20250720 - James Womble - Called Children of the Living God

Introduction

Paul continues to answer objections. He uses Scripture to answer these objections. In out text today, he uses specific passages from the the prophet Hosea. Hosea says that Israel will be taken away from from being a nation because they have committed spiritual adultery by running after others gods. They taken the blessings of the one true God and ascribed them to false gods.

Romans 9:22–26 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: 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? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

What if God (22)

We must remember that God is complete in Himself. He does not need outside influence or expression to be complete. He does not need any thing from me or you to be complete or to be God.

He does not dependent upon our approval or disprovable.

So, any thing that God does is solely by His own choice. This is what Paul is talking about here, it is God’s choice and our responsibility.

We agree that God is perfect in love, justice and truth and all that He does is for His own glory.

We understand for His own glory is because there is none higher in which to bestow glory.

The question that here arises is, how can God who is perfect in love, justice, and truth save sinful people? It is His love in the form of mercy. (23)

Romans 9:23 “23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”

A vessel is a container for storing liquids.

God’s mercy is like a liquid and one of the properties of liquid is that it fills all inside of a container

God’s people are container filled with mercy.

Truly we are containers fully qualified for the wrath of God but mercy has covered the wrath His love.

Mercy is one form of God’s love.

Boice helps us understand that mercy is one form of God’s love.

Only those who are object of God’s wrath need His mercy. Only sinners waiting wrath need mercy.

Those experience God’s mercy are not just spared His judgement but they are justified. They are made new as if they had never sinned because God accepts the perfect sacrifice of Jesus for their justification.

If you are not a sinner, then you do not and cannot experience the mercy of God.

But for sinners like me, we need the love expression of mercy worn out on us, daily.

This expression of God’s glory, is made know in His expression of mercy. (23)

This is the picture Paul is painting here: (22-23)

Romans 9:22–23 “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,”

These vessel are people and they are all filled with sin but God chooses some to be fill with mercy to make His glory known.

God endures a great deal of pain and unhappiness from containers filled with sin, that are ripe for the outworking of God’s righteous indignation.

Out of all those vessel/containers filled with sin, God is willing to make known the riches of His glory by filling some with His mercy.

Even us… (24)

Romans 9:24 “24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”

We understand that Paul is including himself, and those with him, and those in the church at Rome, and by extension it includes me and you.

Even us…

God is willing to show His wrath upon us.

to make his power known,

are the recipient of God’s longsuffering

are the vessels fitted for destruction.

are the ones God makes the the riches of his glory known

are the ones He makes the vessels of mercy and prepared for His glory.

Did you catch that? Vessels of wrath are prepared to be vessels of mercy. (22-23)

Whom he called (24)

Romans 8 We are reminded of the fact that God calls a people from both Jews and Gentiles.

The called are transformed from vessels of wrath to vessels of mercy

Paul clearly links Jews and Gentiles as recipients of mercy. (24)

It is important to keep this in mind as we look at the Scripture references Paul cites.

I will call them my people… (25)

Romans 9:25 “25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.”

This is a quote from Hosea.

Hosea 1:2–3 “2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord. 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.”

Hosea I God tell Hosea the prophet to take a wife from the prostitutes and she had a number of children. The first born son of Hosea was named Jezreel to avenge the blood of Jezreel. Jehu was an anoited king of Israel who who slaughtered the family of the wicked king Ahaz and Jezabel, which was God’s judgement for how they led Israel from serving God and for the slaying Naboth and his vineyard. The problem Jehu did not carry out God’s judgement in the right manner. He did it for his own advancement. He did it with malice against the sinner and not for antipathy toward sin.

Hosea’s wife’s name is Gomer. Gomer has an interesting meaning; in the positive, it means, “to complete or finish,” the negative meaning refers to an abrupt and seemingly permanent termination of that which previously existed.

So, it seems that this is what is happening in Hosea’s story, The daughter is named Lo-ruhamah which means, “not beloved.”

The next child a daughter, Lo-ammi name means, “not my people.”

Romans 9:25 “25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.”

Because of the Northern kingdom’s unfaithful to the one true God.

God says you are no longer my people and I am no longer you God.

It seems like an abrupt end to what previously existed. Israel in not longer in the preferred nation status.

Hosea 1:9 “9 Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.”

But notice carefully verse 10.

Hosea 1:10 “10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”

Notice the shift is status within this verse; Ye are not my people … Ye are the sons of the living God. Do you see the narrowing down of this group, from a larger group of people to children within the group.

Hosea goes on in chapter 2 and explains how Israel departed from serving the true God to serving idols.

Hosea 2:23 “23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; And I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; And I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; And they shall say, Thou art my God.”

It is a story of judgement and redemption.

This is an illustration of what Paul said in Romans 9:6 “6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:”

Or, Romans 2:28–29 “28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

This passage in Hosea illustrates what Paul says back in verses 22-23.

Romans 9:22–23 “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,”

This what the Northern tribe has become, … vessels of wrath fitted for destruction.

But God willing to show the riches of His glory has made some to be vessels of mercy.

This is a Will God Surprise in Missions moment here. The long suffering of God putting off His wrath to make known His glory through making vessel of mercy.

Praise God! If you have given your life to the LORD you are a vessel of God’s everlasting love that endures forever in His mercy and grace!

If you have identified yourself as a vessel of wrath, turn to Jesus in repentance and faith and you too will be a vessel of mercy and a child of the living God.

Paul clearly links this not only for the Jews but to the Gentiles as well (24)

What is a Gentile?

Gentile is not just a Roman or Greek who lived back in olden times.

A Gentile is an Okeechobean, a Seminole, or Mexican, Cuban ….

Romans 9:24 “24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”

We are a story of judgement and redemption.

What is an application?

You are a vessel of wrath until you are not. You can be a vessel of mercy by giving your life to Jesus. He has given His life for your full pardon but you must turn in repentance and faith to Jesus. It is an exchange of Jesus’ life for your life which means you give will no longer life as you want to live and you will live as Jesus wants you to live.

Just as Paul wanted his countrymen to be saved, so to, we should have the same desire.