The Sovereign
Power and Will of God to choose people and nations
in spite of their worth, works, or sinfulness
Romans 9:14-24
January 28, 2024
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig
www.biblebc.com
I. Introduction
A. Paul writes Three intense chapters here in the Book of Romans (chapter 9, 10 and 11) about a nation of people called Israel
B. Paul refers to Israel as God's elect nation (Romans 9:3-5) - A nation specially chosen by God, adopted by God, blessed by God, to do so many things for God, throughout history (you had better learn these things):
1. To be God’s physical example of His grace and His righteousness to a dark and lost world throughout history
2. To give His perfect Laws and promises to – all the promises of the Old Testament were to the Jews FIRST
3. And to give the world a Saving Messiah – the greatest thing the Jews ever gave the world was Jesus!
C. The fact that Israel failed throughout their history to follow God, and to believe God and to obey God, did not cancel God's promises! It never changed His mind about Israel.
1. Any more than when you or I fail to live up to God’s purpose!
2. As a matter of fact, the fact that the Bible records their nearly constant rebellion against God shows the Bible is inspired by GOD and not by men – the Jews would have written about how GREAT their nation and people were, but instead the Bible shows how flawed!
D. Israel, as a nation, will be blessed, and will one day receive their Messiah, even though for the last 2,000 years, they have fallen into gross spiritual apostasy
1. Listen to Romans 10:1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2. So, Unbelieving Israel, as a nation is not saved.
3. Why PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL ISRAEL, or the TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD?
4. Romans 11:25-27 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
E. There are at least 14 incredibly intense and complex truths in these three chapters that MUST be slowly pondered and understood, or else you will fall into what Paul calls “self-conceit” and arrogance and pride about yourself, and against His people – that’s why Paul wrote these three chapters!
F. Paul carefully brings together some of the deepest most complex and often confusing concepts in these three chapters
G. So don't for a second jump on somebody's YouTube bandwagon and believe that you're going to just instantly grasp these 14 great truths the first time you hear them! Most Christians today are blind being led by the blind! Don’t follow every wind of doctrine that is blowing out there. Learn the following Bible truths…
1. Like the sovereignty of God – it is a powerful, foundational doctrine
2. Election - The special place unbelieving Israel has in God’s plan
3. Who Believing Israel are - The Israel of God
4. The miracle of Gentile’s being included in the family of God
5. The freewill of mankind – we are not robots!
6. The problem that Jesus causes people, especially the Jewish people
7. The perfect righteousness of faith in the Messiah – better than trying to obtain the righteousness of the Law
8. The simplicity of salvation (Romans 10)
9. God’s grace is better and what we all need instead of all our works and efforts
10. The fall of Israel from that grace
11. The grafting in of the Gentiles into Abraham’s Blessings
12. The future reconciling of the nation of Israel to God – total salvation
13. The blindness of Israel for the present
14. The fulfilment of the New Covenant
H. All that and more are in chapters 9, 10 and 11
I. What we are going to look at this morning is just the first one - the Sovereign Power and Will of God to choose people and nations in spite of their worth, works, or sinfulness
II. Review (Romans 9:6-13)
A. Two weeks ago, we discovered… Not All Israel Are Israel
1. Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
2. Israel was the name of the descendants of Abraham, through Isaac, and Jacob
3. But that name, Israel, Prince with God, was much more than that
4. It was the purpose of God for all those who would just live by faith like Abraham did
5. And only THEY are the Israel God wanted everyone to become – the True Israel
B. We learned in 9:7-13, that just because someone was a physical descendant of Abraham, does not mean they were blessed with the blessing of Abraham
1. Abraham had more than one child (Ishmael, and other children also), but God chose only Isaac to be in a special relationship with God, and to pass on His blessings
2. Isaac and Rebecca had two children (Esau and Jacob), but God chose only Jacob, even before the two were born. And in the end, 1,400 years later, the descendants of Esau are hated by God and judged, and no longer exist!
