Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Attention

Need

Textual Idea:

Main Idea: Why Blame Me If I Can’t Resist Him?

Interrogative:

What is at the heart of such questioning?

The heart of the matter is this.

Those who are opposed to God question God with an accusatory spirit.

“God, you need to prove yourself to me.” God, why did you cause a hurricane to kill so many people?”

God apparently you have make me without a freewill to chose you, so why do you still blame me for not choosing you?

In essence the spirit of the questioner is - God, why are you so unfair?

Now, don’t get me wrong, believers can, will, and should question God.

There is nothing wrong with questioning God for understanding and growth.

Or even questioning God because you simply don’t understand why you are going through what you are going through.

Questioning God becomes a problem when you blame him for evil.

When you accuse him of unrighteousness.

Paul, in this passage employs a rhetorical line of reasoning on behalf of a group of people that place themselves, whether they realize it or not, in an authority over God.

When someone blames or accuses God, they are demanding an answer from him and therefore placing themselves as an authority over him.

Not a great plan.

Transition: Paul, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, makes something obvious, NO PART OF GOD’S CREATION HAS THE RIGHT TO ACCUSE OR BLAME HIM OF ANYTHING.

We, His creation, must know our place and trust that whatever God does is for His glory - because His glory is perfect and there is nothing more significant than Him, we should rejoice in Him, even when we don’t fully understand him and his ways.

There are three attitudes believers should have when dealing with the temptation of blaming God for anything, especially regarding the subject of this chapter - to whom he has mercy and to whom he hardens.

Check out the first attitude you must have...

1. Be Careful About Accusing God (vs.

19)

Explanation - As I mentioned, it’s not a problem to question God when you have a genuine desire to understand something.

In his book called Prayer, Phillip Yancey has a chapter dedicated to “wrestling with God.” His point is wrestling for understanding is good and it actually exhibits faith.

This is not what Paul is talking about in this passage.

“You will say to me then” - the “you” are the unbelieving trying to trap Paul in a theological conundrum.

Their goal?

Prove Paul wrong.

Their question?

“Why does God still find fault if he has mercy on whom he has mercy and he hardens whom he hardens?

This is a legitimate question.

However, you cans see in the next part of this question comes the blame agains God.

“For who can resist his will?”

And there it is.

A direct assault on the character of God.

After all the Bible says elsewhere...

So their question is, in one sense, valid.

“Who can resist the will of God?”

But the spirit in which thy ask it is attempting to vilify God.

FIND FAULT - means to “blame.”

Paul again poses human questions that he will answer in v.v.

20, 21.

If God hardens whom He wills (vs.

18), why blame the one who was hardened?

HIS WILL: If God hardens, how can it be said that person is resisting God? Isn’t the hardened one only doing what God has willed him to do? ANSWER BACK means “to make a rejoinder,” implying an argumentative attitude.

Paul rebukes anyone who would raise such objections, which in the end are only a protest agains God’s ways, and not a sincere request for an explanation.”

- NKJVSB

So it goes back to the motive of their heart in their line of questioning.

And in their motivation, they are in essence putting the all powerful, all knowing, all loving God of the Universe - the creator of all who is on the witness stand and poking Him in the chest and saying “How dare you hold me accountable to my sin!” How dare you still blame me when you are supposedly in charge!

People like this want all the benefits from God but no obligation to God.

What’s their problem?

In their own eyes they are basically good, innocent, and lovely.

God is wicked, evil, and unfair.

They have become the judge over the King.

They are inditing his character.

These sinners are BLAMING HIM for finding fault in them.

Illustration -

Argumentation - Before bringing an accusation against God, you had better know Him.

You can reject God if you want, but don’t blame him for your sin.

You have wilfully chosen against God and his ways over the course of your life.

You have willfully lied, stolen, cheated, coveted, murdered others in your heart with you anger, committed adultery either physically or in your mind, you have failed to totally and completely honor your father and mother, you have failed to keep the Lord’s day for Him alone, you have failed by putting no other god’s in front of the one true God.

This is true of you.

This is because of you.

You have failed and God will punish you in eternal Hell because of your failure.

This is true of everyone -

So all have sinned against God and because of this are deserving of Hell.

Everyone is on their way to hell.

God is under no obligation to save anyone.

Yet, if you are IN CHRIST this morning, you have experienced His mercy and grace.

You, by no effort of your own have become part of the family of God.

You, by no effort of your own are saved from eternal condemnation and are transferred to the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Sinner, instead of blaming God, turn to God because He is your only hope from the wrath of God!

Don’t be a fool and blame God - so dumb!

By the way, Paul is going to answer their question...

But before he does, what should we do with this information?

Remember biblical application leads to life transformation.

So, how do we apply this?

Application - Simple...

For the sinner, the one who is an antagonist against God - God cannot be blamed for your sin.

You have chosen to go against God and you are responsible to pay the tab.

God is under no obligation to save your from your eternal fate, but the good news is the gospel call goes out to you and he desires for you to become his child.

What is stopping you.

It’s not him, it’s you.

Turn to him right now!

For the Christian - When tough stuff happens in your life or the lives of those around you, resist the immature response of blaming God.

Recognize that God is always at work for the good of His people.

And He allows a lot of difficult trials in your life...

To force you to your knees in prayer.

To force you to His Word for answers.

To force you to His People for support.

Instead for blaming God for your difficult circumstances, praise Him that He is walking with you through them.

Live believing these promises knowing that God is for you and not against you.

Review - Why Blame Me If I Can’t Resist Him?

Be Careful About Accusing God

2. Be Mindful of Your Position Before God (vs.

20)

I warned you that Paul would respond to this heinous accusation.

And he has some very strong words for those blaming God...

Explanation - What? Who in the world does God think He is to talk to us in such a fashion.