"Is God Unjust?" (Part 2)

How dare you?

Tunneling Through the Text

You can be a circumcised jew without being a circumcised Jew (Romans 2:28–29).

You can be a child of Abraham without being a descendant of Abraham and participate in the promises to Abraham by having faith like Abraham (Romans 4).

Only the “sons of God” will be glorified (Romans 8:18-30), more specifically, Romans 8:29–30

This is not true of the majority of Israelites throughout history (vv. 1-5), so the majority of Israelites will not participate in the glorification of the sons of God.

God will keep His word to true Israel (v. 6).

True Israel are not descendants, but children of the promise (vv. 7-9). Abraham had 2 sons, only Isaac was the child of the promise.

True Israel are not descendants, but those who are chosen (vv. 10-13). Isaac had 2 sons, only Jacob was chosen. Why? (v. 11) Not because of any condition they met, but to promoted His elective purposes.

Objection (v. 14) - Is it unjust for God to choose in this way?

Response (vv. 15-19) - God’s purpose of election (v. 11) is both scriptural and merciful (Why does he choose anyone?).

Additional Objection (v. 19)

Since God chooses some and not others, how can He blame those he doesn’t choose?

God’s choices/will/purpose of election (v. 11) is/are determinative, so who’s to blame?

Well, we can answer this - God rightly blames everyone, and graciously chooses some.

We’re all descendants of Adam, before some of us become descendants of Abraham.

But, what is Paul’s response (vv. 20-29)? Guess the following 3 R’s…

God has a right (vv. 20-21).

An illustration of God as the Sovereign Creator (v. 20).

Who do you think your are? How dare you? Man/human being versus God almighty.

Wanting to understand God is one thing; dispute/contradiction/criticism (“answer back”) is entirely different.

This illustration has been useful to other Biblical authors (Isaiah 29:16, Isaiah 45:9, Jeremiah 18:6–10), and is a good illustration of what this questioning is like (though Paul may be using it differently than others, and we cannot be sure that he is referring to any texts).

The pot cannot bring the potter down to it’s level. The pot is entirely dependent on the potter.

The Creator of all is ultimately the decider of all (though we cannot blame Him for evil, James 1:13), and we have no place in those decisions or in judging those decisions.

Only God has this right/just claim on deciding all things for all things as the only Creator of all things.

An illustration of the full range of God’s activity in election (v. 21).

One potter makes numerous vessels for a range of purposes according to his will.

Honorable - respectable, versus dishonorable - not respectable

So God, makes choices and decisions that destine people to eternal glory or eternal damnation (Paul qualifies, vv. 22-23).

God’s choices and decisions have eternal ramifications.

He does this with the “same lump” - sin cursed/ depraved humanity.

Because He must, He alone has the right. He alone is sovereignly controlling all He has created.

God has a reason (vv. 22-23).

This is what the previous illustration prepares us for.

“Enduring with patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” implies obvious guilt on the part of those vessels because they go on in rejection and rebellion against God and Christ, which God endures.

God’s has prepared judgment...

(Proverbs 16:4; 1 Peter 2:8)

This is one of those things that we cannot question.

This is why God chooses some and not others.

God has revealed it (vv. 24-29).

The inclusion of Gentiles (vv. 24-26)

Paul identifies himself with “us whom he has called” though he comes from one of the two groups he further identifies.

Hosea prophecies of how Gentiles will be included by God in the future, special treatment of God’s people (Hosea 2:23), and the Gentiles will be numbered with Israel as God’s children (Hosea 1:10).

This fits the context of Paul’s development of true Israel as the children of the promise by faith and those chosen by God, whether Jew or Gentile (vv. 6-13).

Who will they be included with?…

The remnant of Israel (vv. 27-29)

Isaiah prophecies that not all Israel will be saved, that is, will be with God in the end and all that has been promised to God’s people (Isaiah 10:22-23). Only a remnant - small part, portion, or group. This is further distinction of true Israel. Some scholars refer to this remnant as the Israel within Israel.

Isaiah also likens the majority of Israel to Sodom and Gomorrah in comparison to the remnant or true children of Israel (Isaiah 1:9).

So God already told us about this. Believing Gentiles will be included with the believing remnant of Israel into one true Israel.

This by God’s original design and choice.

So God has a right to do as He chooses as the Creator.

He has a righteous and gracious reason for all the He does.

He has revealed this throughout His word.

So, we can be sure that God is just, that is right.

Application

Same as last week (Part 1 & 2):

Praise God for His righteousness and mercy.

Humbly thank God as a recipient of His mercy.

Long for others to experience this as well.

Benediction: Romans 11:33–36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Scripture Reading: Daniel 4:28–37