I am not going to exposit this for your mother, but more of a reaffirmation for myself. God has shown me that he is in complete control through many real life examples. What kind of a god would he be if he was not in full control? I am not going to explain these things well because they require knowing it, even if I have difficulty explaining it in words. It requires faith, a measure of faith that God reveals to the chosen. My mother says she is a Christian and can quote various verses as to why she is saved, but she also has trouble with believing the Sovereignty of God. If I had to make a guess, God has not yet given her the measure of faith or knowledge that requires her to believe in that Sovereignty.
When I was first saved, I believed in free will, but God used people in my life and his Word to pull me close and show me that HE is in control, not my will, but his will.
1. How can we explain the total sovereignty of God without denying that we are held responsible for our sin? Romans 8 & 9 is my proof, I look at Pharaoh, he was a vessel made for the very purpose that he was. Or what about Satan, God knew before he created Satan what Satan’s purpose would be. God designed Satan for the purpose that he is fulfilling today just like all of the other vessels.
2. How do we respond to the "puppeteer" accusation? God is in control, he just is, again we are vessels made for his purposes.
3. How can we prove God is not the author of evil? Tough to answer, Satan does the dirty work, but God is not directly to blame. That is about all I can say about that. Look at the trials of Job, God was the initiator.
4. Does God cause all things to happen? For instance, my mom asked whether or not God caused the World Trade Center tragedy. Do you think God was shocked at what happened on 9/11? What about the flood? God knew it was to happen, God planned it to happen, God allowed/made it to happen.
Don’t get me wrong about this, I love Jewish people and “Jews for Jesus”, but what about Hitler, I believe that was leftovers directly related to Israel wanting a King instead of a theocracy centuries ago. Very sad, but I do believe applicable.