3. But the twelve sons of Jacob become known as “the children of Israel”
4. And they become a nation, chosen out of all nations, adopted by God, blessed by God, and protected by God, and commissioned by God with a great commission
5. And that is where we ended…
6. And that left a lot of questions hanging
C. So this morning, let’s learn about the wisdom and rightness of God’s choices
III. Message
A. Is God Unrighteous? (Romans 9:14)
1. What a question! Is God ever wrong to do what He does?
2. Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
3. Strange question unless you see the context
a. Paul is asking
b. Is God unrighteous to choose Jacob over Esau?
c. Was God unrighteous to choose Isaac over Ishmael?
d. Most people think so
e. Well, then, was He wrong to include Gentiles and choose Gentiles instead of just sticking with Israel?
f. That is the context!
4. People believe God should choose people blindly – no preferences at all
5. Other people believe God should choose on a person’s merit – achievements, abilities
a. The Pharisees had a big problem with a guy claiming to be God’s Son spending time showing mercy to HARLOTS and PUBLICAN and SINNERS – actually eating with them
b. The disciples had a hard time watching Jesus sit and talk with, and show great mercy towards a Samaritan woman at a well in John chapter 4
6. Paul shouts “GOD FORBID!”
7. GOD chooses based upon His desire to show mercy, no matter who receives it
8. And there is no unrighteousness with THAT!
a. Mercy means, UNDESERVED kindness
b. Remember the Ninevites? God showed them mercy!
c. Remember Ruth the Moabitess? Enjoyed great GRACE!
d. And wicked Nebuchadnezzar? God was very kind to him as well, and God used the very people that he had abused (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) to humble him and convince him to repent and receive mercy from God Almighty!
e. All were shown great mercy!
f. But WHY?
B. God’s Choice of Mercy (Romans 9:15,16)
1. Romans 9:15,16 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
2. God’s will sounds kind of whimsical – it sounds like it was based only on how God may feel at that moment… THANKFULLY NOT!
a. Paul is quoting Exodus 33:18,19 And he [MOSES] said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he [GOD] said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
3. God chooses to show mercy toward undeserving people:
a. Like Lot (Genesis 19:15,16) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. [REMEMBER THAT LOT WAS AWAY FROM GOD]
b. Like He has done toward Israel throughout history (Nehemiah 9:16,17) But they [ISRAEL] and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
c. And like He has shown toward all creation (Psalm 145:8,9) The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
d. Do not ever think for a moment that you, or I, or anyone ever deserved God’s mercies, and yet God constantly shows us kindness towards us all!
4. God never makes any choice arbitrarily
a. Psalm 18:24-26 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed [HONOURED] me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
b. God’s treatment of us is the same way we treat Him and His words
c. God’s mercies are only enjoyed by people who want mercy
1) Who draw close to Him
2) Who know they need forgiveness
d. So because of God's mercies, his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering toward us, we Gentiles have been adopted into God's family by faith! Because of God’s mercies, we have been chosen along with Israel to be a new kind of man – a Christian!
5. The point is that nothing we do earns God’s mercy
a. Mercy is poured out simply because of God – it is His nature!
b. Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
c. This refers to two people Paul has already discussed: Esau and Jacob
d. In genesis 27, when it came time for Isaac to pass on the blessing of Abraham to one of his sons, his will was for Esau (surprise) to be blessed and used by God
1) Esau was the oldest, strongest, and most cunning and capable leader in the family
2) And Jacob was the younger brother, a bit wimpy, plain, not very successful at anything, a Mamma’s boy, a liar, a thief
3) But God’s will is not based on OUR will
e. God refused Esau – had actually already said Jacob was going to be blessed above Esau, and served by Esau the elder
f. God chose JACOB!
g. Why?
