1. God Rules Over All Creation
“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is none like you; there is no God besides you!” —2 Samuel 7:22
1.1. God Made the Universe
“All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” —John 1:3
[Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 33:6-9, Job 26:7-14, Nehemiah 9:6, Romans 11:36, Colossians 1:16]
1.2. God Keeps Creation Going
“He sustains all things by his powerful word.” —Hebrews 1:3
[Colossians 1:17, Psalm 145:15-16, Psalm 104:27-30, Job 34:14-15, Acts 17:28]
1.3. God Controls Nature
“Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the ocean depths. He makes the clouds rise… produces the lightning bolts that accompany the rain.” —Psalm 135:6-7
[Matthew 8:26-27, Exodus 14:21, Job 37:6-13]
1.4. Creation Shows God’s Purposeful Design
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made.” —Romans 1:20
[Psalm 19:1, Genesis 1:31, Job 12:7-10, Psalm 104:24]
2. God Has Full Authority to Achieve His Purpose
“I declare the end from the beginning… I have planned it, and I will do it.” —Isaiah 46:10-11
2.1. God’s Will Guides Everything
“He accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.” —Ephesians 1:11
[1 Chr 16:9, 29:11-12, 1 Sam 2:8, Dan 4:35, Ex 15:18, Jer 10:6, Ps 33:13-14, 115:16, 135:6, 145:3-6, Heb 4:13, Php 2:10-11]
2.2. God Shapes Human History
“He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who possess understanding.” —Daniel 2:21
[Proverbs 21:1, Acts 17:26, 1 Samuel 2:6-7, Psalm 47:7-8, Psalm 68:34-35, Isaiah 14:24, 27, 46:9-10]
2.3. God’s Power Fulfills His Promises
“In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.” —Isaiah 55:11
[1 Kings 8:56, Numbers 23:19, Joshua 21:45, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9]
2.4. God Rules Over Spiritual Realms
“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly by triumphing over them in Christ.” —Colossians 2:15
[Job 1:12, Ephesians 1:20-21, Colossians 1:16, Psalm 103:19-21, Daniel 4:35]
3. God’s Wisdom Is Beyond Human Understanding
“‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the sky is higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” —Isaiah 55:8-9
3.1. God’s Wisdom Is Greater Than Ours
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!” —Romans 11:33
[Psalm 147:5, Jeremiah 10:12, Romans 11:33-35, Colossians 2:3]
3.2. God’s Plans Are Perfect, Even When We Don’t Understand
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
[Job 11:7-9, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28, Psalm 33:11]
3.3. God Directs Events in Ways We Can’t See
“We speak about God’s secret wisdom that has been hidden, which God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” —1 Corinthians 2:7-8
[Ecclesiastes 11:5, Genesis 50:20, Ephesians 1:11]
3.4. God Shares His Wisdom with His People
“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up effective counsel for the upright, and is like a shield for those who live with integrity.” —Proverbs 2:6-7
[Psalm 119:98-100, Colossians 2:2-3, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13]
4. God Balances Human Free Will with His Control
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live!” —Deuteronomy 30:19
4.1. God Gives People Freedom to Choose
“Choose today whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15
4.2. God Works Through Human Choices
“As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.” —Genesis 50:20
4.3. God’s Plan Wins, Even When People Rebel
“The Lord nullifies the plans of the nations; he frustrates the schemes of the peoples. The Lord’s purpose stands forever; his plans endure throughout the generations.” —Psalm 33:10-11
4.4. God’s Foreknowledge Aligns Free Will with His Plan
“I am God, and there is no other… I declare the end from the beginning… my purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure.” —Isaiah 46:9-10
5. God Carries Out His Plan to Save Humanity
“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
5.1. God Planned Salvation Before Creation
“He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight… he destined us to adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will.” —Ephesians 1:4-5
5.2. God Sent Jesus to Fulfill His Plan
“But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons.” —Galatians 4:4-5
5.3. God Draws People to Him Through His Spirit
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” —John 6:44
5.4. God Will Complete His Plan When Jesus Returns
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more.” —Revelation 21:1-4