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 Bible, however, clearly upholds this blessed paradox. Difficult though they truly are to rationalise, we must affirm both of these glorious truths.

The Inescapable Reality of God’s Sovereignty Remember RC Sproul’s words, “If God is truly sovereign, there can be no maverick molecule in the universe running loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty. Otherwise, we have no guarantee any of God’s promises will be fulfilled.”

If God were not supremely sovereign over all things, He would not be God. An infinite, all-powerful Being without total sovereign control is a contradiction in terms. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible depicts God as the Sovereign Ruler over every atom, every soul, and every circumstance in existence. To deny His absolute sovereignty is to dethrone Him as the omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of all reality.

The Undeniable Truth about Human Free Will Scripture is equally clear, however, that we have free will—the ability to make wilful choices that impact reality. In the garden, for instance, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God of their own volition.

So, what is the Biblical idea of free will? Does it mean human autonomy? No. Adam and Eve were moral free agents: they had free will. However, this does not mean they had total autonomy. For instance, they could eat of the fruit of every tree but one. Neither could decide who their partners would be or who their children would be. And neither could they choose the place or the time or the circumstance of their death.

Two Realities—Paradoxical, Yet True On the surface, these twin truths appear contradictory. How can God be truly sovereign, yet grant free will to His creatures?

Yet the Bible clearly upholds both realities without rationalising the philosophical tension. In Genesis 50, Joseph concludes that though his brothers meant to harm him—entirely of their own free will—by selling him into slavery, God sovereignly “meant it for good” to save many lives. The entire history of redemption illustrates God’s overarching sovereignty working through the wilful choices (for good or ill) of His moral agents.

See, for instance this astounding revelation we’re granted in Acts 2:23: Peter, preaching at Pentecost, tells the Jewish leaders it is they—acting of their own will—who had Jesus killed at their behest, yet, it was God’s sovereign will all along that this happens. It was part of His redemptive plan for humanity.

Scripture Affirms This Paradox The Bible repeatedly affirms both God’s sovereignty and human free will, often in almost the same breath:

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.)

Why We Must Embrace This Paradox:

1. God’s Sovereignty Ensures Our Hope: Apart from God’s unwavering sovereignty over all circumstances, we have no basis for confidence in His promises. As John Piper reminds us, “Our only hope for life, answered prayer for the impossible, evangelism success, and meaning in suffering rests in God being sovereign”.
2. Human Free Will Ensures Our Accountability: If we lacked the ability to make real choices as free moral agents, God could not justly hold us accountable for sin or righteous living. The reality of human free will is what makes us justly judged for our actions rather than being no more than divine “puppets.”
3. Both Truths Are Taught in Scripture: The “blessed paradox” flows from the clear teaching of God’s inspired Word. While our finite minds cannot fully rationalise it, we must humbly submit our reason to the revelation of our infinite Creator who has made known both aspects of reality.

Living in the Tension

Sure, we cannot fully rationalise the philosophical tension between God’s sovereignty and our free will—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 as humans are free to make wilful choices as His moral agents.

The ongoing, practical outworking looks like this: Living in the tension between God’s sovereignty and human free will should shape every aspect of the Christian life. In our worship, we exalt God’s supreme reign over all things (Psalm 103:19) while freely choosing to offer Him the praise and obedience He is due (Romans 12:1). In evangelism, we labour with urgency knowing that people must freely respond to the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:20), yet ultimately God is sovereign in opening hearts (Acts 16:14). In our relationships, we are called to Christ-like, selfless love (Ephesians 5:1-2) stemming from our free will, even as God’s sovereign purposes are being worked out through our interactions (Romans 8:28). Whether in our work, our suffering, or any other circumstance, we can have peace recognizing God’s sovereignty over all that transpires (Proverbs 19:21) while still being responsible for our willing choices (Galatians 6:7-8). Living in this tension produces reverent trust in the Lord and diligent obedience, for as Jesus taught, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).

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