God’s Word Interprets God’s Word

The following is a Guest post laying out Scripture demonstrating God’s Total Absolute Sovereignty over His creation and Man’s will.

Comment

Man has a creaturely will

John 1:12-13

But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name,

who were born not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.

Romans 9:16

So, then, it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of the One showing mercy, of God.

and his heart is filled with desires, emotions, affections, etc

Matthew 15:18-19

But the things which come out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and these defile the man.

For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, blasphemies.

Luke 9:45

But they did not understand this saying, and it was veiled from them so that they might not perceive it. And they feared to ask Him about this word.

John 8:44

coming up behind she touched the border of His garment. And instantly the flow of her blood stopped.

God creates each individual with a specific type of heart

Psalms 139:13-16

For You have possessed my inward parts; You wove me in the womb of my mother.

I will thank You, for with fearful things I am wonderful; Your works are marvelous, and my soul knows it very well.

My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret; when I was woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my embryo; and in Your book all my members were written the days they were formed, and not one was among them.

Jeremiah 1:5

On account of this the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Romans 9:20-21

Yes, rather, O man, who are you answering against God? Shall the thing formed say to the One forming it , Why did You make me like this? Isa. 29:16

Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, out of the one lump to make one vessel to honor, and one to dishonor? Jer. 18:6

to bring about and accomplish His purposes

Daniel 4:34-35

And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to the heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High. And I praised and honored Him who lives forever, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule from generation to generation.

And all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing. And He does according to His will among the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. And no one is able to strike His hand or say to Him, What are You doing?

Romans 8:27-28

But the One searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to God

But we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose;

Roman’s 9:22-23

But if God, desiring to show forth wrath, and to make His power known, endured in much long-suffering vessels of wrath having been fitted out for destruction,

and that ( so that) ( in order that) He make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy which He before prepared for glory,

Ephesians 1:9-11

making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

for the administration of the fullness of the times to head up all things in Christ, both the things in the heavens, and the things on earth, in Him,

in whom we also have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His own will,

God has the total and absolute freedom to soften, turn, make obstinate, and mold the heart according to His sovereign will for His glory

Deuteronomy 2:30

And Sihon the king of Heshbon was not willing to let us pass by him, for Jehovah your God had hardened his spirit, and had emboldened his heart, so as to give him into your hand, as it is this day.

Psalm 105:25

He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants.

Proverbs 21:1

As streams of waters, the king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah; He turns it wherever He desires.

Isaiah 64:8

But now, Jehovah, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our Former; yea, we all are Your handiwork.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word which was to from Jehovah, saying,

Rise up and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was working a work on the wheel.

And the vessel that he made in clay was ruined in the hand of the potter. So repeating he made it, another vessel, as it seemed good in the potter’s eyes to make it .

And the word of Jehovah was to me, saying,

O house of Israel, can I not do to you as this potter? says Jehovah Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

And I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh.

And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments and do them .

Romans 9:15,18,20-21

For He said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will pity whomever I will pity.” Ex. 33:19

So, then, to whom He desires, He shows mercy. And to whom He desires, He hardens.

Yes, rather, O man, who are you answering against God? Shall the thing formed say to the One forming it , Why did You make me like this? Isa. 29:16

Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, out of the one lump to make one vessel to honor, and one to dishonor? Jer. 18:6

Jehovah makes the creature however He so desires and each creature is a vessel for specific use- for either honorable or dishonorable use

Proverbs 16:4

Jehovah has made all for His purpose, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Romans 9:11

for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of the One calling,

Romans 9:17,21

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very thing I raised you up, so that I might show forth My power in you, and so that My name might be publicized in all the earth.” Ex. 9:16

Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, out of the one lump to make one vessel to honor, and one to dishonor? Jer. 18:6

and no creature can question Him ( for who are you oh man, to answer back to God)

Romans 9:19-20

You will then say to me, Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will?

Yes, rather, O man, who are you answering against God? Shall the thing formed say to the One forming it , Why did You make me like this? Isa. 29:16

The creature is never free to choose moral opposites – nor is he free to choose or make decisions outside of what God has decreed and predestined him to do. God causes and predestines every creature to do whatsoever He has decreed.

Isaiah 10:15,22-23

Shall the axe glorify itself over him chopping with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself over him moving it? As if a rod could wave those who lift it . As if a staff could raise what is not wood!

For though Your people Israel is like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of it shall return; a determined end, overflowing with righteousness.

