December 2, 2007
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        Verse 9 a critical “milestone” on our trip through this chapter.

        What’s Peter doing here? What does this mean? What would the relevance of verse 9 be to the people Peter was writing to and what is its relevance for us – Christians living 1900 years or so after this letter was written? Why go from discussing false teachers to referring to angels who sinned; to Noah; and then to Lot?

        Don’t forget the purpose of Peter’s letters: to encourage Christians who were suffering.

        One of the anchors, the key that unlocks the door to finding encouragement in the midst of trials or temptations is God’s sovereignty – understanding it; trusting in it; believing in it; and resting in it.

I. God’s sovereignty defined.

        “The Sovereignty of God is an expression that once was generally understood. It was a phrase commonly used in religious literature. It was a theme frequently expounded in the pulpit. It was a truth which brought comfort to many hearts, and gave virility and stability to Christian character. But, today, to make mention of God’s sovereignty is, in many quarters, to speak in an unknown tongue. Were we to announce form the average pulpit that the subject of the sermon would be the sovereignty of God, it would sound very much as though we had borrowed a phrase from one of the dead languages. Alas! That it should be so. Alas! That the doctrine which is the key to history, the interpreter of Providence, the warp and woof of Scripture, and the foundation of Christian theology, should be so sadly neglected and so little understood” (Arthur Pink).

        A. So what do we mean by God’s sovereignty? How do we define         this important doctrine?

        God’s absolute control.

        B. Dictionary: “state of or quality of being sovereign.” “Sovereign”         refers to being: “above or superior to all others; chief; greatest;         supreme” and “supreme in power, rank, or authority.” So God’s         sovereignty is also related to His being supreme – superior over all.

        C. Biblical examples.

        (Lord willing – what’s coming next week).

II. God’s sovereignty displayed through His power.

III. God’s sovereignty displayed through His righteousness and judgments.

IV. God’s sovereignty displayed through His love.

Conclusion