The Providence of God

[Iconoclast]

Standing behind these verses is the first article of our Christian creed which is the sovereignty of God. We fundamentally believe that God is and that the God who is, is the God who reigns. The sovereignty of God is the foundational truth of all Christian theology. It is the bedrock doctrine of all doctrines. This is the immovable mountain that towers over the landscape of theology. This is the Mount Everest of theology. This is the undisputed throne rights of Jehovah to govern all that he has created. The sovereignty of God means, quite simply, that God is God not merely in name only but in the full reality of all that it means for God to be God. That is to say, God always does as he pleases, when he pleases, where he pleases, how he pleases, with whom he pleases. God never asks for permission, God gives permission. The Lord reigns. The Lord reigns over nature and nations. The Lord reigns over history and salvation. The Lord reigns over temporal circumstances and eternal destinies. This is the main truth that the Apostle Paul is driving home to us in Romans 8. We see the sovereignty of God over the entire universe and as R. C. Sproul has said, there are not maverick molecules in the entire universe. We see the sovereignty of God here in verse 28, which we will look at this morning, in what is known as the doctrine of providence, that God governs over all the circumstances and affairs and events of our lives. And then later tonight in verses 29 and 30, we will focus our attention upon the sovereignty of God in salvation from eternity past with foreknowledge and predestination all the way into eternity future with glorification. But this morning, our focus is on verse 28 and the doctrine of providence, the sweet doctrine of providence.

He says, "And we know." He doesn't say, "And we feel that all things are working together for good." Not everything feels good. The death of a spouse does not feel good. The loss of a job does not feel good. Bankruptcy does not feel good. Divorce does not feel good. A rebellious child does not feel good. But this does not say, "And we feel," neither does this say, "And we understand," because we do not always understand what the invisible hand of God is doing in the affairs of providence. But it does say, "And we know." If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, this is what you know otherwise you are living in unbelief.

Steve Lawson sermon notes

 

[Iconoclast]

Second, I want you to note the controller, "And we know that God causes." Let's just stop right here. God is the master controller. This tells us that God is vitally active in the affairs of providence. This tells us that God is not a mere passive spectator of everything that is taking place here upon the earth. This is not the view of God as presented by the deists that God is the proverbial watchmaker and he has built the watch, he has wound it up, he has set it down, he has walked away, and now all creation is just unfolding according to its own pattern and that God is outside the box and God is not involved in the affairs of what is taking place upon the earth. Nothing could be further from the truth. The God who is seated upon his throne in heaven has his hand upon this earth and he has his hand upon the circumstances and events that are surrounding your life
Second, it's in the active voice which is to say God is not just passively observing from the throne with his arms folded and squinting with his eyes beholding what is taking place here. This is in the active voice which means God is proactive, and that God is taking action to be constantly working. Third, it's in the indicative mood which simply means this is a statement of fact. There's no conditions that are necessary for this in your life. This is just a statement of reality for your life, that God is causing all things to work together for good. And fourth, it's third person singular which just simply means God and God alone is bringing this about. God and God alone is the driving force controlling bringing together all of these threads into a perfect tapestry in your life. Now note the next two words, "for good." God is causing all things, all things, all things to work together for good. God is always working for your good. God is not working for your bad. God is always working for your good. He's never not working for your good.