SOVEREIGN GRACE

 

SOVEREIGN GRACE

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

  Some see a conflict between sovereignty and grace. I do not.  But before going on let’s see the definitions.

Sovereignty is: Judging all; possessing the sovereign right of judging. Supreme total autonomous authority. Jehovah God Almighty bring the ultimate Sovereign.

Grace, as by and from God is unearned un-deserved favor and blessings. Sovereign God is the epitome of grace.

  To illustrate I present two Biblical examples. Both showing that trusting Sovereign God involves His grace. The first making the point that “When?” is not the issue. The second showing that as Sovereign He is unwavering, but as recipients of His grace with free-will “If?”, we individually decide to accept His grace or not.

[Jesus explaining] “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. After agreeing to pay the workers the usual day's wages, he sent them to work in his vineyard. About 9 a.m. he saw others standing in the marketplace without work. He said to them, 'Work in my vineyard, and I'll give you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about noon and 3 p.m. and did the same thing. About 5 p.m. he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?' "'No one has hired us,' they answered him. "He said to them, 'Work in my vineyard.' "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told the supervisor, 'Call the workers, and give them their wages. Start with the last, and end with the first.' "Those who started working about 5 p.m. came, and each received a day's wages. When those who had been hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them received a day's wages. Although they took it, they began to protest to the owner. They said, 'These last workers have worked only one hour. Yet, you've treated us all the same, even though we worked hard all day under a blazing sun.' "The owner said to one of them, 'Friend, I'm not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me on a day's wages? Take your money and go! I want to give this last worker as much as I gave you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Or do you resent my generosity towards others?' (GW Mt.1-15)

The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (MKJV 2Pet.3:9)

  It is not God that wants us to be confused and anxious. That continues to be the goal of the wicked one. (Mt.13:19, 38;1Cor.14:33; 1Jn.2:13-14; 3:12; 5:18)

EBB4