--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Satan can do only what the sovereign God…" description: "\"Satan can do only what the sovereign God allows him to do.\" — R. C. Sproul" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/r-c-sproul-1006_can-do_satan-can-do-only-what-the-sovereign-god_1274368.png" --- # Satan can do only what the sovereign God allows him to do. ![“Satan can do only what the sovereign God allows him to do.” quote by R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/r-c-sproul-1006_can-do_satan-can-do-only-what-the-sovereign-god_1274368.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/r-c-sproul-1006_can-do_satan-can-do-only-what-the-sovereign-god_1274368.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/r-c-sproul-1006_can-do_satan-can-do-only-what-the-sovereign-god_1274368.png) > “Satan can do only what the sovereign God allows him to do.” [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine sovereignty limits even evil actions to what God permits. **In simple terms:** God controls what evil can do. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of evil. Themes theology free will divine control Mood thoughtful serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - ethical debates - spiritual counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts Christian doctrine philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do we bear responsibility for evil acts? - How does this view affect moral choices? A Different Perspective It raises questions about human responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Greatness of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-of-god/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) ## Related quotes > [I have been asked hundreds of times in my life why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that I really do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-have-been-asked-hundreds-of-times-in-my-life-why-god-allows-tragedy/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [If God is not sovereign, God is not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-god-is-not-sovereign-god-is-not-god/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [If there is one maverick molecule in all the universe, then God is not sovereign. And if God is not sovereign, He is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-there-is-one-maverick-molecule-in-all-the-universe-then-god-is-not/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Do all things without grumbling. Why? You have a sovereign God who is on your side, who works everything together for your good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-all-things-without-grumbling-why-you-have-a-sovereign-god-who-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-clarkson/the-sovereignty-of-god-is-the-one-impregnable-rock-to-which-the/) [Margaret Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-clarkson/) > [Order is manifestly maintained in the universe... governed by the sovereign will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-prescott-joule/order-is-manifestly-maintained-in-the-universe-governed-by-the/) [James Prescott Joule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-prescott-joule/) > [Christians belive in a sovereign God who never says "Oops". We believe that all our days ... are divine strokes on the canvas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/christians-belive-in-a-sovereign-god-who-never-says-oops-we-believe/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [We can rest confident in the fact that nothing will happen to us in this world apart from the gracious will of a sovereign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/we-can-rest-confident-in-the-fact-that-nothing-will-happen-to-us-in/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn't want our success; He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/it-is-not-what-we-do-that-matters-but-what-a-sovereign-god-chooses-to/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [When I forget my sovereign, may my God forget me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/when-i-forget-my-sovereign-may-my-god-forget-me/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [I would say that God is much bigger than all of this. I've been through difficult times where it just seems like hope is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-millard/i-would-say-that-god-is-much-bigger-than-all-of-this-i-ve-been/) [Bart Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-millard/) > [We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-recognize-no-sovereign-but-god-and-no-king-but-jesus/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/as-children-of-a-sovereign-god-we-are-never-victims-of-our/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [In Reformed theology, if God is not sovereign over the entire created order, then he is not sovereign at all. The term sovereignty too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-reformed-theology-if-god-is-not-sovereign-over-the-entire-created/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [If the God you believe in is not a sovereign God, then you really don't believe in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-the-god-you-believe-in-is-not-a-sovereign-god-then-you-really-don/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## More by R. C. Sproul > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [God's grace is not infinite. God is infinite, and God is gracious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-s-grace-is-not-infinite-god-is-infinite-and-god-is-gracious/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [God Himself supplies the necessary condition to come to Jesus, that's why it is 'sola gratia,' by grace alone, that we are saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-himself-supplies-the-necessary-condition-to-come-to-jesus-that-s/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [If God is not sovereign, God is not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-god-is-not-sovereign-god-is-not-god/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [When God says something, the argument is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/when-god-says-something-the-argument-is-over/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“There is no such “mother” as Mother Nature. Nature itself is powerless to produce life of any kind. In itself, nature is barren. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/there-is-no-such-mother-as-mother-nature-nature-itself-is-powerless/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Right now counts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/right-now-counts-forever/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [The complaint that church is boring is never made by people in awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-complaint-that-church-is-boring-is-never-made-by-people-in-awe/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Sin can bring pleasure, but never happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/sin-can-bring-pleasure-but-never-happiness/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I'm afraid that in the United States of America today the prevailing doctrine of justification is not justification by faith alone. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/i-m-afraid-that-in-the-united-states-of-america-today-the-prevailing/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Heaven is a place where God will personally wipe away our tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/heaven-is-a-place-where-god-will-personally-wipe-away-our-tears/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [In the decade of the 1980s, a massive and comprehensive study of religion in American life was undertaken by the Gallup organization. The results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-the-decade-of-the-1980s-a-massive-and-comprehensive-study-of/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [The rapture will not be secret but open and manifest. Its purpose will not be to whisk the elect away from the earth for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-rapture-will-not-be-secret-but-open-and-manifest-its-purpose-will/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Sometimes we behave and perform with our lives, not for God, but for an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/sometimes-we-behave-and-perform-with-our-lives-not-for-god-but-for-an/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) [Explore all 310 R. C. Sproul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Satan can do only what the sovereign God allows him to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. C. 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