1) God chooses knowing who would receive His mercy
2) God did NOT choose Jacob because he was such a godly man
3) And NOT because Jacob “RAN” to the farmyard and grab a goat and cook it, and then put on the skin and coat of the goat to deceive his father into giving HIM God’s blessings…
4) That was not what caused God to show mercy on Jacob
5) It was God’s foreknowledge that Jacob and NOT Esau would receive His mercies one day, instead of who would earn them!
6) Jacob would humble himself one day and be thoroughly converted in Genesis 32
7) But Esau never humbled himself towards God, and stayed bitter towards God all his life, and went to hell
6. So, God is merciful to us NOT because of our worth or our merit or our righteous ability, but because of the character and nature of God that shows mercy instead of only wrath
7. Sadly, God's mercy is extended to everyone, but not always received by many
8. If God is extending such mercies towards sinful people like us, then we must want it, and receive it, and believe that it is enough to save us and change us for good
C. The Sovereignty of God (Romans 9:17,18)
1. Let me try to explain the sovereignty of God
2. Sovereign and sovereignty is not a Bible word - it is not found in the pages of scripture
3. It is a word that summarizes the power of God
a. Listen again to Romans 9:17,18 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
b. Notice what God just said…
1) “I” raised thee up
2) So that “I” might shew “MY” power to the whole world
c. God had the power God to raise up an unnamed man, and make him a Pharaoh, king of the empire of Egypt
d. And God had the power to also destroy the entire kingdom of Egypt – which He did
e. Proving that God has the power to show mercy to some, and to harden the hearts and minds of others
f. Wow! That is sovereignty!
g. That is the power of Jehovah, the King of the universe!
4. Sovereignty is based on the following truths about God
a. He is God, alone!
1) The word GOD means, “the all powerful One, the mighty One”
2) The God of the Bible is the only God – there is no other God but Him
3) 1Kings 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.
4) Isaiah 44:6,8 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God… Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
5) Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
6) Mary is not God, angels are not God, Allah is not God, Satan is not God
7) Jehovah alone is God! (Deuteronomy 4:35) Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
b. He created absolutely everything that exists outside of Himself
1) Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2) Not an accidental big bang, and not a mirage – it was miraculously CREATED!
3) Jehovah said in Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
c. If He has the power that created this entire world and universe, then truly He has ALL power – He is sovereign
1) He controls wind and waves, the motion of planets and stars - all the laws of physics are subject to Him, and obey him!
2) He has absolutely all power!
3) Which means, He can do anything
a) Cause a donkey to speak and have a conversation with a man – Balaam
b) Cause water to gush from solid rock
c) He can split the Red Sea, and dry up the sea floor so that a million and a half people could walk through it on bone-dry ground
d) Cause a virgin to be with child and have a son
e) Raise the dead
f) Heal any sickness and disease
g) Cause nations to crumble and disappear into history
h) He can and will cast sinful people into eternal hellfire
i) And He can save a sinful wretch like me from that same hell fire, but just calling upon the name of Jesus!
4) THAT is power!
5) And that is why I pray, and worship Him, and walk with Him!
d. He has absolute control over everything that He has created, and He has the authority to do as He pleases
1) He will accomplish everything He sets out to do
2) No one can judge or correct him for anything that He does
a) We may not agree with what God does
b) We may not like what God plans and does
c) But you and I are not going to stand and try and judge him and prove him wrong
D. Sounds Terrifying, doesn’t it? It is! But that is not all
1. God is absolutely good - in other words He cannot lie, and cannot break his promises, and cannot fail, and cannot go against his own nature – thankfully!
