Sovereignty part 3 - Man's Pride
“Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
Right Thinking
The first four of these verses provide an exhortation to think like Christ and to look to him and follow Him, as the embodiment of humility. Jesus being God "emptied Himself" to become a "slave." He “humbled” Himself by His obedience. This zero’s in on the problem of man, that is his pride. At its core, pride will not tolerate humility.
To learn and understand and accept a sovereign God, requires putting down pride and taking up humility. For the unbelieving people, the call of God is to humbly repent: "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Matthew 4:17). This is not a suggestion, not an invitation, or solicitation or request, it is a command ... a direct order! Behind this command is the full weight and right and authority of a sovereign Creator to issue such a command to His creation (cf. Revelation 4:1-11).
Illusion of Control
For the Christian it is a call to humble submission, a giving of oneself, as a slave to his sovereign master, "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (Romans 13:14). This is the way believers are to think, thinking that humbles oneself, "becoming obedient" if necessary, "to the point of death."
The Christian must give up any illusion of control or placing a condition that must be met before they will accept God's sovereignty. It is a matter of trust, trusting in a big God as the Bible reveals Him. "A man’s lofty pride will bring him low, But a lowly spirit will take hold of glory" (Proverbs 29:23).
A Matter of Trust
Trusting Yahweh as the sovereign God, who orders all of His creation and this even includes a Christian's salvation: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again" (1 Peter 1:3). Yahweh by way of Jesus Christ, by His power, His act, is the force (causing agent) that moves a person to repentance and produces salvation. "You are A CHOSEN FAMILY ... A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION" (1 Peter 2:9) because, only a sovereign God can make alive the dead (cf Ephesians 2:1-6).
Salvation is not a joint effort, it is 100% God and 0% you. "THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD" (Romans 3:11). This is what is meant when we say, salvation is by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. "We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
A Christian, in humility must understand that they contributed nothing to their salvation. God is the one who causes "us to be born again." Only He can produces what did not before exist. This doctrine is the arrow that shoots through the heart of every mans pride. "Where then is boasting? It is excluded," therefore "we boast in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 3:27; 5:2).
Soli Deo Gloria
"Not to us, O Yahweh, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth" (Psalms 115:1). This is the song of humility to a sovereign God.
Augustus Toplady's hymn "Rock of Ages" says it well:
Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All could never sin erase, Thou must save, and save by grace.
Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die.
The Decree
Finally, looking to Philippians 2:10-11, we read God's definitive and explicit decree. This decree is one only a sovereign God can make and bring to pass: "At the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW ... and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father."
Today looking at the insanity in the world around us, tests our willingness to believe that a time is coming, when even the wicked God haters by the shear power and authority of Yahweh will in abject humiliation bow and confess Jesus as Lord and give God glory.
Only a sovereign creator God can definitively tell you with certainty what He will do - even cause His haters to worship His son Jesus Christ. In time, His due glory will be received from all repentant and unrepentant peoples.
In humility we must recognize we are not the center of the universe, God is. This is what our sovereign Creator God says:
Who has made this heard from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, Yahweh?
And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.
I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. Isaiah 45:21-23
