God the Sovereign Creator – SS2 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

The sovereignty of God is his supreme and unlimited power over the whole universe, including man.

Behavioural objectives

1. Give the dictionary meaning of the word “sovereign”.
2. State what sovereignty means when used about man.
3. Explain what sovereignty means in the religious context.
4. Describe the sovereignty of God over the universe and man.
5. Summarise the two accounts of creation in Genesis.

What is the concept of sovereignty?

Sovereignty means the highest power, without limit.

• Sovereign (dictionary meaning): the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines it as “highest power” without limit.
• Sovereignty about man: total independence with absolute authority and supremacy, as in a king or a ruling power.
• Sovereignty in religion: God’s supremacy over the universe.
• Dominion: the right to rule and control. God has dominion over all things, including man.
• Dependence: all creation depends on God, but God depends on nothing.

How is God sovereign over the universe?

God is sovereign over the universe because he created it, owns it and rules it.

• Creator: he made the heavens and the earth by his word (Genesis 1:1).
• Owner: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1).
• Ruler: he is in control of nature, nations and history (Daniel 4:35).
• Source of order: day and night, seas and land, seasons and heavenly bodies follow the order he set.
• Worthy of glory: all things were created by him and for his will (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16).

How is God sovereign over man?

God is sovereign over man because he made man, sustains him and sets limits for him.

• Maker of man: man was formed and given the breath of life by God (Genesis 2:7).
• Image of God: man was made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27).
• Giver of authority: God gave man rule over fish, birds and animals (Genesis 1:28). This authority is delegated, so man answers to God.
• Sustainer: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
• Lawgiver: God set limits for man in Eden, such as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).

What qualities of God does creation show?

Creation shows that God is all-powerful, all-wise, good and eternal.

• Power (omnipotence): he made everything by his word alone.
• Wisdom: creation follows a clear order, with each day building on the one before.
• Goodness: after each stage God saw that it was good.
• Eternity: he was there “in the beginning”, before anything was made (Genesis 1:1).
• Independence: he needs no helper or material to create, so nothing limits him.

What does the first account of creation say?

The first account (Genesis 1:1 to 2:3) says God created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh.

What does this account teach about sovereignty?

• Power of his word: “God said, let there be… and it was so.”
• Order: creation follows a clear plan, from formless to filled.
• Goodness: God saw that what he made was good.
• Man’s place: man is the highest creature and is given care of the earth.

What does the second account of creation say?

The second account (Genesis 2:4-25) focuses on man and the Garden of Eden.

1. The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground.
2. He breathed the breath of life into man, who became a living being.
3. He planted a garden in Eden and put man there to till and keep it.
4. He placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden.
5. He formed the animals and birds, and man named them.
6. He made woman from the man’s rib as a suitable helper.

What does this account teach about sovereignty?

• Personal care: God shapes man by hand and gives him life by his own breath.
• Provision: God supplies a garden, food, work and a companion.
• Authority: man names the animals, which shows his delegated rule.
• Limits: God’s command about one tree shows that man must obey him.

How do the two accounts compare?

The first account describes the creation of the whole universe, while the second describes man and his garden home.

How should we respond to God’s sovereignty?

We should respond with worship, obedience, trust, humility and care for creation.

• Worship: honour God as Lord and Creator.
• Obedience: follow his commands.
• Trust: depend on him in all circumstances.
• Humility: accept that man is a creature and not the owner of the world.
• Stewardship: care for the environment and respect life.

Evaluation

1. How does the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary define “sovereign”?
2. What does sovereignty mean when it is used about man?
3. What does sovereignty refer to in the religious context?
4. Over what does God have dominion?
5. State what God created on days 3 and 6 in the first account.

Assignment

Summarise the first account of creation, and describe two ways it shows the sovereignty of God.