17 states that Christ "is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" [3]. This indicates that God's control is not limited to specific events or circumstances but is a comprehensive and ongoing reality. The Psalmist affirms that "the Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all" (Psalm 103:19), underscoring God's universal sovereignty.
Theological traditions have articulated this concept in various ways. The Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes God's omniscience and omnipresence, noting that "hell and destruction are before the Lord" (Proverbs 15:11) [9]. Similarly, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as seen in Adam Clarke's commentary, highlights God's infinite power and wisdom, citing Daniel 4:3, where it is written, "How great are his signs! and his wonders, they are mighty" [7].
The doctrine of God's absolute control is also linked to the attribute of sovereignty, which is described as God's "absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" (Easton's Bible Dictionary) [5]. This sovereignty is demonstrated in creation, where God "calls into being all things out of nothing" (Easton's Bible Dictionary) [6]. Biblical passages such as Acts 15:18, which states that "from the beginning of the world God knoweth all his workes," further reinforce this idea [2].
The implications of God's absolute control are far-reaching. It means that God is not only the creator but also the sustainer and governor of all things. As Adam Clarke notes on John 4:24, "God is a Spirit... pervading, governing, and upholding all things" [8]. This understanding of God's sovereignty provides a foundation for trust and confidence in God's providence, even in the face of uncertainty or adversity.
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 1:10 (LITV) — for the administration of the fullness of the times to head up all things in Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things on earth, in Him,”
- Acts “Acts 15:18 (Geneva1599) — From the beginning of the worlde, God knoweth all his workes.”
- Colossians “Colossians 1:17 (NASB) — He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Creation — "In the beginning" God created, i.e., called into being, all things out of nothing. This creative act on the part of God was absolutely free, and for infinitely wise reasons. The cause of all things exists only in the will of God. The work of creation is attributed (1) to the Godhead (Gen. 1:1, 26); (2) to the Father (1 Cor. 8:6); (3) to the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17); (4) to the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps. 104:30). The fact that he is the Creator distinguishes Jehovah as the true God (Isa. 37:16; 40:12, 13; 54:5; Ps. 96:5; Jer. 10:11, 12). Th”
- Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 4:3: How great are his signs! - There are no preternatural signs like his! His wonders - miraculous interferences, are mighty - they surpass all human power. He is the Sovereign of all kings, and his dominion is everlasting; and every generation is a proof of his all-governing influence. These are very fine sentiments, and show how deeply his mind was impressed with the majesty of God.”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 4:24: God is a Spirit - This is one of the first, the greatest, the most sublime, and necessary truths in the compass of nature! There is a God, the cause of all things - the fountain of all perfection - without parts or dimensions, for he is Eternal - filling the heavens and the earth - pervading, governing, and upholding all things: for he is an infinite Spirit! This God can be pleased only with that which resembles himself: therefore he must hate sin and sinfulness; and can delight in those only who are made partakers of his own Divine nature. As all creatures were made ”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 15:11: This confirms what was said (Pro 15:3) concerning God's omnipresence, in order to his judging of evil and good. 1. God knows all things, even those things that are hidden from the eyes of all living: Hell and destruction are before the Lord, not only the centre of the earth, and its subterraneous caverns, but the grave, and all the dead bodies which are there buried out of our sight; they are all before the Lord, all under his eye, so that none of them can be lost or be to seek when they are to be raised again. He knows where every man lies buried, even Moses, ”