Recently, I read part of a book that deals with doctrine. I’ve run into some confusion at times between the study of God’s character and nature (theology) and the teaching of theology (doctrine). There seems to be a disconnect with all of us between our understanding of God, and how we communicate our understanding of God.

Frankly, the biggest misunderstanding of God is how we feel about what we know. God commands right feeling, not just right knowing. But this is another topic.

It seems the simplest way to understand the topic of sovereignty is in this way, “God’s sovereignty means He is both in charge and in control“.

I read an article that articulates three responses we can have in regard to God’s sovereignty. Because God is sovereign:

1.) Let us stand in awe of the sovereign authority and freedom and wisdom and power of God.

2.) And let us never trifle with life as though it were a small or light affair.

3.) Let us marvel at our own salvation—that God bought it and wrought it with sovereign power, and we are not our own.

4.) Let us groan over the God-belittling man-centeredness of our culture and much of the church.

5.) Let us be bold at the throne of grace, knowing that our prayers for the most difficult things can be answered. Nothing is too hard for God.

6.) Let us rejoice that our evangelism will not be in vain because there is no sinner so hard the sovereign grace of God cannot break through.

7.) Let us be thrilled and calm in these days of great upheaval because victory belongs to God, and no purposes that he wills to accomplish can be stopped.

(John Piper. Doctrine Matters (Kindle Locations 1054-1062). John Piper.)