Chapter 7

God’s Sovereignty

Sections

1. God’s Supreme Authority
   1. The Lord Is God – the Only God
      • The Lord is God
      • The Lord is God of heaven and earth
      • The Lord is God of all people
      • The Lord is the true and living God . . .
      • . . . He is the one and only God
      • God’s deeds show that he is the only God . . .
      • . . . God’s deeds show that he is indeed the Lord
   2. God Reigns Supreme
      • God reigns . . .
      • . . . God is enthroned in heaven
      • God rules over all – over all the earth
      • God rules over all nations and authorities
      • God will reign forever
      • God will impose his absolute rule on all
      • Note: All things belong to God
   3. God Has Power over All Things
      • God has power over the forces of evil
      • God has power over death, to raise the dead
      • God has power over all aspects of nature, including: the earth; the skies; . . .
      • . . . and the waters
      • God has power over nations . . .
      • . . . God can devastate or destroy nations
      • God has power over rulers and can bring them down . . .
      • . . . Examples of God bringing rulers down
   4. God Defeats His Enemies
      • No one can effectively oppose God . . .
      • . . . The plans of God’s enemies cannot succeed against him
      • God takes vengeance on his enemies
      • God repays his enemies for their deeds
      • God destroys his enemies
   5. God Fulfills His Plans
      • God carries out his purposes and plans
      • God’s plans were determined long ago – from the beginning
      • When the time comes, God’s plans are promptly fulfilled
      • God does not change his purposes and plans . . .
      • . . . though God may have reason to alter something he did – or relent from something he proposed
      • No one can thwart God’s purposes and plans . . .
      • . . . Nor can anyone alter what God does
      • God works everything for his purposes and plans

2. God’s Control over the World
   1. God Has Control over Evil
      • God exerts control over evil
      • God can use evil
      • God can use evil to fulfill his purposes
      • God can use evil and wrongdoing to punish
      • God can use evil for the benefit of people
   2. God Has Control over Nature
      • God directs nature
      • Nature serves God
      • God can control the elements of nature to bring plentiful provision . . .
      • . . . and God can control nature so as to bring depravation
      • God has control over all creatures
      • God can perform miracles of nature . . .
      • . . . God can miraculously use nature for his purposes
   3. God Has Control over the Nations
      • God is in control of the nations
      • God has been in control of the nations throughout history
      • God appoints times for events affecting the nations
      • God has control over the outcome of conflicts between nations
      • God can thwart the plans of the nations
      • God establishes all ruling authorities
      • God has control over rulers . . .
      • . . . God can use rulers in order to accomplish his purposes
   4. God Has Control over Each Person
      • God has control over people’s hearts and minds
      • God has control over people’s actions . . .
      • . . . Despite people’s plans, their steps are directed by God
      • God controls the good and bad things that happen to people
      • God brings people down and exalts others
      • God determines the length of people’s lives . . .
      • . . . and God finishes people’s lives
      • Note: The life of every person is in God’s hands
   5. Addendum: God’s Early Dealings with Humankind
      • God’s creation of the first people, in an ideal environment
      • Humankind’s original sin and the judgment – including death and expulsion from the Garden of Eden
      • The flood and Noah: Escalated sin and judgment; righteousness and salvation
      • The Tower of Babel: Sinful pride and the dispersion of humankind

 ➜Major headings in: 7. God’s Sovereignty (and all of Unit B)

Pray for persecuted Christians