Have you ever had your question about God’s sovereignty versus man’s responsibility explained in a way that made sense to you?

If you are unfamiliar with the terms, God’s sovereignty refers to the fact that God is in charge of all things including who gets saved and who doesn’t. Man’s responsibility refers to the fact that we are responsible for our own choices, and therefore God is not at fault if we choose to perish in hell rather than to choose God.

Of course the question is if God is sovereign and chooses who will be saved or not, then how are we responsible for not choosing Him when God has already chosen it for us? This has been asked in many different ways and explained in many different ways as well. Churches split, new denominations are formed over this issue.

I love Paul’s answer to this. He in essence says, “Who knows but God?” I love it! The vaunted Apostle Paul does not know the answer to that question! Where do I see that? In Romans 11:32-33, “32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom of knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”

First, Paul makes a very puzzling statement in v. 32. It almost sounds like God makes man disobedient in order to show mercy to him!?? And while we are pondering over how that even makes sense, Paul states on the next verse, “Oh, the depth of the … wisdom … how unsearchable are his judgments…”

In other words, Paul simply knows what God does. But he doesn’t know how God does it. He knows that God is sovereign over all and yet we are responsible for our sins, but he doesn’t understand how that works. Only God does. And I’m okay with that.

If God is God and I am not, there should be some things I will not understand.

God is above and beyond me. He lets me understand some things but not all things. However, I know that He loves me and cares for me. And most of the time, that’s all I need to know..

God loves you.

PH