THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #17 or 17 DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY HAS WROUGHT OUR SALVATION

The greatest display of the Sovereignty of God is to be found in His finest work — the work that has most precisely and thoroughly exhibits His Person. That is His "great salvation," conceived and purposed before the world began (Heb 2:3; 2 Tim 1:9). Before the vast expanse of the universe was created, or life in its multifarious forms was brought into existence, a purpose was conceived of unimaginable glory. It would be wrought out in the arena of conflict and within the camp of the enemy. A righteous and effective salvation would be accomplished for a fallen race. It would be consummated in spite of a formidable enemy, the devil. The people being saved had no seeming advantage against their foe. They were in a fallen state and in the grip of moral and spiritual darkness. The Living God would display His wisdom to heavenly intelligences in the rescue of these personalities, created in His own image. He would also do it in a way that would allow Him to remain just, yet be"the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:26).

THE PLAN DIVULGED TO THE ENEMY

Only a Sovereign God could divulge His purpose to the enemy! Because Satan is not omniscient, or all wise, he only knows what God declares. Even then, he is so wicked he cannot decipher the implications of the revelation. When Adam and Eve transgressed and fell, they were expelled from the Edenic paradise. Before they were excluded, however, God revealed His purpose in embryo, declaring it to the devil, with the whole human race present, as it were. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen 3:15). It is as though a challenge was hurled in the face of the old serpent--a challenge to thwart the revealed purpose. Could Satan, with all of his wiles and craftiness, stop the Deliverer from being born? He made every effort to do so, but utterly failed in all of his attempts. The trail of his efforts can be found in the barren women of Christ's lineage (Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel). The slaughter of the innocents by Pharaoh and Herod also represented Satan's diabolical efforts. In spite of all of his wiles, the Son of God was born, raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven. This glorious picture is portrayed in the apocalyptic language of Revelation 12:1-5. THE LORD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD!

SIN PUT AWAY

The sin of humanity hung as a formidable cloud over the world. It looked as though it could never be removed. The accumulated transgressions of four centuries, as well as that of future generations looked immoveable. Rivers of sacrificial animal blood did not cleanse a single person or remove a single transgression. But "in the fulness of the time," with a single offering, the Son of God "put away sin" once and for all (Heb 9:26). He appeared to "take away the sin of the world, and take it away He did (John 1:29)! He put sin away from the face of God, as it were, so that "whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21; Rom 10;13). THE LORD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD!

THE DEVIL DESTROYED

Throughout four millennia the devil ran roughshod over the human race. Prior to Jesus, a righteous person in any sense was unusual. Men like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the holy prophets were most unusual. John well said, "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). However, when the Son of God appeared, He wounded the adversary of humanity with a mortal bruise, just as God said He would. The Holy Spirit uses precise language to describe this momentous defeat of the wicked one. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb 2:14). This destruction was not Satan's annihilation, but an utter frustration of his wicked objectives. There is not a soul among men that cannot come to God if they want to do so. Sin cannot maintain its grip upon the person that comes to Christ, though weary and heavy laden! If a believer sins, he simply comes to the Lord, confessing his sins. Satan cannot stop that person from coming, and God will be "faithful and just to forgive their sin and cleanse them from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Satan has been "destroyed"--rendered impotent and powerless for all who "receive the atonement" (Rom 5:11). THE LORD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD!

PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS SPOILED

Prior to the death of Christ, wicked principalities and powers dominated the world. These are spiritual forces, operating under the government of the "Prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:1). Their reign existed because sin had not yet been removed, not because they were invincible, even though they appeared to be. On one occasion, a holy angel told Daniel of a 21 day skirmish he had with just one of these principalities. When, in answer to Daniel's prayer, this angel came to him, he was "withstood" by "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" for "twenty one days." The battle was so fierce, that Michael, "one of the chief princes" among the angelic host, came to "help" the battling angel. Finally the angel broke loose from the conflict to come to Daniel. After revealing his message from God, the angel said, "now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come" (Dan 10:11-20). But when Jesus appeared, he plundered ALL of these principalities and powers, robbing them of their power! The Word of God declares He did this at His weakest point, when He was "crucified through weakness" (2 Cor 13:4). It was there, at the cross, that a victory was wrought over these oppressive powers. As it is written, " . . . His cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col 2:14-15). Now, there are no moral prisons with doors. From every citadel of Satan, be it continent, province, city, or desolate area, the call goes forth " . . . Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"(Rev 22:17). THE LORD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD!

AND, IN THE END . . .

In the end, the mighty God will display His Sovereignty to an assembled universe. Without any resistance or confrontation whatsoever, His holy angels "shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt 24:31). They will also "gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity" (Matt 13:41). All of the arch foes of the people of God, the devil, the beast (earthly government), and the false prophet (corrupt religion) will be summarily cast into the lake of fire--without battle or resistance (Rev 20:10). The people of God shall stand before His throne "faultless and with exceeding joy" (Jude 24). Throughout the "ages to come," the saints of the Most High God will glory in His Sovereignty. They themselves will be the preeminent trophies of His wisdom and grace. Reverberating throughout eternity their words will be heard, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever" (Rev 5:13). THE LORD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD!

— TOMORROW: A NEW SERIES, AN APPROVING CONSCIENCE --