The Bible teaches that God is absolutely sovereign, yet humans are responsible for their real choices. This tension is understood through the principle of concurrence: God is the primary cause of all things, directing history according to His plan, while humans act as secondary causes, making genuine decisions according to their own motives. While God’s will is ultimate, He allows human freedom within the boundaries He establishes.
God’s Active Will and Sovereignty
God’s sovereignty means He is the supreme authority and ruler of the universe. The Bible describes God’s active or “decretive” will as His direct intervention or decree to ensure certain events occur. This is not merely “foreknowledge”—where God looks ahead to see what might happen—but rather God actively holding the universe together and directing history toward His ultimate ends.
This aspect of God’s sovereignty is often called His “secret” will. We usually cannot see it unfolding in the moment; instead, we recognize it in hindsight as we see how God’s plan was accomplished.
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Creation: God spoke the world into existence by His own power.
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The Resurrection: God actively raised Jesus from the dead to secure our salvation.
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Personal Faith: God is the one who initiates the process of a person coming to faith.
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National History: God influences who rises to power and who falls in world leadership.
“Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.” (Psalm 115:3, NLT)
God’s Passive Will and Human Choice
While God is the primary cause, He also has a “passive” or permissive will. This means God allows creatures to act according to their own nature and desires. He is not a passive observer, but He sets the boundaries within which human choices take place.
Even when God “permits” an action—including sinful ones—He remains in control. For example, God allowed Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and He allowed Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. In both cases, the humans involved made real choices based on their own motives, yet God used those choices to eventually bring about His good purposes.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:20, NLT)
The Principle of Concurrence
The primary way to understand the relationship between God’s sovereignty and free will is through the principle of concurrence. This theological concept explains how two seemingly opposing forces work together:
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The Primary Cause: God provides the power, the plan, and the ultimate direction for all events.
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The Secondary Cause: Humans provide the choice and the motive. We act freely according to our nature, and we are held responsible for those actions.
This means that while your choices are real and carry consequences, they do not happen outside of God’s overarching plan. You are responsible for your motives, while God is responsible for the ultimate outcome of history.
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.” (Proverbs 16:4, NLT)
The Takeaway
The question of whether humans have free will if God is sovereign is answered by the reality that both are true. God is the sovereign Primary Cause who directs the universe, yet He allows humans to act as Secondary Causes. We make real choices and are responsible for our actions, but we can rest in the peace that nothing happens outside of God’s ultimate, sovereign control.
