Freedom of Submission to God's Sovereign Will
God's sovereignty denotes His absolute right to govern all things according to His good pleasure [3]. This divine prerogative, affirmed throughout Scripture (Daniel 4:25, 35; Romans 9:15-23), establishes the framework within which human freedom operates. Rather than negating human agency, submission to God's sovereign will paradoxically liberates believers from lesser bondages.
The Nature of Christian Liberty
Christian liberty, foretold in Isaiah 42:7 and 61:1, is conferred by God and realized through Christ and the Holy Spirit [5]. This freedom encompasses release from the law's curse, the fear of death, sin's dominion, and human bondage [5]. Paul's declaration that "there is no power but of God" [2] situates all earthly authority within divine sovereignty, making submission to legitimate powers an act of obedience to God Himself [6]. The paradox emerges clearly: obedience to God—including submission to higher powers—constitutes a defining characteristic of Christian freedom [6].
Voluntary Worship Within Divine Order
The concept of freewill offerings illuminates this relationship. Under Mosaic law, freewill offerings were spontaneous gifts distinct from mandatory sacrifices or vow-fulfillments [4]. The psalmist's call to "offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving" and "pay your vows to the Most High" [1] reflects this voluntary dimension. John Gill interprets such offerings as spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, given "not by constraint, but willingly; not by force, but of a ready mind" [10]. These freewill offerings of the mouth represent worship that flows from liberty rather than compulsion [9].
Access Through Submission
Believers possess "boldness and access" to God's throne through Christ [8], an access characterized by freedom from servile fear and the spirit of bondage [8]. This confidence coexists with submission to God's will in worldly matters—being content with one's portion and accepting afflictive providences [7]. The faithful commit "the keeping of their souls" to God as Creator and preserver, trusting His faithfulness to fulfill His promises [12]. Such commitment presupposes suffering "according to the will of God" for righteousness' sake [12].
The freedom of submission thus operates within God's sovereign design: believers exercise genuine agency in voluntary worship and obedient trust, yet this very freedom derives from and returns to divine authority. Access to the Father through one Spirit [11] unites both the liberty and the submission in a single movement of grace.
Sources
- Psalms “Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. -- Psalms 50:14”
- Romans “Romans 13:1 (Tyndale) — Let every soule submit him selfe vnto the auctorite of ye hyer powers. For there is no power but of God.”
- 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: Free-will offering — A spontaneous gift (Ex. 35:29), a voluntary sacrifice (Lev. 22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in expiation of some offence.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberty, Christian — Foretold -- Isa 42:7; 61:1. Conferred By God. -- Col 1:13. By Christ. -- Ga 4:3-5; 5:1. By the Holy Spirit. -- Ro 8:15; 2Co 3:17. Through the gospel. -- Joh 8:32. Confirmed by Christ -- Joh 8:36. Proclaimed by Christ -- Isa 61:1; Lu 4:18. The service of Christ is -- 1Co 7:22. Is freedom from The law. -- Ro 7:6; 8:2. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The fear of death. -- Heb 2:15. Sin. -- Ro 6:7,18. Corruption. -- Ro 8:21. Bondage of man. -- 1Co 9:19. Jewish ordinances. -- Ga 4:3; Col 2:20. Called the glorious liberty of the children of God -- Ro”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
- James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 4:7: To the will of God, with respect to worldly things, and be content with such things as are enjoyed, and be satisfied with the portion that is allotted; it is right and best for the people of God to leave themselves with him, to choose their inheritance for them, since by all their anxious cares, their striving and struggling, their impatient desires, wars and fightings, as they cannot add one cubit to their stature, so nothing to their worldly substance; and it becomes them to submit to God in all afflictive dispensations of his providence, and be still and know that he”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:12: In whom we have boldness and access,.... Into the holy of holies, to the throne of grace there, and to God the Father, as seated on it: Christ is the way of access; union to him gives right of access; through his mediation his people have audience of God, and acceptance with him, both of person and service: and this access is with boldness; which denotes liberty of coming, granted by God, and a liberty in their own souls to speak out their minds plainly and freely; and an holy courage and intrepidity of soul, being free from servile fear, or a spirit of bondage; wh”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:104: Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,.... Not sacrifices out of his flocks and herds, such as were the voluntary and freewill offerings brought to the priests under the law, though there may be an allusion to them; nor out of his substance, such as David and his people willingly offered towards the building of the temple; but these are not the freewill offerings of his hands, but of his mouth; the spiritual sacrifices of prayer praise: prayer is an offering; see Psa 141:2; and it is a freewill offering, when a man is assisted by the ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 54:6: I will freely sacrifice unto thee,.... Not legal sacrifices; no, nor freewill offerings the law gives directions about, though the allusion is to them; but the freewill offerings of his mouth, Psa 119:108; the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, on account of help, salvation, and deliverance, as appears from the following clause; which he determines to offer, not by constraint, but willingly; not by force, but of a ready mind; freely, and with all his heart. The sacrifice of his antitype is himself, his soul and body, as in union with his divine Person; and this wa”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 2:18: For through him we both have an access, That is, both Jews and Gentiles; the Arabic version reads, "we both factions": being made one, and reconciled unto God, and having the Gospel of peace preached to both, they have through Christ freedom of access and boldness in it: by one Spirit unto the Father: they may come to God as the Father of spirits, and of mercies, who has made their souls or spirits, and bestowed his mercies on them in great abundance; and as the Father of Christ, and as their God and Father in Christ: and the rather they should consider him in th”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 4:19: Suffer according to the will of God - A man suffers according to the will of God who suffers for righteousness' sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not again. Commit the keeping of their souls - Place their lives confidently in his hand, who, being their Creator, will also be their preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as faithful, because he will always fulfill his promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. But they had no reason to hope that he would care for their lives and souls unles”