God’s Sovereignty in Salvation
The Natural State of the Man without God
He is Spiritually Blind: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God…” (2 Cor 4:3-4)
He is Spiritually Foolish: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised…” (1 Cor 2:14)
He is Spiritually Dead: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” (Eph 2:1).
So, How Does This Spiritually Blind, Foolish, DEAD Man Come to Have Faith in Christ?
You cannot show a blind man a picture for he cannot see.
You cannot persuade a foolish man of the logic and reasonableness of your arguments because he lacks the capacity to understand.
You cannot convince a dead man to get off his bier and leave the morgue because he has no power.
Clearly Some Outside Force MUST Grant this Blind, Foolish Corpse Sight, Understanding and Life!
When We Were Blind, He Made Us See; “For God who said ‘light shall shine out of darkness’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
When We Were Foolish, He Gave Us Wisdom; “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things freely given to us by God…” (1 Corinthians 2:12)
When We Were Dead, He Made Us Alive: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Only God Can Grant the Wicked Human Heart the Ability to Repent; “…if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:25-26)
Even Our Ability to Believe in God is A Gift from God: “For by faith you have been saved, through grace, and that [faith} not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Therefore, unless God brings us to spiritual life, opening our eyes and minds, giving us the faith we need to believe in Jesus, we cannot be saved.
Final Thoughts
Most Christians who are uncomfortable with the sovereignty of God in salvation are concerned that this doctrine might lead to the Lord being accused of favoritism, partiality or inequality. They want to show that if men go to hell, it MUST be because they reject the offer of salvation, therefore making men, not God responsible for their damnation.
However, we must always be careful not to import our own ideas, philosophies or theories into the Biblical text. Instead, “let God be true and every man a liar.” Rather than trying to reconcile the absolute sovereignty of God with some idea of Man’s responsibility, should it not be enough simply to speak as Scripture speaks?
God is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, who declares the beginning and the end. All things work according to His will, that He might glorify His own name; even our salvation. We must never back down from what God has said about Himself, fearing that wicked men might use it against Him.