2023 0924 Is God Unjust?

Is God Unjust?

why does God allow evil in the world?

why does God allow young children to die?

why is there was and poverty and abuse in the world?

and why does God allow this?

Strong questions that need biblical answers not man’s reasons

Romans 9:14–16 NIV

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

God’s Mercy

man’s efforts are worthless for salvation, worthless for any achievement

the promise of God is totally contained within the mercy of God

in contrast man’s effort or desire is powerless

we must have the proper mindset

Romans 9:20 NIV

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”

this is a matter of sovereignty

God is in control not man!

we cannot control the elements even when we think we can

we cannot change the depravity of human nature even when we pretend we can

we follow Satan immersed in his lie - we want to be God

Questions from Verses 19 and 20

why does God still blame us?

For who is able to resist his will?

 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?

“Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’

Biblical Response

we must turn to a biblical position

anything from man or the world is tainted even corrupted by sin

either God is in complete control or he is not

likewise this applies to Jesus Christ

all authority has been given to him

What God Says

Romans 9:25 NIV

As he says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

God will choose who he will pour his mercy on

rejoice that you have been called by God

rejoice that you accepted that call

our free will means that many will not choose

all will be call, not all will choose

rejoice for we are now the children of the promise

People of Promise

Romans 9:30–32 NIV

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

Abraham got a promise re children and the father of all nations

this promise is fulfilled through faith

see chapters 3 and 4

solely do works = no faith promise available

this is part of God’s mercy

works removes God from the equation

righteousness is mercifully bestowed in faith

The Stumbling Stone

Romans 9:33 NIV

As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Jesus is considered to be the cornerstone see 1 Peter 2

Paul could also be implying here that works without Chris is actually a stumbling rock

a rock that makes them fall

pre-eminence of faith reiterated - believe in him

Our Response

remain in faith

never question god’s motives

operate in the peace that the Spirit brings