God's Sovereignty in Spiritual Fruitfulness and Growth
God's Sovereignty in Spiritual Fruitfulness and Growth
The concept of God's sovereignty is deeply intertwined with the idea of spiritual fruitfulness and growth. Scripture establishes that God is the ultimate source of all blessings, including spiritual ones. In Genesis, God commands Abraham to "be fruitful and multiply" [1], a blessing that is reiterated in Genesis 28:3, where Isaac prays that God Almighty will "make you fruitful and multiply you" [3]. This divine mandate underscores God's role in enabling His people to be productive and fruitful.
The sovereignty of God is characterized by His absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure [2]. This attribute is crucial in understanding spiritual fruitfulness, as it implies that God is not only the initiator but also the sustainer of spiritual growth. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God's gifts, including spiritual ones, are dispensed according to His will [4]. This includes the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is essential for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
The Psalmist highlights God's power and goodness as the foundation for confidence in His ability to bless and make fruitful [7]. Psalms 65:6 and 67:6 illustrate God's control over nature and His role in causing the earth to produce abundantly, serving as a type for the spiritual blessings He bestows. The Psalmist's affirmation that God "makes the earth fruitful" is seen as a metaphor for the spiritual fruitfulness that comes from God.
In the New Testament, the concept of growing in grace is emphasized. According to Adam Clarke, growing in grace involves increasing in the image and favor of God, with every grace and divine influence received being a seed that, when watered, will multiply [8]. John Gill further explains that growing in grace involves an increase in the gifts of grace through their use and the gradual work of internal grace [9].
The sovereignty of God in spiritual fruitfulness is also linked to His power. Torrey's Topical Textbook describes God's power as one of His attributes, characterized as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, irresistible, and incomparable [5]. This power is exercised in various ways, including the creation, upholding all things, and salvation.
The relationship between God's sovereignty and spiritual growth is further underscored by the understanding that Christ's power is supreme, unlimited, and glorious [6]. As the Son of God, Christ's power is the power of God, and as man, it is derived from the Father. This power is essential for spiritual growth, as it enables believers to subdue all things unto themselves.
Sources
- Genesis “God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. -- Genesis 35:11”
- 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).”
- Genesis “Genesis 28:3 (BSB) — May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gifts of God, The — All blessings are -- Jas 1:17; 2Pe 1:3. Are dispensed according to his will -- Ec 2:26; Da 2:21; Ro 12:6; 1Co 7:7. Are free and abundant -- Nu 14:8; Ro 8:32. Spiritual Christ the chief of. -- Isa 42:6; 55:4; Joh 3:16; 4:10; 6:32,33. Are through Christ. -- Ps 68:18; Eph 4:7,8; Joh 6:27. The Holy Spirit. -- Lu 11:13; Ac 8:20. Grace. -- Ps 84:11; Jas 4:6. Wisdom. -- Pr 2:6; Jas 1:5. Repentance. -- Ac 11:18. Faith. -- Eph 2:8; Php 1:29. Righteousness. -- Ro 5:16,17. Strength and power. -- Ps 68:35. A new heart. -- Eze 11:19. Peace. -- Ps 29:11. Rest. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 65:6: God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; Psa 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.”
- 2 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Peter 3:18: But grow in grace - Increase in the image and favor of God; every grace and Divine influence which ye have received is a seed, a heavenly seed, which, if it be watered with the dew of heaven from above, will endlessly increase and multiply itself. He who continues to believe, love, and obey, will grow in grace, and continually increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as his sacrifice, sanctifier, counsellor, preserver, and final Savior. The life of a Christian is a growth; he is at first born of God, and is a little child; becomes a young man, and a father in Chr”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 3:18: But grow in grace,.... In the gifts of grace, which, under a divine blessing, may be increased by using them: gifts neglected decrease, but stirred up and used, are improved and increase. And though men are to be thankful for their gifts, and be contented with them, yet they may lawfully desire more, and in the use of means seek an increase of them, which may be a means of preserving themselves, and others, from the error of the wicked. Moreover, by "grace" may be meant internal grace. The work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cas”