God's Sovereignty in Redemptive History and Salvation
God's Sovereignty in Redemptive History and Salvation
God's sovereignty is a foundational concept in understanding redemptive history and salvation. The biblical narrative presents God's sovereignty as the underlying framework for the unfolding of human history and the plan of salvation. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty refers to "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" [2].
The biblical basis for God's sovereignty in redemptive history is rooted in various passages. For instance, Psalms 111:9 states, "Redemption He hath sent to His people, He hath appointed to the age His covenant, Holy and fearful is His name" [3]. This verse highlights God's initiative in sending redemption to His people, underscoring His sovereignty in salvation. The concept of redemption is further elaborated in Torrey's Topical Textbook, which defines redemption as a deliverance from sin, the curse of the law, and the power of the grave, accomplished by Christ's sacrifice [1].
The New Testament reinforces the idea of God's sovereignty in salvation. Ephesians 2:5 and 2:10 emphasize that salvation is a gift from God, not earned by human works, but rather a result of God's grace and mercy [4, 6]. The Tyndale House commentary on Ephesians 2:5 notes that believers are "made alive together with Christ," indicating a union with Christ that is fundamental to the salvation experience. This union is further described in Ephesians 2:6, where believers are said to be "raised up together with Christ" [7].
The sovereignty of God in salvation is also reflected in the concept of predestination. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on 1 Peter 1:20, God's eternal foreordination of Christ's redeeming sacrifice underscores the divine initiative in salvation [8]. John Gill's commentary on Colossians 1:14 explains that redemption is a blessing of grace that saints have in and by Christ, involving deliverance from sin and its consequences [9].
The relationship between God's sovereignty and human agency in salvation is a complex issue. While some traditions emphasize the role of human decision and response, others stress the primacy of divine sovereignty. The Tyndale House commentary on Titus 3:5 highlights the contrast between human actions that might merit salvation and God's grace, emphasizing that salvation is through faith in God's mercy alone [5].
The historical development of the doctrine of God's sovereignty in redemptive history and salvation has been shaped by various theological traditions. The Reformed tradition, for example, has emphasized the sovereignty of God in salvation, as reflected in the writings of theologians such as John Calvin. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, represented by John Gill's commentary, also underscores the importance of God's sovereignty in redemption [9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Redemption — Defined -- 1Co 6:20; 7:23. Is of God -- Isa 44:21-23; 43:1; Lu 1:68. Is by Christ -- Mt 20:28; Ga 3:13. Is by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Heb 9:12; 1Pe 1:19; Re 5:9. Christ sent to effect -- Ga 4:4,5. Christ is made, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Is from The bondage of the law. -- Ga 4:5. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The power of sin. -- Ro 6:18,22. The power of the grave. -- Ps 49:15. All troubles. -- Ps 25:22. All iniquity. -- Ps 130:8; Tit 2:14. All evil. -- Ge 48:16. The present evil world. -- Ga 1:4. Vain conversation. -- 1Pe 1:18. Enemies. -- Ps 106”
- 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).”
- Psalms “Psalms 111:9 (YLT) — Redemption He hath sent to His people, He hath appointed to the age His covenant, Holy and fearful <FI>is<Fi> His name.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
- Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:20: God's eternal foreordination of Christ's redeeming sacrifice, and completion of it in these last times for us, are an additional obligation on us to our maintaining a holy walk, considering how great things have been thus done for us. Peter's language in the history corresponds with this here: an undesigned coincidence and mark of genuineness. Redemption was no afterthought, or remedy of an unforeseen evil, devised at the time of its arising. God's foreordaining of the Redeemer refutes the slander that, on the Christian theory, there is a period of fo”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:14: In whom we have redemption,.... Which is an excellent and wonderful blessing of grace saints have in and by Christ; and lies in a deliverance from sin, all sin, original and actual, under which they are held captive, in a state of nature, and by which they are made subject to the punishment of death; but through the sacrifice of Christ it is taken, and put away, finished, and made an end of; and they are freed from the damning power of it, or any obligation to punishment for it; and in consequence of this are delivered from the enslaving governing power of it by h”