God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
Just for Your Thoughts:
God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
These two are the two aspects of our spiritual security.
God is sovereign, and at the same time, human beings are responsible creatures. Only when the balance of truth between these two is preserved can we be delivered from doctrinal error.
The idea of “once saved, always saved” (eternal security in that sense) is not a biblical concept.
It gives believers a false sense of security.
A believer must strive for the completion of salvation. He must work it out; Scripture gives many examples of this.
Only when God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together can our salvation be brought to completion.
This is the word of Jesus Christ:
“He who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
The counsel Barnabas gave to the first Gentile church was this:
“He exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” (Acts 11:23)
I want to highlight the phrase “to continue” (or “to remain steadfast”).
The advice Paul gave to believers who were saved from many churches was this:
“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
This is Paul’s exhortation to the church at Philippi:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only as in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)
Therefore, in salvation, not only God’s part but also our contribution plays an important role in its completion.
God will supply the grace required for our effort. Hence, without our participation, activity, decisions, and willingness, our salvation cannot be worked out fully.
Otherwise, it will be brought into a stagnant state.
It gives us a false security and finally deceives us.
Therefore, we must do our part; God will do His part.
Finally, let us look at the words of the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews:
“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” (Hebrews 3:14)
“God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are the two sides of Christian security.
God is sovereign, and man is a responsible creature; and it is only as the balance of truth is preserved between these two that we are delivered from error.”
— Arthur W. Pink