Will God Surprise in Missions: His Sovereign Purpose

Introduction

Paul has explained God’s Sovereign purpose in salvation ever since we started this book. Along the way, paul addresses certain objections and his arguments have not been what Paul thinks. But he answers the objects with God has said. But, specially beginning in chapter 8, we learned after hearing there is no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is in us prays for us and the proof is we are in the family of God join heirs with Jesus Christ. The next objection was can something separate us from God. Nothing can separate us us from the love of God. In this chapter, we learned that no all Israel is Israel. There is a smaller group in Israel that is the true Israel. The following objection was has the Word fallen to the ground? Has the promise God made to Abraham become of no effect? So far, in every objection Paul answered by what God has said and he has shown that God is sovereign over all of it.

God is sovereign over salvation, that is, He is the one who saves and He is the one who keeps us. Paul illustrated that was Sovereign in keeping His promise through the birth process. God said, “Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated.”

The next big objection is in Romans 9:14 “14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.” We saw that God is sovereign over all, even when there is evil. We saw the power of God was made known over Pharaoh’s evil desire.

Paul quotes God, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and whom He will he hardeneth.” You see, God does His will and His will is accomplished over evil.

Paul continues answering the objection, “is the unrighteousness with God?” in this next section.

Romans 9:19–24 KJV 1900

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 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? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 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: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Pray

Why does he yet find fault? Who has resisted His will? (19)

We have shown that man is lost and has no ability to save himself and God must move to save some by His grace.

The logical conclusion might be that if salvation is entirely God’s choice, then why does he find fault if some are not saved because He did not choose them?

The problem with this thinking is the premise of the question which is, God is some how responsible for man’s lost condition.

The Bible clearly teaches us that man is responsible for his own sin condition. We are sinful because, sin is past to us from Adam and we do sinful things.

King David says it this way; Psalm 51:5 “5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Jeremiah 17:9 “9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Isaiah 64:6 “6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

This what God sees when he look upon man.

Genesis 6:5 “5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Psalm 14:2–3 “2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Why does God find fault? Because man is at fault.

Who art thou, man? (20)

Romans 9:20 KJV 1900

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?

Is there a person who put themselves on the same level as God. Who art thou man?

Who art thou O man that repliest against God?

Notice the contrast here, man replying against God. Who art thou?

The created calling out the Creator. Who art thou O man?

Can the created say to the Creator, why did you make me this way?

Does this sound like putting blame on God for the way a person is?

Can we blame God for our sin? Can we blame God if we do not repent? He has commanded the men every where to repent. Have you repented?

Can the pottery say to the potter why did you make this way? (21)

Romans 9:21 KJV 1900

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Does not the potter have full sovereignty to form the clay for any purpose?

God is the Creator andhe has full sovereignty over all of His creation and He has a purpose for it.

Is there any place when it is right that the thing made can question the one who it?

There is a lot that God does not tell about His way in creation, but He has told enough.

We know that He is good and all that He does is good and right. This may answer our questions but it is enough for us to know.

Deuteronomy 29:29 “29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Why is God long suffering?

Romans 9:22 KJV 1900

22 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:

He is long suffering with all of humanity.

God is willing to show His wrath. We deserve His wrath, everyone of us.

God will make His power known.

We are all vessels fit destruction.

All of humanity deserves the full of God.

One of the most long suffering statements in the Bible is Genesis 3:9

Genesis 3:9 KJV 1900

9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

God would be right if He were to end it all right now. But…

One day God will pour out His wrath on all who have turn to Him in repentance and faith. It may be at the end of your natural life or He could end it all for all of us at once.

We are in the middle of God’s long suffering right now.

Be thankful for His long suffering. Because His long suffering is for two things, one, His long suffering leads some to repentance, two, His long suffering allows the hard and impenitent heart to add wrath upon wrath for the day of judgement. Romans 2:1-11

We saw last time that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and the long suffering of God revealed the power of God’s wrath.

The riches of His glory is for the vessels of mercy. (24)

Romans 9:23 KJV 1900

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

The greatest display of God’s power is upon the vessels of mercy.

There is no greater miracle than when a vessel fit for destruction receive the mercy of God.

This is the plan from before the foundation of the universe.

Who receives this mercy?

Romans 9:24 KJV 1900

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Those he calls.

Romans 8:28–30 KJV 1900

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. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What you have heard today is a legitimate warning that the day of judgement is coming and this is a legitimate call for you to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do it now. Do it today.