Does the sovereignty of God nullify the grace of God?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
I am trying to understand how you think, so, could you answer me this question? Are you one of those that believes once they have been born again they do not commit any sins?
Of course we still sin. But if I was a liar before being saved, after being saved I should slowly stop telling lies until I basically can go without lying. That is how God does His work in me. It's always sinning less and less and less.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
714
113
That must be your personal thought. I have never heard that phrase.
I heard a doctor make a joke out of it when an elderly person, who had a broken hip, told the doctor they did not need surgery and could walk out of the hospital if he was released.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
We were all born into this world by natural birth children of wrath, even as others, and had no trust in spiritual things, until we were born spiritually (Eph 2:1-5) Trusting in spiritual things is a product of being born again by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
And yet, not one OT saint was born again.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,777
113
God Is
sovereign IN His Grace.
You won't find that in the Bible. Instead you will find this: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:4,5)

Grace is all about kindness, love, and mercy. So where do you see "sovereign" in that verse? In fact you will not find the word "sovereign" anywhere in the King James Bible.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,349
113
You won't find that in the Bible. Instead you will find this: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:4,5)

Grace is all about kindness, love, and mercy. So where do you see "sovereign" in that verse? In fact you will not find the word "sovereign" anywhere in the King James Bible.
Grace is an act to one who did not deserve it.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
The old testament saints were born again, in the same manner as the new testament saints, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 63:11)
That passage is concerning Moses and even then, the Holy Spirit would come and go. He was not sealed with the Holy Spirit as a NT believer is sealed unto the day of redemption. We have something better than they.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,333
29,580
113
Grace is an act to one who did not deserve it.
And God is sovereign at all times. Not sure why any would argue against that .:unsure:

Especially one who argues in favour of other words not found in Scripture.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,777
113
Grace is an act to one who did not deserve it.
Grace is much more than that, as shown in the passage from Titus. But you could not show the word "sovereign " in the same passage could you? Which means that you have cooked up your own definition of grace -- a Calvinistic definition which perverts the Gospel. And grace is not simply "an act". It involves the love, kindness, and mercy of God as noted in that passage also. And the Bible speaks of "the exceeding riches of His grace".
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,479
455
83
Grace is an act to one who did not deserve it.
Like Calvinism condemning to hell those who by a divine eternal decree could not do otherwise than reject God and His Son, do not deserve hell, so are getting grace?
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,349
113
Grace is much more than that, as shown in the passage from Titus. But you could not show the word "sovereign " in the same passage could you? Which means that you have cooked up your own definition of grace -- a Calvinistic definition which perverts the Gospel. And grace is not simply "an act". It involves the love, kindness, and mercy of God as noted in that passage also. And the Bible speaks of "the exceeding riches of His grace".
Not at all


God is Sovereign(supreme power or authority. ) at all times because it is an Attribute of His Divine Nature are you suggesting that God omits His sovereignty to show grace? There is much more about Grace than just Titus.


Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 5:20–21


Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 4:15–16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,479
455
83
Not at all


God is Sovereign(supreme power or authority. ) at all times because it is an Attribute of His Divine Nature are you suggesting that God omits His sovereignty to show grace? There is much more about Grace than just Titus.
Could you please define what YOU mean by sovereignty. Because your comment here makes no sense if you are using sovereignty as dictionaries define it.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,349
113
Could you please define what YOU mean by sovereignty. Because your comment here makes no sense if you are using sovereignty as dictionaries define it.
Thank you for your question

Sovereign is a Attribute of God which power and authority. One who as the authority to make law exercises the authority to do so'

Yet the Law is prefect of God and the penalty for breaking them is God right to carry them out Unless Grace is Given. Who give grace ? Yet the one who can judge and still pardon. And undeserving act by one who is Sovereign. I hope that helps.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,163
2,176
113
The decree is that all who believe in the son shall receive eternal life. How is either sovereignty or grace missing in that?
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,479
455
83
Thank you for your question

Sovereign is a Attribute of God which power and authority. One who as the authority to make law exercises the authority to do so'

Yet the Law is prefect of God and the penalty for breaking them is God right to carry them out Unless Grace is Given. Who give grace ? Yet the one who can judge and still pardon. And undeserving act by one who is Sovereign. I hope that helps.
Are you saying -
"Being sovereign is an attribute of God and is to have power and authority. A sovereign is one who has authority to invent and impose laws, and who exercises the authority to enforce them.
God's laws are are perfect, and God has the right to impose penalties on law-breakers, unless He graciously extends undeserved forgiveness. A sovereign is someone who can judge, and pardon the undeserving if he wants to." ?
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,067
4,349
113
Are you saying -
"Being sovereign is an attribute of God and is to have power and authority. A sovereign is one who has authority to invent and impose laws, and who exercises the authority to enforce them.
God's laws are are perfect, and God has the right to impose penalties on law-breakers, unless He graciously extends undeserved forgiveness. A sovereign is someone who can judge, and pardon the undeserving if he wants to." ?

