God’s “Right”eousness

Romans 9:14-29

Intro: How many of you like to bake, I like to eat. When you are baking are you one who follows the recipe? . I recalled this when reflecting on God’s righteousness—while we often measure its significance based on human standards, God doesn’t rely on our recipe for righteousness. His standards might seem off-kilter to us, yet they create a perfect outcome. Trusting His recipe leads to divine results!

This is what we will be looking at today in our text.

Today we find ourselves in a text that teaches us a truth concerning God- the Almighty father creator

We know and believe God is just, kind, loving. We do not define how He is He has shown us this kidness through His grace.

It is today that some questions are asked concerning God when it comes to His power and authority. These questions may have come across all of our minds at some time since we are looking

Justice in the Shadows:

Big Idea: God's righteousness is not contingent on human merit but is fully expressed through His sovereign choices and mercy.

Summary: This passage addresses the theme of God's sovereignty and righteousness, exploring how God chooses whom to show mercy and justice.

Today I want to give you 4 truths from our text that show us God’s righteousness

God’s right to give mercy (vs 14-16)

The question is asked knowing that God gives mercy to whom he chooses and injustice those he chooses, is God unrighteous?

Paul answers the question with a resounding no. And further details this truth.

Exodus 33:19 “19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.””

God makes Himself known- reoccurring theme

Why well to expound on mercy

What is Mercy not getting what we justly deserve!

To answer this question lets begin with with what we see continually in scripture

God will not deal gently with the wickedness in our hearts!

2 Chronicles 19:7 “7 Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.””

This is why personal bible study is valuable to the believer

Does our relationship with God matter?

Yes it does- it is the most important relationship we have through it all of life flows.

2nd Chr. Provides well needed instruction for you and I today- becuase we will read here in a second that God right to give mercy deals with God also building one up in the hardness of their hearts becuase it is what they desire.

It is as we have been given what God does with a transformed willing heart

Let the fear of the Lord be upon you- Obedience and surrender

Be very careful what we do- are you mindful of what you do the choices you make, the words you say, the actions that you take?

God will have no part- there is no optional type of living- His graciousness with us is hard to fathom- and yet for us to stay in our sin, or never surrender is not the life for anyone

Reflecting on Divine Decisions

This can encourage trust in God's character, particularly when His ways seem inscrutable or harsh, reminding the audience to recognize Christ as the ultimate act of mercy.

God has no part in our unrighteousness and partiality- having some of God that is convenient or self glory-

He will not be bribed nor is one that can be!

His Mercy is His to give out and its just.

The Justice comes in our example of Israel- He reveals, He provides, and their hearts are hardened- He hands them over to their desires.

God is always fair and He has the right to more than fair with those He chooses.

God has faithfully provided for us a parable to understand this truth it is found in the Landowner

Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:15 “15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’”

God in His righteousness in abundant.. our issue is that we like to think we know best, God is generous and Has the right to extend His mercy on whomever. Remember He is a good God- If you have wickedness in our hearts may we repent becuase we know our God is good to forgive and cast His Mercy upon us and whatever He does it is for the His glory.

2. God’s right to show His Glory (vs 17-18)

Exodus 9:16 “16 But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”

It is here that we look at Pharoah

Do not come from the assumption that Pharoah was a kind hearted individual that the Lord turned His heart- no this was God giving Pharoah what He desired.

This is a common mistake for many- including our world today that we are viewing people through the lense that their is something good in us, their is nothing we are sinful. It is at this point that you need to know that it is important that you and I know this. Becuase is not we can and may revert back to putting out faith and hope in ourselves for our eternity.

But lets look at

How did God show His glory in Pharaoh’s life?

This is important for us- God had a plan He knew Pharaoh’s heart and yet He continually said if you will let me people go.

His power!

What is evidence of a heart that has been hardened- unbelief and rebellion.

Exodus 9:34 “34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.”

What we see in scripture is that God shows His glory through repentant hearts and harden hearts. He allowed Pharoahs heart to be hardened to show His glory.

This should be a warning sign for all of us, what happens when we continually reject God’s gift or mercy and grace, our hearts will be hardened and God will get the glory.

For those of us who are in a Moses scenario who are dealing with a hardened hearted individual it is not your job to get them out of their hardened heart… God is dealing with them.

We proclaim His name and tell others about Him and Go where He sends us, and yet there will be some who harden their hearts, God will show His glory through it all

Can you and I grasp that God will show His power in all situations- that people harden their hearts willingly and without the grace of God we will all harden our hearts. May I encoureage us all that unbelief and rebellion are daily vices that our flesh desires for us to embrace and are also used by our enemy. A surrendered life to Christ recieves the mercy of God for their life.

Responding to the Potter's Plans

deeper discussion of God’s unsearchable wisdom

like clay questioning the potter.

By pointing to Christ as the outworking of God’s purpose for both vessels of wrath and mercy, you can encourage believers to remain faithful and patient in times of doubt and struggle.

3. God’s right as creator (vs 19-21)

God is creator and has the power to choose.

How can any go against God’s choice

Daniel 4:35 “35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Does this leave a responsibility to man.

Remeber who were created you were not created out of nothing, the creation process the procreation is designed by God- we value human life from womb till death- becuase it is created by God. You have and I from birth have an eternal responsibility to our creator.

We have a responsibility we were created for a purpose

What is eternal responsibility- a life of faith and worship

Matthew 22:37–38 “37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment.”

Psalm 139:13–16 “13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

May I add who are we to question God,

We can ask questions but not question God.

There has been times I have questioned God- please repent, turn from our evil thoughts. Surrender.

You have been created for a purpose of worship and praise. God right as our creator gives us responsibility, and not controlled free from responsibility unpurposed individuals.

4. God’s Right of no opposition vs (22-29)

Paul is calling humanity as it is- God is not preparing them for destruction they do a good job of that all by themselves.

God has no opposition to His ways, they are just

We want God to be one way…

He should always extend His mercy

Yet In His mighty ways if He chooses to give righteously people to there desires and it leads them to hardened hearts it is right- who can oppose this

Also to extend mercy- who can oppose this.

Romans 2:4 “4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

He can rescue both Jew and Gentile!

He can rescue whomever- there is no one person he saves our churches can be a mixture of craziness!

God choice in seen in the children of Israel

Hosea 2:23 “23 “I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’ ””

The Remnant

Isaiah 10:22–23 “22 For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord God of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land.”

3. Receiving God's Inclusive Mercy

This can inspire hope in God's ongoing redemptive work.

Application:

God’s righteousness leads us to repentance

God’s righteousness grants us purpose

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand that God's choices are beyond human comprehension, encouraging them to trust in God's righteous character even when circumstances seem unfair or confusing.

Sample Questions:

What is the main idea presented in Romans 9:14-29 regarding God's righteousness?

How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's mercy and human merit?

In what way does the sermon use the example of Pharaoh to illustrate God's sovereignty?

What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of a hardened heart towards God?

What does the sermon say about our responsibility to God as our creator?

According to the sermon, how should we respond when questioning God's decisions?

What role does repentance play in experiencing God's mercy and purpose according to the sermon?