God’s sovereignty in salvation.

A fundamental understanding of eternal security begins by determining who ultimately controls salvation.

Some people have questioned God’s sovereignty in salvation by asking these pertinent questions:

“If God is sovereign over salvation why would he allow fallen people to perish?” “How can a God who is sovereign permit evil in the world?” “If God knew in advance that a person would reject and rebel against Him why did He allow that person to be born in the first place?” 

Before we answer these pertinent questions, there are two basic facts we need to consider: (1) God is sovereign and (2) the world is in a depraved, fallen condition. 

In light of these thoughts, we will explore three possible scenarios in which God’s rule and authority are demonstrated amidst a broken and sinful world (by doing so, we will be able to put some perspective on the questions raised above).

(1) God could have decided to give no one an opportunity for salvation (since we are all fallen beings and depraved by nature).

God is Just and Holy, and so is His love. According to Scripture, God is not mandated to love rebellious and fallen humans (Romans 9:15-16). Likewise, He is not obliged to extend mercy to those who rebel against Him. 

As a matter of fact, it would NOT be wrong if God decided not to save anyone and to punish the entire human race for rejecting and rebelling against Him. 

You might think, “That doesn’t seem right,” or “That wouldn’t be just,” if God chose to eradicate the human race. But this reasoning arises when we fail to fully grasp God’s holiness and how it operates alongside His mercy. Our human sense of justice often conflates the two, expecting mercy to be automatic. However, God’s mercy and justice are distinct, and His mercy is not something He is obligated to show. 

Mercy, by definition, is not obligatory, which means it isn’t something God must do; rather, it is something God voluntarily does. On the other hand, justice is something a person is entitled to. 

Our sins, in light of these two distinctions, rightfully deserve the fair justice and wrath of God. Even so, God still offers mercy to those who believe in Christ’s atonement, thereby making them perfect in His sight.

(2) God could have provided an opportunity for everyone to be saved.

God could have provided an opportunity for everyone to be saved, and some believe He should give everyone the same chance. They argue that God should have created a world where salvation is possible for all.

While this idea might seem attractive, it dilutes the power of the gospel. It portrays salvation as something vague, as though God throws it into the world, hoping someone will accept it, instead of making it a purposeful and effective act of grace.

Scripture shows that salvation isn’t just an opportunity that may or may not be taken—it’s an intentional, active work of God. John 6:44 says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” Salvation isn’t left to chance; it’s God Himself who draws people to Christ. Similarly, Ephesians 2:8 reminds us that “by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.” God doesn’t leave salvation up to human effort but makes it effective through His grace.

(3) God could decide to save everyone (universalism)

It is true that God has the power to exercise His sovereign power and intrude into the minds of every human being, giving them knowledge of salvation as well as working within their fallen hearts to make sure they believe in Jesus. 

The idea that everyone gets saved also sounds great, but it is contrary to Bible teachings on hell, where people will ultimately perish.

One of God’s sovereign will is to put His whole glory on display, which includes His mercy as well as His wrath. By saving the elect He displays His unconditional love and by allowing sinners to choose their own path towards destruction He upholds His holiness by allow sin to be punished. 

Conclusion

As we can see, there are many ideas about salvation and many people have their own preferences in what God should and should not do. In the end, each scenario illustrates a facet of God’s complex character and His interactions with humanity. These narratives highlight the tensions between God’s mercy and justice, His love and holiness, and the human response to His sovereign will.

However, the crucial question isn’t merely about which of these scenarios is the most appealing or seemingly fair to us. Instead, the heart of the matter rests in their alignment with Scripture. The biblical account of salvation presents a God who is infinitely just and merciful, offering redemption through Christ through the preaching of the Gospel.

As we conclude, it’s evident that our understanding of salvation and God’s sovereignty over it cannot be confined to human preferences or reasoning. It must be deeply rooted in, and constantly realigned with, the truths of God’s nature as presented in Scripture.

The scriptures invites us into a relationship with a God whose ways are higher than ours, challenging us to trust in His perfect wisdom and sovereign plan for salvation.