To all Atheist’s reading the details below. It is not intended to be an in depth bible study or make the reader think it’s impossible to find out the truth. It is however my intention to convey how important this issue is and that is all.
God’s word
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word sovereign doesn't appear in the KJV, but it does appear in other versions like the NLT. Similarly trinity doesn’t appear in any translation,(as far as I know) yet we read and understand the scriptures describes God in 3 persons, yet God tells us “I am God and there is none like me” & “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut 6:4-15, Isaiah 46:9) and in the same word we can't help but see that to be sovereign is to be God. Having said that, it's also very deep to unpack.
Comparing translations it is evident that where the word sovereign is used that it refers to the Lord God (Lord, Adonai in O.T Hebrew, kurios in N.T Greek) (God, Yahweh- elohiym in O.T Hebrew and in N.T Greek, Theos )
For example, compare Isaiah 25:8 in the KJV and the NLT
KJV
“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
NLT
“He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken!”
But when we consider In Ps 47:2 we read “For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.”
The Lord is “most high” means He is as high as can be, so the word sovereign is really unnecessary and doesn’t add anything to God being “The Lord most High.”
Once we grasp what King Nebuchadnezzar did, (as written in Dan 4:32 “that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”) then we must open the box completely (so to speak), to realise that the “Lord Most High” must also be the lawgiver, otherwise how will society live and survive.
(Consider also all the health and hygiene laws in Leviticus 11:32-40, 13:29-59, 15:1-15)
Then in direct correlation to the laws given by God for the benefit of His people we must also conclude that whoever is “The Most High” must also be All Wise, All knowing, All Powerful, Eternal, Righteous, true, Just and the list goes on.
(See Two world views on this website)
God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev 19:16 That makes Him the ruler of all His creation.
God’s authority
The scripture tells us all that we need to know about who God is, so that we can have a knowledge of Him. He deserves all praise, honour, glory and Love and must be worshiped above all. See Ps 47:6-8
All authority is His, yet here’s the thing, because He is the ultimate authority he can designate/assign authority to men to be rulers (kings and government leaders) on the earth. Daniel 2:20-21,1 Chron 29 :11-17, Ps 24:1-2.
Even though His ways are often beyond our comprehension (beyond finding out) Romans 11:33-36, Isaiah 55:6-9, Job 38:1-7; 40:3-15 we must trust that God knows what He is doing. Christians understand this. Romans 8:28-30
In Matt 28:18-20 we see God gave authority to Jesus Christ prior to Jesus commanding the Apostles to go into the world and make disciples and baptizing those being saved. See also Eph 1:1-21
Authority given to man
We have learnt that the very same God (who is the creator of all things including the heavens and the earth), gave the earth to the sons of men Ps 115:3,16.
God gave man dominion and authority over certain areas (spheres) for a certain time. Genesis 1:26-28, Psalms 8, Prov 8:15, Romans 13, Daniel 2:20-21, 1Peter 2:13.
This authority extends into marriage and family life, the workplace and the Church. (too much to address here)
We get a glimpse of the greatness of God when we read in Isaiah 66:1 “Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?”
One day God’s kingdom will literally be on earth and Christ will be the king and ruler as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6-7; 40:10. Furthermore those who are His, will rule with Him Daniel 7:17-18, Matt 25:31-46.
Note: Until the day of Christ comes and the kingdom of God is on earth, the rule of God’s kingdom is at work in the heart and soul of the believer in Jesus the Christ. Luke 17:20-21. When Jesus (by the working of the holy Spirit of God) is working in the life of the newly recreated (born again) follower of Christ, it must be understood that a person has died with Christ and is now risen with Christ and is seated in Him at the right hand of God. Ephesians 1, Col 1, Gal 2:20
In opposition to this, the Devil will also intend to rule as king of the earth by means of a man called the son of perdition or man of lawlessness along with 10 kings. See 2Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13; 14; 17, Daniel 7:24
God’s authoritative rule as Lord and king over His creation (sovereignty) doesn’t remove/replace man’s free will to believe & live by God’s right and true ways. So although God is almighty, His power beyond measure, He doesn’t force man to receive Christ Jesus the saviour of the world.
Faith we read comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:8-17
However each person (man or women) will be accountable to God (even after they have died) for their actions or non actions and deeds done on earth John 5:28-30, John 3:36, Revelation 20.
Note: God doesn’t choose who get’s saved and who doesn't. As the Calvinist's believe. But, He does predestine the outcome of those who are in Christ. Ephesians 1; 2, Romans 8:28-30
Can man be sovereign?
Let’s consider what mans word say about sovereignty.
Noun
a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.
a person who has supreme power or authority.
a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.
Adjective
belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereign authority; royal.
having supreme rank, power, or authority. Link
The Cambridge dictionary says
sovereign adjective (GOVERNMENT)
Having the highest power or being completely independent:
Sovereign power is said to lie with the people in some countries, and with a ruler in others.
sovereign state/nation We must respect the rights of sovereign states/nations to conduct their own affairs.
Noun
a king or queen, or a person having the power to govern a country
Oxford law dictionary
Supreme authority in a state. In any state sovereignty is vested in the institution, person, or body having the ultimate authority to impose law on everyone else in the state and the power to alter any pre-existing law. How and by whom the authority is exercised varies according to the political nature of the state. In many countries the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of sovereignty are exercised by different bodies. One of these bodies may in fact retain sovereignty by having ultimate control over the others. But in some countries, such as the USA, the powers are carefully balanced by a constitution. In the UK sovereignty is vested in Parliament (see sovereignty of Parliament).
In international law, it is an essential aspect of sovereignty that all states should have supreme control over their internal affairs, subject to the recognized limitations imposed by international law. These limitations include, in particular, the international law of human rights and the rules forbidding the use of force. However, no state or international organization may intervene in matters that fall within the domestic jurisdiction of another state. The concept of state sovereignty was outlined, among other things, in a declaration on Principles of International Law (Resolution 2625), proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1970.
If man believes they evolved (from nothing) how is it possible that he can understand what is morally right or wrong? Without a moral absolute (a holy and righteous God) how can man rule, direct, be just and have authority over people?
How can a person state something is crooked if there is no straight. If a person denies the “Most High God” who created them, then they have no claim on what is crooked. It's just their opinion against that of another.
They deny God and they are blind 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
God’s word states that without the knowledge of law sin can not be imputed Romans 5:13
Romans 13:1-2 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”
So can man be sovereign? They think they can, but they can never be the Lord God.
People of today are complaining that they are seeing a tyrannical governmental system, it's like those that have gone before except the technology today is unlike any other time in history. Digital advances for example mean that those in power (good or bad) can manipulate us, and they do. The people see the corrupt political system is against them even though it pretends otherwise.
Have you heard those people now pushing back and saying “we are sovereign” and we must learn to rule ourselves to take back control. Question. How will people do that if God has not given them his authority to do that? All they will continue to be is in rebellion again God.
Some even claim (like the peacekeepers and those who are into the spirit of the new age) that they can self govern. They believe that nature is God and that they have heard form nature telling them how we should live and conduct ourselves.
Christian response. God is not nature, being at one with the earth and nature doesn't make anyone part of God's family.
As the word of God says Romans 1:18-25. The consequence of worshiping creation and not the creator are explained and as we read further we see the consequence of doing that. Romans 1:26-31.
The climate change cult is against God and even those who are against the climate change agenda are just as much against God as those who are in it, because they too reject Jesus Christ and are equally deceived.
The message to all is get right with the creator, “The most high God” Jesus Christ is the only way that that is going to happen.
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