Sovereignty without human responsibility leads to fatalism. On the other hand, teaching human responsibility while neglecting God's sovereignty leads to deism, where God is simply not ruling in our world. Then, God is nothing more than a spectator. Neither can ever be acceptable according to Holy Scripture.
God's sovereignty does not dismiss our responsibility. The Bible teaches both. Consider this illustration. The farmer plows the soil, sows the seed, and continues to cultivate the field. Yet, only God can give the increase. This was the illustration given by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Here we understand the sovereignty of God includes our responsibility.
God is sovereign over all. He is the Almighty, beside whom there is no other. He is the Creator, sustaining and ruling over all. Yet, God has given us choice that makes us responsible and accountable to Him. Therein, we find the basis of God's judgment. Therefore, God speaks to us in the Bible with exhortations and commands.
In the Bible, God's sovereignty never excludes our responsibility. Theological systems that teach God's sovereignty without our responsibility will lead to the error of fatalism. God is sovereign. "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). We are responsible to God. "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).