For the Lord Jehovah of Hosts is making a full end, even ordained, in the midst of all the land.

Acts 2:23

this One given to you by the before-determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you having taken by lawless hands, having crucified Him , you put Him to death.

Romans 8:30

But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; but whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 9:17-18

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very thing I raised you up, so that I might show forth My power in you, and so that My name might be publicized in all the earth.” Ex. 9:16

So, then, to whom He desires, He shows mercy. And to whom He desires, He hardens.

Ephesians 1:4-6

according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us to be holy and without blemish before Him in love,

predestinating us to adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

to the praise of the glory of His grace in which He favored us in the One having been loved,

The creature is not autonomous, nor does he have liberty from His creator

Exodus 4:21

return to Egypt, see all the wonders which I have put in your hand, and do them before Pharaoh. And I will harden his heart, and he will not send the people away

Exodus 7:3

And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh. And I will multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 9:12

And Jehovah hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, as Jehovah had said to Moses.

Exodus 35:31-35

And He has filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all workmanship,

and to devise designs, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,

and in cuttings of stones for finishings, and in carving of wood, to work in all workmanship of design.

And He has put in his heart to teach, he and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan,

He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to do every work of a smith, and an artisan, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in crimson, and in bleached linen , and a weaver; doers of every work and devisers of designs.

Exodus 36:1-2

And Bezaleel and Aholiab shall work with everyone wise of heart to whom Jehovah has given wisdom and intelligence, to know how to do every work of the service of the sanctuary, concerning all which Jehovah had commanded.

And Moses called to Bezaleel, and to Aholiab, and to everyone wise of heart, to whom Jehovah had given a heart of wisdom, everyone whose heart had lifted him up to come near the work, to do it.

Deuteronomy 29:4

Yet Jehovah has not given to you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day.

Deuteronomy 30:6

And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Jehovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.

Joshua 11:20

For it was of Jehovah to harden their hearts, so that they should come against Israel in battle, so that they might be destroyed, so that they might have no favor, but that He might destroy them, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

1 Samuel 10:9

And it happened when he turned his back to go from Samuel, God changed him with another heart. And all these signs came on that day.

1 Kings 10:24

and all the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put into his heart;

1 Kings 18:37

Answer me, O Jehovah, answer me; and this people shall know that You are Jehovah God; and You shall turn their hearts back again.

2 Chronicles 9:23

And all the kings of the earth were seeking the face of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart.

2 Chronicles 18:22

And now, behold, Jehovah has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. And Jehovah has spoken evil against you.

Ezra 6:22

And they performed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy. For Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to make their hands strong in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7:27-28

Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who has put this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem.

And He has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty leaders. And I was made strong, as the hand of Jehovah my God was on me. And I gathered out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Nehemiah 7:5

And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, so that they might be counted by genealogy. And I found a register of genealogy of those who came up at the first. And I found written in it:

Job 17:4

For You have hidden their heart from understanding; therefore You shall not exalt them .

Job 23:13-14,16

But He is in one mind , and who can turn Him? Yea, His soul desires, and He does it

For He fulfilled my lot, and many like these are with Him.

For God makes my heart weak, and the Almighty troubles me.

Psalm 4:7

You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the time their grain and their wine grew.

Psalm 10:17

O Jehovah, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart. Your ear will hear,

Psalm 115:3

But our God is in Heaven; He has done all that He has pleased.

Proverbs 16:1,4,9

The orderings of the heart are for man, and the answer of the tongue from Jehovah.

Jehovah has made all for His purpose, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil

A man’s heart plans his way, but Jehovah fixes his step.

Isaiah 46:8-11

Remember this and be a man; return it on your heart, transgressors.

Remember former things from forever, for I am God, and no one else is God, even none like Me,

declaring the end from the beginning, and from the past those things which were not done, saying, My purpose shall rise; and, I will do all My desire;

calling a bird of prey from the sunrise, the man of My counsel from a far off land. Yes, I have spoken; yes, I will cause it to come; I have formed; yes, I will do it.

Isaiah 63:17

O Jehovah, why do You make us wander from Your ways? You harden our heart from Your fear. For Your servants’ sake, return the tribes of Your inheritance.

Jeremiah 24:7

O Jehovah, why do You make us wander from Your ways? You harden our heart from Your fear. For Your servants’ sake, return the tribes of Your inheritance.

Jeremiah 32:39

And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me all the days, for good to them and to their sons after them.

Scripture- Literal Translation 1993 Jay P Green

Highlights and italics added for emphasis and commentary