2. Though God controls the wind and the waves, He does not control the will of any human
a. God does NOT ever forcibly choose some sinners to be saved and the rest to be eternally lost – He would cease to be good if He did that – He would be a liar after offering people the chance to repent and believe the Gospel!
b. But that is what Calvinism teaches!
c. We are not Calvinists
d. He has chosen NOT to make you a robot
e. He gave every human being a free will, and actually respects your choices
f. Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
g. If God controlled the will of anyone, He could stop them from sinning, but He doesn't does He?
h. Man chooses his own way, and God allows it
i. God actually allows sin, rebellion, and evil in this world, and still, works everything out for good
3. The sovereignty (power) of God works with the frailty of man
4. And still accomplishes His perfect will (Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
5. He can be completely trusted with everything in your life – big and small
6. Because He is Lord of all!
E. The Example of Pharaoh (Romans 9:17,18)
1. Romans 9:17,18 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
2. What did God actually say?
a. God did NOT say, “For this caused I created you”
b. But, “I gave you power as the leader of Egypt…” I raised you up – I put you in your place of power
c. One would mean God created Pharaoh to fail from the start
d. The other shows God giving a man great power, knowing Pharaoh would fight him
3. This choice to raise up that Pharaoh, at that time, was To show God’s power, His will is greater than ours
a. “To show GOD’S power compared to Pharaoh’s!”
1) Not to damn Pharaoh and Egypt
2) But to save His people, Israel
b. “So that GOD’S name would be published and feared and worshipped and trusted, instead of Pharaoh’s”!
1) It is sad that Pharaoh’s name is barely known, but the name of Jehovah is known world-wide!
2) Pharaoh and Egypt just decided to resist and fight the wrong power!
3) They could have repented and yielded to God’s perfect will
4) But instead resisted and lost everything
5) Just like YOU will if you keep fighting Him too!
F. Who Can Resist God? (Romans 9:19,20)
1. If God has infinite power, who can resist His will? (Romans 9:19)
a. Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
b. Why does God find fault with us if He always does what HE wants to do?
2. Paul asks, Who do we think we are? (Romans 9:20)
a. Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
b. Most people do this still today…
c. They hate themselves, hate their looks, hate their job, hate their husbands, their wives, the country they are in, their health problems, their past…
d. They scream in private, “WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME GOD?”
3. #1 God gives some people great honour, and others live with constant dishonour – no honour at all (Romans 9:21)
a. Yet that is God’s doing
b. Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
4. #2 God is the Creator AND the Potter of all life
a. Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
b. He created us as we are – standing on two legs, not here, with two eyes, one mouth, with hair, without hair
c. But most of all… With free will, that is imperfect, and flawed
d. Jeremiah 18:1-4 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5. #3 God treats us based upon our response to His words! (Jeremiah 18:5-10)
a. Jeremiah 18:5-10 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil [BY CHOICE], I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
6. What Is God Showing the World? (Romans 9:22-24)
a. Romans 9:22-24 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
b. When God shows either His power, or His mercy, he is showing the world
1) That He has ALL power – real power
2) That God endures the rantings and pride of arrogant people like Pharaoh, and Hitler, and the ungodly media today who are headed for destruction – they will face God and judgment
3) God will always give the riches of His kindnesses to the vessels of His mercy who receive them
a) Who are not just Jews, but Jews and Gentiles
b) Who have believed and trusted in His power to save by grace
c) Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace are ye [JEWS AND GENTILES] saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man [JEW OR GENTILE] should boast.
IV.Next Week, Gentile Believers Get Into the New Covenant
V. Conclusion
A. I am so glad for the sovereignty of God, for His power that can make a sinful person like me, forgiven and righteous, without good works
1. Yes, It terrifies… AND it also comforts me – to know He is in control, and not us
2. Pharaoh shows we should not fight God – Pharaoh, Alexander the Great, are no match!
3. The only thing to do is submit, yield, trust in God’s will and way of doing things
B. I am so glad for the mercies of God that are available towards everyone – including wicked, ungodly Gentiles like me
C. God’s mercy stops His Sovereignty at your heart, waiting for you to humbly receive His Son by faith, and choose to follow Him, before too late
1. God’s Choice of Mercy is toward undeserving people
2. Nothing we do earns God’s mercy
3. All we have to do is accept it – like a child!