Who rules the universe, God or man? That is the basic question of theology. The system of doctrine known as Reformed theology, or Calvinism, answers without any apology or compromise, “God is King.” Virtually all other systems of theology may say they agree, but upon closer scrutiny they place man on the throne with God, or even depose God completely to enthrone humanity.

Reformed theology gets its name from the distinct theological emphases of the Sixteenth Century Protestant Reformation, which in reality is nothing more than sound biblical theology. Although believers in the Reformed tradition highly regard the specific contribution of such people as Martin Luther, John Knox and particularly John Calvin, they nevertheless also find their strong distinctive in the giants of the faith before them, in persons such as Anselm and Augustine, and ultimately in the letters of Paul and the teachings of the Lord Jesus. Obviously, Calvinism is associated with the name of John Calvin, but its theology is much older. It is taught in both testaments of the Bible. Many of the early church fathers taught it, especially the great Augustine.

Most of the Protestant Reformers were either Calvinists or in basic agreement with its theology, such as Martin Luther and Ulrich and Zwingli. Then there were the English and American Puritans, such as John Bunyan and Matthew Henry. Later Calvinist preachers and theologians include Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hodge, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Martin Lloyd-Jones.

Reformed Christians hold to doctrines characteristic of all Christians, including the Trinity, the true deity and true humanity of Jesus Christ, the inspiration of the Bible, the atonement, the new birth, the church as a divinely ordained institution, the requirement for Christians to live moral lives, the Great Commission, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal life. They hold other doctrines in common with all evangelical Christians, such as the inerrancy of the Bible and justification by faith alone. Since the time of the Reformation, Arminianism has been its chief rival within evangelicalism. Arminianism weakens the Godness of God and exalts the humanity of man, while Reformed theology emphasizes over and over that God is God and man is man.

For most Reformed people the chief and most distinct article of the creed is God’s sovereignty.  Sovereignty means rule and the sovereignty of God means that God rules over his creation with absolute power and authority. He determines what is going to happen, and it does happen. God is not alarmed, thwarted, frustrated or defeated by circumstances or by the sin or rebellion of his creatures.

All evangelical theologies will agree that salvation is solely by God’s grace, but Reformed theology alone says that grace is sovereignly given to whomever God chooses to grant it. “The doctrines of grace,” or the Five Points of Calvinism, are summarized by the popular acronym TULIP: Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints.

We might add that Calvinism stresses the five great doctrines rediscovered in the Protestant Reformation: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Gratia (grace alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), Solo Christo (Christ alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory). Since all doctrines must be tested by Scripture, search the Scriptures and see if Calvinism is indeed the teaching of the Word of God.

The Sovereignty of God

To begin we must go back to eternity past, when God alone existed.“ In the beginning, God” (Gen. 1:1). God has always existed and is self-existent (Rev. 1:8). He is therefore totally independent of everything else. He alone is totally free and self-sufficient. He does not need man or anything in all creation (Acts 17:25). In short, God is God (Ex.3:14).

We know that God created all things, but have you ever wondered why God created the universe? Or even more, why does God do everything else that he does? God himself tells us in his Word: “Our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases” (Ps. 115:3; cf. Dan. 4:35). He does as he pleases, always as he pleases, only as he pleases. God willed to create the universe, but before he created, he formed a “plan,” which Scripture calls his “eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11; cf. Rom. 8:28, Isa. 46:10-11). This purpose is not merely a wish or a command, but a decree that governs everything. He “works all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph. 1:11). Thus God foreordained everything that will come to pass, down to the smallest detail. “For from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36).

Moreover, God will never change his mind on this eternal plan. God’s purpose will stand forever because he himself never changes (Jer. 23:20; 1 Sam. 15:29). Therefore, his purpose shall most certainly come to pass exactly as he planned it. Neither man nor demon nor angel can frustrate God’s eternal purpose from being accomplished, for all of their thoughts and actions are included in that purpose. There are no coincidences, only providence, for God has even determined in advance the flipping of a coin (Prov. 16:33).

“The Lord God omnipotent reigns” (Rev. 19:6). God is king over everything that is, was, or ever shall be (Ps. 93:1-2; 103:19). He is the absolute monarch, the King of kings (Rev. 19:16). This is what we mean by the sovereignty of God. He has total authority over everything. Not only did he decree everything that happens in time, but he sovereignly guides all things by his providence (Rom. 8:28). “He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Eph. 1:11).

The question then arises, “What is the final purpose for which God does all things?” Jonathan Edwards wrote, “The great end of God’s works, which is so variously expressed in Scripture, is indeed by one; and this one end is most properly and comprehensively called the glory of God.” The final goal of the whole universe is the glory of God. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36). He foreordained all things to display his glory, and everything will give him glory and praise to the end of time (Phil. 2:11). We exist to give God glory.