Can God be Truly Sovereign and Man be Free? The Biblical Perspective

To many, it may seem a logical contradiction—rather like ‘an immovable object vs. an irresistible force’ paradox. How can both co-exist? Jean-Paul Sartre, the French existentialist philosopher, for instance, insisted the two cannot co-exist. He wrote, “That human beings exist and have freedom is the strongest argument against a sovereign God. If man is truly free, God cannot be sovereign.”

The relationship between God’s sovereign choice and human responsibility is one of life’s most profound mysteries for the Christian. Believers have wrestled with this paradox for years: how can Scripture teach both God’s absolute sovereignty in salvation and genuine human free will—and that often in the same breath? Amazingly, the twin truths aren’t presented in Scripture as a philosophical puzzle to be solved—but rather, as a profound mystery to be embraced.

Why Affirm God’s Absolute Sovereignty?

The doctrine of divine election finds its roots deep in Scripture. God declares through Isaiah, “I am God, and there is no other… My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

The Apostle Paul elaborates on this truth in Romans 9:11-13, speaking of Jacob and Esau: “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'”

John Calvin, commenting on this passage in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book III, Chapter 21, Section 7), writes: “Before they were born, or had done anything good or bad, one was chosen, the other rejected. This proves that the foundation of divine predestination is not in works.”

God’s sovereignty extends beyond salvation to encompass all human decisions and historical events. From the hearts of kings (Proverbs 21:1) to the casting of lots (Proverbs 16:33), from the rise and fall of nations (Acts 17:26) to the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30), nothing falls outside God’s sovereign control. Every event, whether seemingly significant or trivial, operates within His perfect plan (Ephesians 1:11).

Why Do We Affirm Human Free Will?

Scripture portrays us as genuinely responsible moral agents. The Bible fills its pages with commands, exhortations, and appeals to human choice. We’re commanded to believe and repent (Acts 17:30), held accountable for our unbelief (John 3:19), and called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

This responsibility extends into every area of life. Daily choices carry real weight and consequence (Deuteronomy 30:19). Our spiritual growth demands active participation as we’re called to pursue holiness (1 Peter 1:15) and make every effort to supplement our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7). These aren’t mere suggestions but divine imperatives that assume genuine human agency.

Do Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency Work Together?

Divine sovereignty and human free will coexist without contradiction in Scripture. Consider Joseph’s statement to his brothers in Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” The same action is attributed to both human and divine agency, each for different purposes.

The supreme example is the crucifixion of Christ. Peter declares in Acts 2:23, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Here we see both divine sovereignty (“the definite plan of God”) and human responsibility (“you crucified”).

The Bible repeatedly affirms both God’s sovereignty and human free will in numerous other passages as well. Sample these:

• John 1:12-13 (ESV): “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (notice man’s free will is at play when we receive Christ, yet, we cannot do so unless it is God’s sovereign will.)
• John 3:5, 15 (NLT): “…no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit… everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.” (God’s sovereignty has to work through the Holy Spirit for our spiritual birth, yet we have to believe.)
• Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Human free will is at play when we work out our salvation, but God’s sovereignty is the enabler.)
• Matthew 11:27-28 (ESV): “…no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (God’s sovereignty is at play in that the Son has to choose to reveal Him, yet Christ invites us to wilfully come)
• John 6:35, 44 (ESV): “…whoever comes to me shall not hunger…No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (we’re free to come to Christ, yet God’s Sovereignty has to first draw us.)

Common Objections Addressed

• Doesn’t this view reduce us to mere robots? The Bible consistently portrays us as making genuine choices with real moral weight and consequence, experiencing authentic emotions, and bearing true responsibility for our decisions (Deuteronomy 30:19, “I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life”). Jesus weeps over Jerusalem’s freely chosen rejection of Him, saying “How often would I have gathered your children together… and you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37). Far from mechanical programming, the Bible shows us acting according to our deepest desires and will, even as these operate within God’s sovereign purpose (Psalm 33:15, Proverbs 16:1).

