Summary of Chapter 4 from The Doctrine of God

In his summary of the chapter entitled God's Control: Its Efficacy and Universality, Frame delivers 4 passages of Scripture which he feels encapsulate both the doctrine of God's universal sovereignty and his arguments towards that end. Here are the four passages from the ESV:

• Lamentations 3:37-38 - Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
• Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
• Ephesians 1:11 - In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will
• Romans 11:33-36 - Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Concerning the big picture that this doctrine teaches Frame says: "The good news is that Jesus' atonement has cosmic dimensions: in time, it will counteract all the effects of the Fall, as well as sin itself, so that "creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (v.21).Therefore, God is now working in all things,not only when we suffer for the gospel,to bring about that which is good for those who have been effectually called into fellowship with Christ." (78)

Frame continually assures the reader that he will deal with some of the questions that arise in later chapters. So, though this chapter was compelling and persuasive, I look forward to reading the rest of the book.