Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Coming again to Romans 9
• 9:1-5 - Paul's burden
• 9:6-17 - doctrine of election
• A difficult doctrine
• 2 Pet 3:16 - "in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
• The Jehovah Witnesses founder had a big problem with election
• Perhaps it is hard for us to get our mind around God choosing some and not others
• Perhaps it is hard for us to consider salvation God's work (although we participate in it)
• Perhaps it is hard for us to think about God choosing some before they are born
• First we must understand the human state - we are all sinners with corrupt hearts and desperately wicked
• God doesn't need to choose anybody...
• ...but God has chosen a vast number of people throughout the ages
• God's desire is that men shall be saved
• We must consider v1-5 and Paul's desire for his people, which echoes Jesus desire for His people
• If we have rejected the Messiah wholesale has God's purpose failed?
• There is always a remnant amongst God's people
• The true children are not children of the flesh but children of the promise
• Paul uses two examples from the Old Testament - Abraham & Sarah and Isaac & Rebekkah
• God had chosen one and not the other
• Some might say this is not election to salvation but only of choosing the Jews and not the Gentiles
• Go back to Malachi and Genesis
• This is a simplistic view - nations are made up of individuals
• It is clear that this passage has salvation in mind:
• v22-23
• People that have hardened their hearts and God [further] hardened Pharaoh's heart
• There are those that God has chosen
• To a mixed congregation in Rome of Jews and Gentiles - God has caused many to be saved
• Paul starts to answer some of the questions/objections that people might have
• v14 - is God fair?
• Certainly not - God forbid (v14c)
• Will not the judge of all the earth do right?
• Paul quotes an example of a rebellious people - Ex 33
• None deserve mercy but God chooses to have mercy and compassion on some (v15)
• It is God who shows mercy (v16)
• Salvation begins and ends with God
• v17 - why would God condemn sinners?
• God showed His power through Pharaoh's heart that the nations might see His power and glory
• Pharaoh has done terrible things - massacred many
• Terrible judgments come upon Pharaoh and the land
• God's power is seen in the judgment and the removal of the judgement
• v18 - can God harden our hearts
• People harden them first
• Overview:
• v19 - A Second Charge against God
• v20-23 - A Strong Rebuttal
• v24-39 - Paul Glories in God

A Second Charge against God (v19)

• A second attempt to try and blame God
• Is this not true?
• Do people often not blame God for the problems of this world, rather than looking at human kind as the source of our problems?
• People charge God rather than recognise their sin
• We ask why is God good to some and not to others (to make Him out to be a monster)?
• We often blame God
• The offer of salvation is available to all and none will be rejected

A Strong Rebuttal (v20-23)

• Paul humbles us all (v20)
• Who are we to question God's purposes?
• God is the potter and we are the clay
• Jer 18:1-11 [see below for Scripture]
• Let us never become fatalistic about our salvation
• God's wrath will come upon us because of our sin
• Prov 16:4
• v22-23
• Meekly bow your knee before the Sovereign God

Paul Glories in God (v24-33)

• Some are prepared before hand for glory
• Paul is staggered
• v25-26 - Paul is going to quote from Hosea
• Pagans were saved
• These would be called 'sons of the living God'
• People in Rome would be saved by the living God
• Hosea was faithful to Gomer (though she was very unfaithful to Hosea)
• What does v26 remind you of - 2 Pet 3:9-10?
• These people are now called the sons of God
• Quote: Is it not astonishing that we can be children of God?
• Example of Brazilian
• v27-29 - Let us think about Israel
• There will always be a remnant
• Assyria did not completely obliterate Israel
• When the destruction of Jerusalem came in Paul's time, God still saved a remnant
• v30-31 - Paul's conclusion

Closing Remarks