Freedom & Sovereignty

John 19:1-16, Part 3

The Scriptures indicate that Jesus’ death was both the result of human free will and according to God’s sovereign will. This raises the question of the nature of what happens in this world, in our lives and of God’s relationship to us and to this world.

Watch part one here
Watch part two here

Notes:

Free will: responsibility

When we consider the roles of the Jewish leadership and of Pilate in Jesus’ death, every indication is that they acted freely, in accord with their own will. And, therefore, they were responsible for what they did. They were guilty of sin—some of “greater” sin. God will punish them.

Every indication is that Jesus also acted freely, in accord with his will. True, it was, in one sense, his will that the “cup” of suffering be taken from him. But the fact is he submitted his will freely, he submitted himself to the will of his Father (John 12:27-28). “No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18). And, therefore, he was responsible for what he did. Because of his obedience, God rewarded him.

Because God gives us free will, we are responsible to him for what we do or what we fail to do. Because God gives us free will, it matters how we live this life. Because God gives us free will, our lives have significance, meaning.

Sovereignty: Trust

In his message (Acts 2:22-23), Peter said that Jesus “was handed over to you [the Jews] by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.”

Everything that happens in this world is under the sovereignty of God—according to his deliberate plan and foreknowledge. Because God is sovereign he has the authority, the right to grant to his creation free will. Granting humans free will was not a relinquishing of his sovereignty; it is the exercise of his sovereignty.

I believe most of us have a yearning for justice. We want the “good guy” to win in the end. We want the “bad guy” to get what he deserves. I believe that yearning is from God. It is a God-like character quality. Because God is sovereign, he can be trusted to ultimately mete out justice: punishment for all who do wrong; reward for all those who do right. “’It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30). He will avenge and he will repay, you can trust him to do that (Revelation 6:10). And he will reward.

Lastly, because God is sovereign we can be certain there is a “happy” ending to everything. Because the ending is certain, it gives meaning and purpose to everything that is playing out leading up to the end. Because the end is certain, everything that happens—both good and bad—is part of the story that leads to the end. Nothing that happens can be outside of the big picture that encompasses everything and culminates in the end—the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Therefore, Paul could confidently write, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose… …to be conformed to the image of his Son… (Romans 8:28-29).

Free will and Sovereignty

So it seems to me that the Scriptures reveal a God who has granted us free will, at the same time that he is sovereign over all things. The two are not contradictory or irreconcilable, but complementary. Each truth should have a profound effect on how we live. Free will means I am responsible to God for what I do. I should live to please him. It means that my life, how I live, is meaningful to God. My life matters to God. Sovereignty means I can trust God: he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him. “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliott).

Jesus’ life shows us what it looks like to live with these two truths in tension and in harmony.

…he made himself nothing…
…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place… (Philippians 2:5-11)

This is what it looks like to live by faith in God: you live as if you are accountable to God; and you trust God is working all things for his purposes and to his glorious end. Faith is a way of life. This is what we see in Hebrews 11: people living by faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Are you living by faith?
Are your eyes fixed on Jesus?