Let me try to explain it as simple and I can I do not think were are in agreement but I am not going to say you are wrong :).

God Has to Judge sin. This is the hurling assaults from Satan who accuses the brethren Believe.

God must judge sin. My sin. HE must judge He must use his power and authority to do so. Because HE is Holy.

Yet He demands blood for sin. Jesus made that payment and removed the punishment of the law from me. God willingness not to punish me was because another took it on my behalf. It is not that God want to per say, it is God Made away out of HIS Judgment.

Very powerful stuff I might say.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,479
455
83
Let me try to explain it as simple and I can I do not think were are in agreement but I am not going to say you are wrong :).

God Has to Judge sin. This is the hurling assaults from Satan who accuses the brethren Believe.

God must judge sin. My sin. HE must judge He must use his power and authority to do so. Because HE is Holy.

Yet He demands blood for sin. Jesus made that payment and removed the punishment of the law from me. God willingness not to punish me was because another took it on my behalf. It is not that God want to per say, it is God Made away out of HIS Judgment.

Very powerful stuff I might say.
I was asking for your definition of sovereignty. Your last two posts come across as a rather unclear definition of sovereignty.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,163
2,176
113
There is a definition that is taken as, summarily, "God gets what God wants," and so he must not want "all to be saved" since not all are saved... however, I see it more accurately as, and this is probably not word for word either, "God wants everyone to come to the knowledge of salvation," that is 'to know salvation, that is Christ." Is not the desire for each 'comer's' involvement by his/her coming (which is an action word) also contained within that will?
Jesus said, "I will draw all men to Me" and also, "no man can come to Me unless the Father draws him" so tell me Who, then, exerts the initial draw? Does anyone know? Yet, that not everyone comes to know salvation equates to...God not wanting them to come rather than them not willing to come?! Is it out of God's character to offer regard the will of man, I mean isn't considering an individual's will a might too humble to be God? Yet, Jesus said, "Come, and learn of me... I am humble and lowly of heart..."

Oh well, anyway. I came here 10 years ago with the hopes of finding the Christian rendition of the Borg, all that we could accomplish if we were all actually one. Just think of the potential to dissolve the world in a total blazing glory... I must be delusional. :unsure:
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,479
455
83
There is a definition that is taken as, summarily, "God gets what God wants," and so he must not want "all to be saved" since not all are saved... however, I see it more accurately as, and this is probably not word for word either, "God wants everyone to come to the knowledge of salvation," that is 'to know salvation, that is Christ." Is not the desire for each 'comer's' involvement by his/her coming (which is an action word) also contained within that will?
Jesus said, "I will draw all men to Me" and also, "no man can come to Me unless the Father draws him" so tell me Who, then, exerts the initial draw? Does anyone know? Yet, that not everyone comes to know salvation equates to...God not wanting them to come rather than them not willing to come?! Is it out of God's character to offer regard the will of man, I mean isn't considering an individual's will a might too humble to be God? Yet, Jesus said, "Come, and learn of me... I am humble and lowly of heart..."

Oh well, anyway. I came here 10 years ago with the hopes of finding the Christian rendition of the Borg, all that we could accomplish if we were all actually one. Just think of the potential to dissolve the world in a total blazing glory... I must be delusional. :unsure:
Spiritually people go through stages of growth, and different posters here are at different stages of growth. Just as it can be frustrating trying to have a meaningful conversation with a five year old, so it can also be frustrating trying to engage in mature investigative dialogue with a Christian who is spiritually at an infant or adolescent stage, which sadly, is where most people are. https://www.ngumc.org/files/fileslibrary/james+fowlers+stages+of+faith.pdf

If you find someone interested in frankly discussing what THEY see in scripture rather than merely parroting what they were TOLD they should see, you will be very fortunate. They are around, like an occasional diamond found n a coal seam.

Grace and peace.