Romans 9 - Part 2

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

As we finished last week we read about the promise made to Abraham and Sarah, and of Jacob and Esau’s dilemma over who was the rightful heir, and how God put the younger brother over the older brother as a result of Esau’s disobedience in selling his birthright to his brother for a bowl of beans.

Could God ever be unrighteous?

Can God be unrighteous?

Paul changes courses again to ask a question - would God be unrighteous, or is there injustice in God’s actions towards Esau?

Could a birthright ever be voided or given to another?

According to Jewish custom, the firstborn receives special privileges and advantages. In Old Testament Scripture, the terms “birthright” and “firstborn” do not apply to females, only males. It was reserved for the oldest LEGITIMATE son, if multiple wives were present.

He became the priest of the family. He had allotted to him a double portion of the paternal inheritance. He inherited the legal authority of his father, whatever it might be. The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah. As first-born he has an inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest. He assumed the role and responsibility of the protector and provider for the family.

The birthright is not __________, but rather __________.

Now, we see a picture of this as being thought of as a “given”, however in scripture we see a different picture of an honor that earned.

Genesis 25:31–34 ESV

31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

1 Chronicles 5:1 ESV

1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son;

So, God gave the birthright to the one who earned it, and Paul simply asked the question can God elect men, favor and disfavor men, and still be righteous and just? Absolutely.

We find in verse 15 that God shows mercy and compassion as He sees fit. We tend to forget, God has the right to WITHHOLD as much as He does to GRANT requests. When speaking of Moses, Israel had just created and worshiped a golden calf - they were guilty of idolatry, one of the most serious offenses towards God. Moses interceded and asked God to forgive their sin knowing they did not deserve it. God chose mercy and compassion in this instance.

God __________ mercy and compassion in the instance of Israel’s disobedience with idolatry by worship of a golden calf.

He also can choose punishment and harshness. Scripture says God raised up Pharoah for the specific purpose of punishment for Israel. He was evil, harsh, cursing God. But God did not make him evil or sinful.

Does God make evil or sinful people?

James 1:13 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Pharaoh was used by God for __________ he was, not created __________ he was.

He was used by God for who he was, not created like he was. Notice Pharoah recieved the same impact of the plagues the same as the rest of the Egyptians and those who went against God. In the process, Pharoah hardened his heart against God, and that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God judged Pharaoh the same way He judges everyone else and as a RESULT of Pharaoh’s hardened heart, God allowed his heart to remain hardened.

God’s Sovereignty by Will

Romans 9:19–21 ESV

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Why does God still find fault?

Because humans still choose sin. We reject God’s rule and reign when we want the right to determine our own fate, live the way we want to while on earth, and still be assured of a good life in the “here after”. They do not want ANYONE (including God) choosing their destiny.

Too often we hear the excuse “this is the way God made me”… Yet, we find in verse 20 the question “Will what is molded say to its molder, why have you made me like this?”. God, I am choosing sin and I don’t understand why you made me like this. Why would you let me choose sin? Why would you allow me to be or do __________… insert sinful behavior here.

We do not have the RIGHT to accuse God of being unjust when WE have sinned against Him. Anyone who does so has too low a view of God and too high a view of man. They have their priorities backwards, they were created by God, God was not created by them.

We owe our life to Him...

We should never forget God is God, therefore God can do as He wills. As a result, He follows the direction of Godliness, regardless of what we think.

Now, if we willingly YIELD to God through salvation… God can use us just as He finds us. The potter can mold the clay. If we think about a lump of clay, it sits there with little form, shape, or use. It is not until the clay is molded by the potters hand that it becomes a useful vessel.

Whether or not we allow Him to mold us is up to us. But, it does not mean God will not use us (either honorable or dishonorable) for His purpose and glory.

God’s Sovereignty by Grace

Romans 9:22–24 ESV

22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

God is willing to put up with evil people for a long time. Why doesn’t God just do away with sin and sinful people?

Why doesn’t God just do away with sin and sinful people?

Simply because he can use them as well as us to fulfil His purpose in this world. We see He has prepared two types of vessels. One set vessels of wrath, and the others vessels of mercy.

What two types of vessels has God prepared?

Notice the purpose is different for these two sets. The vessels of wrath have been prepared for destruction while the vessels of mercy have been prepared for glory. What is the purpose? Some people prepare themselves for wrath. God doesn’t lead them or tempt them to sin, they do it quite well on their own and in complete defiance of Gods purpose and plan which is for all to be saved. Those who are saved are prepared for and eternity in glory with Him.

1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

4 (God) desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul uses this passage to prove God is just and righteous. If God had created us sinful, then it would be easy to condemn us all and wipe the slate clean and start over. However, out of His love, he offers us a way, a chance, a Savior.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Notice there is no distinction about who can or cannot be saved. God loved the world, including the Jew and the Gentile. He sent His Son as a substitution for the wrath meant for us because of our sins. But, if we put our faith in Jesus, we do not have to die and face eternal separation from God for eternity, but have been given the promise of eternal life in Heaven with Him.

Jew vs. Gentile

Romans 9:25–33 ESV

25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ” 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” 30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Who did God choose to be His messengers?

There is no doubt the Jews were God’s chosen people.

What were the Jews chosen to do?

What were they chosen to do?

The Jew’s were God’s chosen to be witnesses or messengers of Salvation.

What did the Jews do instead?

Israel failed God. They failed to keep His commands, and they failed to spread God’s Message and instead became an inclusive people.

The Pastor’s Outline and Sermon Bible makes this comment “History has always proven that the Gentiles are as morally depraved and self-righteous as people can be. But despite all, God in His glorious mercy has thrown open the door of salvation to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. No matter how self-righteous or morally evil a person has been, God reaches out to that person. Neither the most depraved corruption nor the most humanistic self-righteousness can keep God from forgiving a person if that person truly believes in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah predicted there would only remain a remnant who would accept Christ and would truly believe and love God supremely. Even though God promised they would number the earth like the sand of the sea, only a remnant would be saved.

Who are the beloved?

The “beloved” spoken of are those who actively seek righteousness by faith. But Paul points out, it is the Gentiles (who were deemed unrighteous) who CHOSE to turn to God for righteousness by faith and the Jews (God’s chosen) who had been God-centered and religious, missed God’s righteousness by rejecting faith in Christ. They saw and accepted Christ as Lord, while Israel has rejected Him. So simply put the “beloved” are those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

This does not mean the Jews do not serve an important role. Even today a remnant has been preserved, and will serve an important function in the event of the End Times. As we see in Revelation, the 144,000 (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes) WILL be the messengers of God’s Gospel Message during the Tribulation until Christ’s return. So, even in their disobedience God is still going to use them for His plan and glory.

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