How Does God’s Sovereignty Not Violate Our Decision-Making?

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 1195

[razegaming]

All I gotta say is this, years ago I was deep into bandage into sin. Pornography was a daily part of my life I would literally watch it every single time I got a chance, but when I was brought awareness of my sins the thing I loved the most, was like the worst possible forms of torture I would literally beg and try to bargain with God. " I will never do it again don't send me to hell. I battled with it for 10 years for all those years of me trying to stop myself it felt with each time I did it I would feel like I was inching closer and closer to hell. You know what caused me to stop? Asking him to do it something that took me years to do he did in exactly 1 day. One day I woke up and the craving and urge to watch it is gone. Now that I am free you can literally not pay me to watch that stuff. And I hope it stays this way by his grace because I couldn't free myself and I wouldn't want to be a slave to it ever again

[vitalraokommanipati]

Lord open my heart to see and understand 😢😢😢.

[kaboom]

When I tell people God chooses His people like Jesus chose the disciples they think i'm being arrogant as if i'm "special". On the contrary, knowing full well God chose me, it woke up a reverence in me that makes me fearfully humble and grateful to Him for the rest of my life. WHO am i? i'm nothing!! Without divine intervention I could still be out there among the spiritually living dead. I have nothing to offer Jesus but a broken heart as a result of my sin. That's why we pray non-stop for the lost (2 Timothy 2:25)

[gregr.demarco]

This reminds me of how unworthy I truly am, and how merciful God in Christ truly is! Again I declare freely; “I’m not Worthy.”

[theunkownslave]

I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! He saved a wretch like me! I am eternally grateful!!!

[NA-syzc]

John Piper is a blessed man. His 'words for each context' are so precious and I believe they are driven by the 'Voice of Holy Spirit'.
Thank you for the broadcast.

[ronboy]

"I was once blind but now I see" - I'm right there with you. That part of an old gospel song I thought was about someone who didn't know Jesus at all. But, the line applies to me in a different way. I've always known Jesus, but thought it was I who did what was necessary to grow spiritually. Then, my eyes were opened to see that it was and is God through His Holy Spirit who is growing me. I am merely a recipient of His good graces in His working in my life.

[jamesfisherman]

I have been studying the Bible for a long time now and have been listening to the late RC Sproul, John MacArthur, Steve Lawson, the late Dave Pawson, Skip Heizig and to this podcast of John Piper and I must say there is unanimity in what they teach and in the major doctrines of sin, salvation, God’s sovereignty and this 7 points exegetically sourced from the Bible is an excellent and inspired summary of the seemingly difficult and irreconcilable teachings in the Bible🤔😊

Thank you Pastor John for neatly collating them all for us all😊 I studied Hermeneutics myself and I must confirm you are spot on😊Glory to God🙏😇😍

[RR-givo]

"In Me you live and move and have your Being" Acts 17:28. ❤

[GTX]

I don't fully agree with John's interpretation of God's sovereignty but I appreciate it. I know that sounds contradictory but every once in a while I listen to him for encouragement; i.e. God reminds me of just how much He is in control of my life when I listen to John. And I can see it as I reflect on 41 years of being a believer.

[aguerra]

If l, as a parent, don't interfere with my child's decision making process when l see it's leading to disaster, not only would l be a terrible parent, It would prove l don't love him or her. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you! Light the way to those in the dark so they won't trip and fall!
God, as a leader, provider, lover and protector of our souls should ALWAYS be a mayor and ACCESIBLE factor in influencing our decision making.
"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths". Every thought under the obedience of Christ.
"and the LIGHT OF LIFE will flood your path"
So, the strongholds of the god of this world must be broken over us so we can be open to receive the NEW nature given by GOD in order to be able to respond to HIM adequately!

[Jazzfestn]

God does NOT "violate" US, but WE VIOLATE GOD and His WORD.

[joymahiko]

A Spirit born child of God LOVES to make decisions based on God's Word. It gives me great JOY. "It is GOD that works IN you both to WILL and to DO of His good pleasure". Thank you Lord for your grace and letting me be a part of this mystery of the kingdom of God.

[rabbit]

Such wisdom and clarity on this matter. Thank you.

[ejesuitas]

Thanking God! All glory to God in Christ Jesus! Thank you and God bless you Pastor John Piper.

[kerendawson]

Points in the biblical view of the relationship between the human will and God's sovereignty.

1. Until they are born again by the power of God's Spirit, all human beings ever since Adam are spiritually blind, darkened in their understanding, hardened in their hearts, unable to grasp spiritual truth, rebellious against God, spiritually dead in trespasses, enslaved to sin, unable to please God.

2. All people are still responsible in that condition - accountable to God, liable to judgment, because this darkness that they are in; this slavery that holds them, has its power over them. Not against their will or against their desires, but precisely because of their will and because of their desires, they love sin so much. This is not a bondage against their will, it is a bondage because of their will.

3. This does not limit the complete sovereignty of God over everything. God is in control of the fallen will of man.

4. By the work of the Holy Spirit, God replaces blindness with reality. He sets people free. The slavery to God is not the same as the slavery to sin.

5. This new slavery to God is true freedom for 3 reasons: first, like slavery to sin, it is completely willing. Second, the new desires - unlike the desires to sin - accord with what is true and beautiful and lasting; God's righteousness, God's way. Third, this new slavery to God is true freedom because our former, so-called freedom ended in everlasting death, and our new slavery to God ends in eternal joy.

6. This new freedom does not limit the complete sovereignty of God, including the redeemed human will. God is working in us through Jesus Christ. This doesn't mean we can't grieve the Spirit, but it does mean that God lets Himself be grieved for His purpose, which will always come to pass. God is still sovereign over our wills.

7. Nevertheless, God's way of ruling the redeemed will not compromise our responsibility or nullify the true freedom. How can this be? There is a glimpse of how it might be in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
When the Spirit of God transforms us to God's will, to love it and conform to it, and thus reflect the glory of God, this is true freedom because it is happening through beholding the glory of the Lord.

[isaacali]

Pastor John is always so enlightening

[ElishaNicholasBharti]

How beautifully You quote scripture ❤️❤️❤️❤️🥺

[SuperEwyatt]

Because every free will decisions come from our INTENTIONS ( silently from our heart ♥️) God can read our hearts at anytime

[duarteshelia]

Thank you Pastor John for this truth spoken.