Understanding God's Sovereignty, Love, and Perfect Morality
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Grace Bible Church! Today, we gathered to worship, learn, and encourage one another in the name of Jesus Christ. We are committed to bringing joy to others as we love, follow, and share Jesus. If you're new, please use the QR code on your bulletin or screen to connect with us. Excitingly, in three weeks, we will have lake baptisms at Portage Lake State Park. If you wish to be baptized, you can register online or in the lobby.
Our focus today is on understanding who God is, particularly His sovereignty. God is absolutely sovereign, meaning He is in complete control and answers to no one. Unlike human institutions that have checks and balances, God's sovereignty is absolute. This can be hard to grasp because we live in a world where nothing is completely sovereign. Even though God is in control, He gives us the ability to make genuine choices. His sovereignty means that His will is ultimately done, sometimes along with and sometimes in spite of our free choices.
God's sovereignty also means He is transcendent, bigger than time, space, and circumstances. He is greater than time, place, and circumstance, and He does not change. This transcendent nature of God means He is almighty, with power beyond our comprehension. Despite our plans and control over our lives, God is the one truly in control. Accepting this can turn annoying distractions into divine appointments.
God is also perfectly moral, acting in holiness and compassion. He is different from us, with perfect integrity and compassion. His faithfulness can be trusted, and His justice is impartial and right. God's justice is not like ours; it is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. God reacts to sin with wrath, but because of Jesus, that wrath is withheld, giving us a chance to receive His mercy.
Ultimately, God is love. He showed His love by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We are called to love one another because God first loved us. This love is the foundation of our worship, service, and generosity. As we close today's service, let us remember that God is almighty, transcendent, and perfectly moral, and let our lives be changed by His love.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Absolute Sovereignty: God's sovereignty means He is in complete control and answers to no one. Unlike human institutions with checks and balances, God's decisions are final and unquestionable. This sovereignty can be hard to grasp, but it assures us that God's will is ultimately done, sometimes along with and sometimes in spite of our free choices. [37:05]
2. God's Transcendence: God is bigger than time, space, and circumstances. He transcends our understanding of life, being greater than time, place, and circumstance. This means He is consistent and unchanging, even when our lives are constantly changing. Accepting God's transcendence helps us trust in His control over our lives. [42:18]
3. God's Perfect Morality: God is perfectly moral, acting in holiness and compassion. He is different from us, with perfect integrity and compassion. His faithfulness can be trusted, and His justice is impartial and right. God's justice is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. [55:34]
4. God's Reaction to Sin: God reacts to sin with wrath, but because of Jesus, that wrath is withheld. This gives us a chance to receive His mercy and avoid the punishment we deserve. God's justice is not like ours; it is fulfilled through Jesus' sacrifice, showing His perfect morality and love. [01:07:29]
5. God's Love: God is love, and He showed His love by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We are called to love one another because God first loved us. This love is the foundation of our worship, service, and generosity. Understanding God's love helps us live changed lives, reflecting His love to others. [01:12:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[20:09] - Introduction and Announcements
[20:59] - Lake Baptisms Announcement
[21:40] - Opening Prayer
[22:22] - Worship Song: "This is Who He Is"
[34:56] - Worship Song Continues
[37:05] - Understanding God's Sovereignty
[38:33] - God's Sovereignty vs. Human Institutions
[40:50] - God's Sovereignty and Human Choice
[42:18] - God's Transcendence
[44:04] - God's Consistency and Control
[45:42] - God's Almightiness
[47:27] - Divine Appointments
[49:01] - Personal Story: Easter Service
[50:32] - Accepting God's Sovereignty
[52:20] - God's Perfect Morality
[55:34] - God's Holiness and Compassion
[56:28] - Story of Job
[58:13] - God's Faithfulness
[59:58] - God's Justice
[01:00:43] - Personal Story: Refugee Camp
[01:03:12] - God's Justice vs. Human Justice
[01:07:29] - God's Reaction to Sin
[01:11:23] - God's Love
[01:12:17] - Jesus' Atoning Sacrifice
[01:13:50] - Closing Prayer and Song
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 8:27 - "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!"
2. Psalms 90:2 - "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
3. 1 John 4:7-10 - "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
### Observation Questions
1. What does it mean that God is sovereign, and how does this differ from human institutions? ([37:05])
2. How does the Bible describe God's transcendence in 1 Kings 8:27 and Psalms 90:2?
3. According to the sermon, how does God's justice differ from human justice? ([01:03:12])
4. What does 1 John 4:7-10 say about the nature of God's love and how it should influence our actions?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God's sovereignty help us trust Him more in our daily lives? ([49:01])
2. In what ways does God's transcendence provide comfort during times of change and uncertainty? ([44:04])
3. How does the concept of God's perfect morality challenge our own understanding of justice and compassion? ([01:00:43])
4. What are the implications of God's love being the foundation of our worship, service, and generosity? ([01:12:17])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt out of control. How can accepting God's sovereignty change your perspective on that situation? ([49:01])
2. Think about a time when your plans were disrupted. How can you view such disruptions as divine appointments rather than mere annoyances? ([50:32])
3. How can you demonstrate God's perfect morality in your daily interactions, especially in situations where you feel wronged or treated unfairly? ([01:00:43])
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to trust God's control. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? ([47:27])
5. How can you show love to someone in your life who is difficult to love, reflecting the love that God has shown you? ([01:12:17])
6. In what ways can you practice generosity this week, inspired by the understanding that God loved us first? ([01:13:50])
7. How can you remind yourself daily of God's unchanging nature and His control over all circumstances? ([44:04])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Absolute Sovereignty
God's sovereignty means He is in complete control and answers to no one. Unlike human institutions with checks and balances, God's decisions are final and unquestionable. This sovereignty can be hard to grasp, but it assures us that God's will is ultimately done, sometimes along with and sometimes in spite of our free choices. Understanding this can bring peace and confidence in God's plan for our lives, knowing that nothing happens outside of His control.
