209 – Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty

SEMESTER 1

209 – Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  SOTERIOLOGY I LESSON # 9
HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY AND DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY

INTRODUCTION:

1. By human responsibility, I simply mean man’s accountability to God for moral preferences, decisions, and acts.
2. Scripture to support this responsibility is so abundant, no citing is needed.
3. The problem here seems to come only when one attempts to teach both divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
4. Paul mentioned man’s erroneous objection to the unity of these doctrines in Romans 9:15-19.

I. THE MEANING OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

This subject will also be covered in our study of Theology, but for practical application, in relationship to human responsibility, it must be briefly considered here.

1. The meaning of God’s sovereignty is precisely what Paul states in Ephesians 1:11; i.e., that God is constantly doing as He pleases (consider this statement).
2. I think the best possible description of this doctrine, and evidence of its truth, lies in the simple exposition of some passages of Scripture: (Job 12:9-10, Psa 103: 19, Psa 135:6, Lam 3:37-38, Isa 45:7, Isa 46:10, Dan 4:35, Mat 11:25, Joh 19:11, Rom 9:15-18, Act 2:23, Act 4:27-28)

II. WHY IS MAN THEN RESPONSIBLE?

1. The question that prevails is: “Why is man then responsible if all his acts are decreed or predetermined?”
2. This was the obvious conclusion Paul foresaw in Romans 9:19 that natural minds would draw from his statements in Romans 9:10-18.
3. This foreseen conclusion assures us Paul was teaching absolute sovereignty.

i. I think, however, that you may have an earnest enquiry concern­ing this issue, not a skeptical question, so I answer:
ii. God’s decree (concerning sin) is not causative.

a) It is permissive, directive, preventive and thus deter­mina­tive.
b) You cannot object to God’s decree of sin without objecting to its permission, without asserting God’s helplessness.

iii. God’s law (not His decree) fixes man’s duty or responsibility. (Deu 29:29)
iv. The motive of man’s sin makes him responsible.

a) That is to say, that if man sinned with the desire of fulfilling divine decree that might pose a problem with this doctrinal harmony.
b) The fact is, however, that man always sins for selfish motives, thus his personal guilt is unquestionable. (Joh 3:19)