• Doesn’t this view make God the author of sin? Scripture maintains both God’s absolute sovereignty over all events and His perfect holiness without sin (Deuteronomy 32:4, “The Rock, his work is perfect… just and upright is he”). While God permits evil for His wise purposes, He never commits evil Himself nor can be tempted by evil (James 1:13-14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one”). The Bible shows evil arising from creatures’ hearts while God remains sovereign over it, using it for good without being its author—as seen in Joseph’s statement “you meant evil… but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

The Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter III, Section I) states this carefully: “God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.”

Conclusion: Can God Be Truly Sovereign And Man Be Free?

The relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is a profound mystery that showcases the vastness of God’s wisdom. Sure, we cannot fully rationalise the philosophical tension between them—about where one ends and the other begins. However, we must live in faithful embrace of the blessed paradox that God is absolutely sovereign, while we’re free to make wilful choices as His moral agents. Rather than attempting to resolve this tension, we’re called to live faithfully within it—trusting fully in God’s sovereign grace while making real and significant choices in our walk with Him. This biblical balance keeps us from both passive fatalism and self-reliant striving, leading us instead to active dependence on God, where our genuine choices find their proper place within His perfect plan (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In this light, we see God’s sovereignty doesn’t diminish human responsibility—it establishes it. Our choices matter precisely because they’re encompassed within God’s greater purpose, making them not less but more significant. This understanding leads not to paralysis but to worship, as we marvel at a God whose ways truly are higher than ours.

 

Can God Be Truly Sovereign And Man Be Free?—Related FAQs

How can I know if I’m elect? Scripture points us to examine the evidence of God’s work in our lives rather than trying to peek into His hidden decrees. The apostle Peter urges us to “make your calling and election sure” by growing in faith, virtue, and godliness (2 Peter 1:5-10). Those who trust in Christ and show the Spirit’s fruit in their lives can rest in God’s preserving grace (1 John 2:3-6). DO CHECK OUT OUR RELATED POST: Assurance of Salvation: Can I Really Know I’m Saved?

• If God is sovereign over salvation, why should we evangelise? God not only ordains the ends (who will be saved) but also the means (how they will hear the gospel). We evangelise because God commands it (Matthew 28:19-20), and because He has chosen to use human instruments to accomplish His saving purposes, as Paul declares, “How will they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14-15). Our evangelism becomes more confident, not less, knowing God will accomplish His purposes.
• How does God’s sovereignty relate to prayer? Prayer is one of the means God has ordained to accomplish His purposes, not a way to change His mind. When we pray according to God’s will, we’re participating in His ordained plan, as seen when Daniel prayed for Israel’s restoration precisely when God’s prophesied timing was approaching (Daniel 9:2-3). Jesus himself modelled this in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Does God have two different wills—one revealed and one hidden? Scripture speaks of God’s revealed will (His commands and desires expressed in Scripture) and His decreed will (what He ordains to happen). Moses expressed this distinction: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). We’re responsible to obey His revealed will while trusting His hidden purposes.

• How does God’s sovereignty provide comfort in suffering? Knowing nothing happens outside God’s control provides deep comfort in trials, as Joseph recognised God’s good purpose in his suffering (Genesis 50:20). Paul assures us that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). This truth doesn’t minimise our pain but provides hope that our suffering isn’t meaningless.
• If God is sovereign, how do we understand human responsibility in sanctification? Scripture presents sanctification as both God’s work in us and our active participation. Paul captures this mystery perfectly: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you” (Philippians 2:12-13). We’re called to strive against sin while depending entirely on God’s grace.

How does understanding these truths affect our worship and daily walk? Grasping both God’s sovereignty and our responsibility should produce both humility and confidence. It leads to deeper worship as we realise salvation is entirely of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), while motivating faithful obedience knowing our choices matter within His purposes. The proper response is Paul’s doxology: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33).

 

Can God Be Truly Sovereign And Man Be Free?—Our Related Posts

• • The Calvinist-Arminian Debate
  • Challenges to Calvin’s View, and the Calvinist Response
  • Calvinism vs Molinism: A Deep Dive into the Debate
  • Why Does God Choose Some and Not Others for Salvation?
  • The Foreknowledge of God: Far More Than Mere Foresight
  • Assurance of Salvation: Can I Really Know I’m Saved?