God's sovereignty also means that He orchestrates everything according to His purpose. Even when we face challenges or make mistakes, God can use those situations for His glory and our good. This doesn't negate our responsibility to make wise choices, but it does mean that we can trust God to work all things together for good, as He promises in His Word.
[37:05]
Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's control? How can you surrender this area to Him today, trusting in His absolute sovereignty?
Day 2: God's Transcendence
God is bigger than time, space, and circumstances. He transcends our understanding of life, being greater than time, place, and circumstance. This means He is consistent and unchanging, even when our lives are constantly changing. Accepting God's transcendence helps us trust in His control over our lives, knowing that He is not limited by the same constraints we are.
God's transcendence also means that He is always present and active in our lives, even when we cannot see or understand His work. He is not bound by our limitations or expectations, and His ways are higher than our ways. This can be a source of great comfort and assurance, knowing that God is always with us and working for our good, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
[42:18]
Psalm 90:2 (ESV): "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Reflection: How does recognizing God's transcendence change the way you view your current circumstances? What steps can you take to trust in His unchanging nature today?
Day 3: God's Perfect Morality
God is perfectly moral, acting in holiness and compassion. He is different from us, with perfect integrity and compassion. His faithfulness can be trusted, and His justice is impartial and right. God's justice is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. This means that we can trust God to always do what is right and just, even when we do not understand His ways.
God's perfect morality also means that He calls us to live lives of holiness and compassion. As we seek to follow Him, we are called to reflect His character in our actions and attitudes. This involves striving for integrity, showing compassion to others, and trusting in God's faithfulness and justice, even when it is difficult.
[55:34]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: In what ways can you reflect God's holiness and compassion in your daily life? How can you strive for integrity and show kindness to others today?
Day 4: God's Reaction to Sin
God reacts to sin with wrath, but because of Jesus, that wrath is withheld. This gives us a chance to receive His mercy and avoid the punishment we deserve. God's justice is not like ours; it is fulfilled through Jesus' sacrifice, showing His perfect morality and love. This means that we can approach God with confidence, knowing that our sins have been forgiven through Jesus' sacrifice.
God's reaction to sin also reminds us of the seriousness of sin and the importance of repentance. While we are forgiven through Jesus, we are also called to turn away from sin and live lives that honor God. This involves recognizing our need for God's mercy, confessing our sins, and seeking to live in a way that reflects His holiness and love.
[01:07:29]
Romans 5:9 (ESV): "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God."
Reflection: Is there a sin in your life that you need to confess and turn away from? How can you seek God's mercy and strive to live a life that honors Him today?
Day 5: God's Love
God is love, and He showed His love by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We are called to love one another because God first loved us. This love is the foundation of our worship, service, and generosity. Understanding God's love helps us live changed lives, reflecting His love to others.
God's love is not just a feeling, but an action. He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus to die for our sins, and He calls us to show that same love to others. This involves serving others, being generous with our time and resources, and seeking to love others as God has loved us. As we grow in our understanding of God's love, we are empowered to live lives that reflect His love to the world.
[01:12:17]
1 John 4:10-11 (ESV): "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Reflection: How can you show God's love to someone in your life today? What practical steps can you take to serve and be generous to others, reflecting God's love in your actions?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You can't go wrong by turning to the Lord. I'm so glad that you did that this morning. While we're together today, we're going to have a good time encouraging one another, singing songs to the Lord, learning some things about God from His Word and then hopefully hearing His voice while we're here together." [20:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But here at Grace Bible Church, we are committed to bringing joy to others as we love, follow, and share Jesus Christ. And it's our hope that as you spend time with us, either here in the room or online, that you'll join us in bringing joy to other people as we follow Jesus." [20:09] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is in control. He is almighty. No matter what's going on, listen, we turn on the news and things happen and it worries us, it throws us, it confuses us, it scares us. God is in control. God is in control." [47:27] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is love. Look at 1 John 4, 7. Dear friends, let us love one another. For love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love." [01:11:23] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "This is love. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another." [01:12:17] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The first thing that we would have to talk about in describing God is that God is absolutely sovereign. He's absolutely sovereign. Now for you and I this idea of sovereignty it's a difficult thing for us to grasp because what it means is that God doesn't have to consult with anyone when he makes a decision." [37:05] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God's sovereignty doesn't make us pawns. Okay, we're not pawns and under his control because even though he has absolute control at the same time he gives you and I the ability to make a genuine choice. And that's amazing." [40:50] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God's faithfulness can be trusted. This is what it means when we talk about God being perfectly moral. His faithfulness can be trusted. Psalms 36. Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness to the skies." [58:13] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's justice is not like our justice. Because he's not like us at all. I read a story the other day. Some of you may have seen this. It kind of went viral for a little bit. It happened back in March. There was a lady at Chipotle experiencing shrinkflation. She was not happy with the size of her burrito bowl." [01:03:12] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's justice. Because you see, when you see all the sinfulness and all the wrong and all the bad in the world, and we cry out, this isn't right. This isn't right, what's happening. God says, you're absolutely right. That is not justice. That is not right. And it should be punished. It should be, humanity should be punished. And it was when Jesus died on the cross." [01:05:17] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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