God's Sovereignty in Bestowing Divine Grace

The concept of God's sovereignty in bestowing divine grace is rooted in biblical teachings that emphasize God's absolute authority and control over all things. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty is defined as "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" ^[1]. This understanding is supported by various scriptural references, including Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, and 1 Timothy 6:15.

The biblical basis for God's sovereignty in bestowing divine grace is closely tied to the doctrine of election. The Scripture speaks of the election of individuals to eternal life, with the ground of this election being the good pleasure of God (Ephesians 1:4, 5, 11; Matthew 11:25, 26; John 15:16) ^[2]. This election is not based on human merit or foreseen faith but is a sovereign act of God.

The concept of grace is also crucial in understanding God's sovereignty. Torrey's Topical Textbook describes grace as "sovereign" and highlights that it is given by Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4) and is a manifestation of God's kindness through Christ (Ephesians 2:7) ^[3]. The throne of God is described as the "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16), emphasizing the gracious nature of God's sovereignty.

The relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility is complex. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's decrees are "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be" ^[4]. This suggests that God's sovereignty encompasses all aspects of human life, including their salvation.

Different Christian traditions have interpreted God's sovereignty in bestowing divine grace in various ways. one commentary tradition by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 12:13 highlights the idea that God's grace is not limited by human actions, while the Protestant academic commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:11 notes that God sometimes hands people over to the power of sin or deception they have desired ^{[6, 7]}.

The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God in disposing of the children of men with reference to their eternal state. According to Henry, God is not only a rector and governor distributing rewards and punishments but also an owner and benefactor giving grace and favor according to his secret and eternal will and counsel ^[8].

The biblical concept of God's sovereignty in bestowing divine grace is also reflected in the Psalms. Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalms 103:19 notes that God's throne is a throne of government, and He rules all by a word of power, having prepared and established His throne that it cannot be shaken ^[9].

The sovereignty of God in bestowing divine grace is a profound mystery that is deeply rooted in biblical teachings. As Proverbs 25:2 states, "The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret" ^[5]. This mystery is a reminder of the limitations of human understanding and the need to trust in God's sovereign goodness.

Sources

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: Election of Grace — The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:5, 11; Matt. 11:25, 26; John 15”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Grace — God is the God of all -- 1Pe 5:10. God is the Giver of -- Ps 84:11; Jas 1:17. God's throne, the throne of -- Heb 4:16. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of -- Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29. Was upon Christ -- Lu 2:40; Joh 3:24. Christ spoke with -- Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22. Christ was full of -- Joh 1:14. Came by Christ -- Joh 1:17; Ro 5:15. Given by Christ -- 1Co 1:4. Foretold by the prophets -- 1Pe 1:10. Riches of, exhibited in God's kindness through Christ -- Eph 2:7. Glory of, exhibited in our acceptance in Christ -- Eph 1:6. Is described as Great. -- Ac 4:33. Sovereign. -- R”
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”
Proverbs “Proverbs 25:2 (Geneva1599) — The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.”
2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 12:13: wherein you were inferior--that is, were treated with less consideration by me than were other churches. I myself--I made a gain of you neither myself, nor by those others whom I sent, Titus and others (Co2 12:17-18). wrong--His declining support from the Corinthians might be regarded as the denial to them of a privilege, and a mark of their spiritual inferiority, and of his looking on them with less confidence and love (compare Co2 11:9, Co2 11:11).”
2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 2:11: 2:11 As seen elsewhere in Scripture (Exod 9:12; 2 Chr 18:22), God sometimes hands people over to the power of the sin or deception they have desired in place of the truth (Rom 1:24, 26, 28; 11:8).”
Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 9:14: The apostle, having asserted the true meaning of the promise, comes here to maintain and prove the absolute sovereignty of God, in disposing of the children of men, with reference to their eternal state. And herein God is to be considered, not as a rector and governor, distributing rewards and punishments according to his revealed laws and covenants, but as an owner and benefactor, giving to the children of men such grace and favour as he has determined in and by his secret and eternal will and counsel: both the favour of visible church-membership and privileges, ”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 103:19: Here is, I. The doctrine of universal providence laid down, Psa 103:19. He has secured the happiness of his peculiar people by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in general, he secures by common providence. The Lord has a throne of his own, a throne of glory, a throne of government. He that made all rules all, and both by a word of power: He has prepared his throne, has fixed and established it that it cannot be shaken; he has afore-ordained all the measures of his government and does all according to the counsel of his own will. He ha”

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