God is just

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Title

God is just.

Introduction

Story

Explanation

Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Application

God is fair.

Context

Paul ends Romans 8 with this wonderful crescendo about all the promises we have in Jesus Christ.

From Romans 1-8, Paul writes elaborately about the salvation that’s available for all people — Jew and Gentile; resulting in praise and worship from the recipient.

Romans 9-11 may appear disconnected from the previous chapters but it’s all one thought for Paul.

Historically, the Roman church began as a Jewish church, but as time passed, many gentiles in Rome also became christians by believing in Jesus as savior and receiving the Holy Spirit. In A.D 49 AD, Roman emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome because of the “strife” over Christ (Acts 18:2).

After they were expelled from Rome, the gentile churches would have developed and grown for a number of years. When the Jews came back to Rome after their expulsion, there was tension and division between both groups over observing certain Jewish laws.

So Paul writes Romans so that they would unite in the Gospel Paul preached.

In addition, as the Gentiles we’re receiving Christ in the masses, there were Jews that were rejecting Christ as the Messiah (Savior).

If God had chosen the Jewish people to receive the promise of salvation through Jesus, then why are Jews rejecting Christ. The question in Romans 9-11 is:

(1) Has God failed to fulfill his promises for the jews?

(2) And if it appears that he has failed his own people: Should the gentiles have confidence to receive all that Paul talks about in Romans 1-8?

The major theme and concern here is: The promise and fulfillment of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Bible

Romans 9:14–18 NLT

Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

Transitional Sentence:

3 reasons why God is fair in His choosing

Reason 1: It’s who He is (v.14)

Romans 9:14 NLT

Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not!

Explanation

The question that Paul’s readers are asking and mostly likely doubting is: Is God just or fair for choosing one or the other? Paul’s answer is by no means!

God is just & Righteous. It’s who he is!

Illustration

Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

Application

Reason 2: God is the standard (v.15-16)

Romans 9:15–16 NLT

For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. (Exodus 33:19)

Explanation

Paul’s answer to the question, “Is God unrighteous for his choosing?” is that God’s mercy does not depend on human desire or effort, but on His own purpose. Therefore, it cannot be unjust.

For something to be unrighteous or unjust, it would have to violate a moral standard. But God is not subject to a standard outside Himself—He is the standard.

His choices do not depend on human reasoning, human will, or human works, but on His divine purpose (salvation through faith in Christ alone). Therefore, God cannot be accused of unrighteousness.

Illustration

Luke 18:19 NLT

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.

Application

God is the ultimate good and therefore the ultimate standard.

Reason 3: God has a purpose (v.17-18)

Romans 9:17–18 NLT

For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

Explanation

Illustration

Genesis 50:20 NLT

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Application

So what

Acts 2:22–24 NLT

Romans 3:24–26 NLT

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Now what

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!

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