Pastor’s Thoughts – 09/20/2026

To say that God is infinite is to affirm that the true and only God, who is the God of the Bible, exists beyond all boundaries of time, space, and limitation. He is above the comprehension of all of His created beings, including those at the highest end of creation which are angels and mankind. We are privileged to have adequate, but limited knowledge and reasoning abilities to continue learning of Him through His Word. His attributes are each infinitely immeasurable and perfect. “Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:2). “Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). Closely integrated into His infinite being as God is His sovereignty. “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). The reality of His involvement over every event as the One true God is highlighted in Scripture. “So that people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no one else. The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the Lord who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7). Any person who seriously studies the Bible will be confronted with these glorious themes of the Person of God being God!

We also know from Scripture that Satan desired foremost to take God’s place. The prophet Isaiah speaks of Satan’s aspirations; “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). We are limited in our understanding of how Satan could be so foolish as to attempt to replace God. Yet, this is the same thing that sinful mankind, following Satan and his pattern, is repeatedly doing in thought and practice. Sin by its very nature is a rebellion against God. It is an affront to His sovereign right, and in a real sense it seeks to replace God with self just as Satan. When we act contrary to God, we act as a usurper of His position as sovereign Lord and God.

Closely associated with God being infinite and His rule in sovereignty is His will. God’s will is revealed to us in Scripture. To attempt to understand the relationship between God’s perfect will being directed under His absolute sovereignty, and its connection allowing rebellion is not something we can exhaustively comprehend. We accept the matters of man’s will and sin as a reality because it is explained and expressed in the Word of God. It is also the only explanation for man’s condition and conduct. Is God’s will active in every circumstance? According to Scripture He is working in all things. If this were not so, He would cease to be God. Mankind is naturally born in sin and seeks his own will, and thereby openly rebels against God’s will. In the matter of salvation, many theologians are dogmatic that mankind has what they call freewill. They mean by this that God does not override or impose upon man’s will. This concept is not based on direct support from Scripture, but on human logic and ideas about human dignity that concludes that man has been given a freedom of will to choose God above his sinful nature. Some theologians say that God grants prevenient grace to every person. This means that God gives every person the ability to override his nature and savingly choose God. Paul, however, tells us, “There is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:11b). Our Lord says to His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). He also stated, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). The wording of Scripture also says that God has chosen whom will be saved before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). The sovereign actions of God must be and are behind each individual who embraces Christ. Christ states, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). All of these and more address the necessity of God working to bring about salvation according to His will.

Freewill as described is also not possessed by God Himself. Because of His nature, it is not possible for God to lie or act in any manner contrary to His holy and righteous nature. As for mankind born under the curse, our nature is stated as darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Paul says all unsaved are not led by God but, “According to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is working in the sons of disobedience,” and he goes on to say, “and are by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:2). The Bible explains that by nature we are born enslaved to sin and therefore have within ourselves no interest or ability to choose God.

Discussion on the issues of God’s sovereignty and will in relation to man’s will are deep and have been engaged in for many years. We know that salvation is of the Lord. As for me, I am content to know that God is in control, that He is good, and that He makes no mistakes. I also know that He accepts sinners who come to Him for forgiveness as His Word proclaims. Hearts are changed by His Spirit and through the power of His Word. Beyond this, my small brain cannot comprehend His infinite workings of will and purposes that He has not revealed. What I can do is accept what God says by faith, and know it is true, and submit to His Lordship and wisdom. He is God, and I am His privileged and unworthy creation, belonging to Him only by grace; knowing He sent His Son to be my substitute for sin. God’s Word provides everything needed for faith to humbly come to Him, love Him, trust Him, worship Him, and serve Him. To God be the glory!