Citation and credit for much of this study: Arnold

156 Pages·2016·0.25 MB·English

2/14/2016
Citation and credit for much of this study:
Arnold, Clinton E., Ph.D. Zondervan
Illustrated Bible Backgrounds
Commentary. Grand Rapids, Zondervan,
2002. Print.
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Begin Session Four
Principles of Divine Sovereignty Philippians 1:12-20.
The concept of the sovereignty of God often termed
divine sovereignty, is an area of theological consideration
which can (and often does) take the Christian down either
a very wrong road or a less able road which ends up being
theologically and textually irreconcilable on a number of
occasions.
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To get this doctrine wrong results in many erroneous
notions as well as an stumbling theology which will exist
to frustrate and exasperate a Christian as they mature and
attempt to formulate a more precise and comprehensive
understanding of God’s Word.
The reason I bring this up is because it is embedded in our
text for today and taking this concept, which Paul
incorporates into his thinking as he writes his letter, is an
invaluable asset for us to uncover as we mine this portion
of Scripture.
For many the concept of divine sovereignty is defined as
one of God being in absolute control. This definition is
repeatedly used by Reformed and Calvinist Bible teachers,
Pastors and theologians.
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What is the Biblical problem with this definition of
divine sovereignty?
The problem is that it isn’t true. God is not in absolute
control.
However, and with regard to God being absolute and his
sovereignty, it is Biblically/theologically much more
appropriate to state:
God is ruling, absolutely!
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Sovereignty is not about control, though it does
sometimes involve control. Sovereignty is about ruling.
While at the moment you may not appreciate the
difference I suspect you will as we cover this in our text.
My hope is that you will discover that the difference ends
up being a tremendous gap when we apply its truths.
So before we enter the text I want you to turn to the story
of Job and we will look at an example, which I have
presented befor,e and which illustrates the difference
between absolute control and absolute rule.
Let’s read Job 1:1-12:
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Notice two main things:
1. Satan comes to God for permission
2. God explicitly states, regarding Satan’s efforts against
Job, that “all that he has is in your hand. Only against
him do not stretch out your hand” (metaphorically
speaking this means do not take his life).
If all that Job has is in the hand of Satan, is God in control
of that or is Satan? Satan is but under whose sovereign
rule? To read anything else in the text is to deny its plain
and undeniable properties.
So, while God is not in absolute control, what is he doing,
absolutely?
Ruling!
God is permitting this for his purposes. It does not make it
okay for Satan to attack one of God’s children but what is
God going to do with this?
He is going to use it for the benefit of Job and ultimately
God’s will that God may be glorified.
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Often when negative experiences come into our life, if we
have divine sovereignty in view as a matter of absolute
control, we then may blame God for every evil upon us.
God is not responsible for such. However, he has
promised and is responsible, as the sovereign one, for
permitting all things to occur and ruling in and through
those circumstances and bringing about his will.
This places the onus on the believer, then, to look to see
how and where God is working in us and in the
circumstances instead of simply sighing and saying to
ourselves that it is all God’s fault, he made bad things
happen to us.
This does not negate the fact that sometimes God does
act directly and may be personally directing an event but
that is not divine sovereignty, that is divine will.
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Thus, I want you to keep this in mind as we examine the
text and focus on the principles of divine sovereignty
which, as I said, are embedded in Paul’s thoughts as he
writes.
P.S. Who said, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for
good”?This statement is likely the best summation of
divine sovereignty in all the Bible.
Philippians 1:12-20
12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that
what has happened to me has actually served to advance
the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout
the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in
chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of
the brothers and sisters have become confident in the
Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without
fear.
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15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and
rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out
of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the
gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish
ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up
trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it
matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether
from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And
because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that
through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of
Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my
deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no
way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that
now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether
by life or by death.
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Principles of Divine Sovereignty in Action
Verses 12- 14: The principle of man’s evil intentions used
by God for his good purposes.
A. More people are coming in contact with the
Apostle Paul and are being saved.
B. Believers are being emboldened to have the same
faith and share the gospel, regardless of the
consequences because their confidence toward God
has been enlarged through Paul’s example.
The believer does one of two things in a crisis. He or she
either turns to God and applies his promises as their
problem solving device or they placed God second to their
own ingenuity and wisdom and become their own
problem solving source.
Yes, God may and often does use your own ingenuity and
skills but the very first thing the believer should be
oriented to when problems arise is confidence in God that
no matter what things look like, God is ruling and God is
bringing about his will. And approaching problems
without first resolving that God will ultimately resolve it to
his good will puts the believer in a position of human
strength and wisdom when dealing with such.
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