God's Sovereignty and Love in Christian Theology
God's sovereignty refers to His absolute right to act according to His own will in all things [2]. This divine attribute is evident throughout scripture, asserting that God "does as he pleases" and possesses absolute power in heaven and on earth [10]. Passages like Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, and Revelation 4:11 are cited to support the concept of God's complete authority [2]. The Psalmist also declares, "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite" [6].
Alongside His sovereignty, God's love is a fundamental aspect of His character [1]. The Bible states directly that "God is love" [4, 5, 12]. This love is described as sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, and unalienable [1]. It is also characterized as everlasting and not dependent on human merit [1]. God's love is particularly manifested towards perishing sinners, His saints, and the destitute [1]. For instance, John 3:16 highlights God's love for the world, while 1 John 4:16 emphasizes that those who remain in love remain in God [1, 4, 5].
The love of Christ, which is a reflection of God's love, is described as surpassing knowledge [3]. This love is special, free, sovereign, durable, and unchangeable [7]. It is demonstrated through Christ's actions, such as His role as a surety, His assumption of human nature, and His sacrificial death [7]. This divine love is the cause of human love for God, not the other way around [11]. As Adam Clarke notes, one who is full of love for God and humanity is "full of God, for God is love" [9]. The Lord's love and forgiveness are considered infinite and complete [13]. Christian love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, emphasizes a willingness to prioritize the good of others over one's own desires [8].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
- 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).”
- Ephesians “and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -- Ephesians 3:19”
- 1 John “We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. -- 1 John 4:16”
- I John “I John 4:16 (ASV) — And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.”
- Psalms “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. -- Psalms 147:5”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:18: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,.... The love of Christ to his own, to his church and people, is special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as his Father's love, and is durable and unchangeable; the greatest love that ever was heard of; it is matchless and unparalleled; it is exceeding strong and affectionate, and is wonderful and surprising: the instances of it are, his engaging as a surety for them; his espousing both their persons and their cause; his assumption of their nature; his dying in their room and stead; his payment of th”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 13:4: 13:4-7 This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires for the good of others (see also 8:1–10:33; Rom 5:6-8; 15:3; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:4-8).”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 4:16: God is love - See on Jo1 4:8 (note). He that dwelleth in love - he who is full of love to God and man is full of God, for God is love; and where such love is, there is God, for he is the fountain and maintainer of it.”
- Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 4:35: 4:35 He does as he pleases: God has absolute power in heaven and on earth.”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:10: Herein is love,.... The love of God, free love, love that cannot be matched: herein it is manifested, as before; this is a clear evidence of it, an undoubted proof, and puts it out of all question: not that we loved God: the love of God is antecedent to the love of his people; it was when theirs was not; when they were without love to him, yea, enemies in their minds, by wicked works, and even enmity itself, and therefore was not procured by theirs; but on the contrary, their love to him is caused by his love to them; hence his love, and a continuance in it, do not ”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:16: And we have known and believed,.... Or have a full assurance and knowledge of, and faith in, the love that God hath to us; shown as in many instances, so more especially in sending his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, to be the Saviour of us, and that we might live through him. God is love; See Gill on Jo1 4:8, and he that dwelleth in love; who dwells by faith upon the love of God as displayed in Christ, and abides in the exercise of love to God and to the saints: dwelleth in God, and God in him; See Gill on Jo1 4:13; the last clause, "and God in him",”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 103:11: 103:11-12 The Lord’s love and forgiveness are infinite and complete.”