God’s Sovereignty in Vessels of Mercy and Wrath

God’s Sovereignty in Vessels of Mercy and Wrath Romans 9:11-29 Pg. 836 (pew Bible)

Let’s Read Romans 9:11-29

Romans 9:11 • Jacob and Esau • (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Romans 9:12-13 • It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Why Jacob over Esau? What had one done that the other had not?

Paul knew this would raise some questions? He knew there were some who refused to believe in God because of perceived injustice with God.

Romans 9:14 • What shall we say then? • Is there unrighteousness [injustice] with God? • God forbid. When a parent shows partiality, we judge their actions as wrong—don’t we?

Here’s what we seem to forget If God did not/does not intervene NO ONE would ever choose Christ.

Is this NOT the point of: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God (Romans 3:11). All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; (Is 53.6)

Paul is Fully aware that there will be objections to his presentation of God’s choice of Jacob and NOT Esau as UNFAIR—see vs. 15.

Romans 9:15 • For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. First, notice that Paul takes them to other Scripture to address their perceived concern.

Can we all agree that there isn’t anything fair about mercy? What we really are objecting to is ONE getting mercy and the perception that another desires mercy and can’t get it based on election.

Two Biblical Facts • All may obtain mercy by repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. • All who receive mercy receive it because of God’s gracious choice to render mercy through Christ Jesus—NOT of human will or exertion.

Romans 9:16 • So then it is not of him that [human] willeth, nor of him that runneth [some action on my behalf], but of God that sheweth mercy. You want FAIR: Everyone goes to Hell!

Saved by Grace Means That my salvation is NOT based on my human will or effort or exertion.

Here is the ONLY acceptable response to this truth Luke 18:13

Here is another EXAMPLE of an acceptable response to this truth Luke 23:39-43

Biblical Fact Those who do not believe their SIN separates them from a HOLY God will NEVER find mercy.

The natural human response is to assert that God was unjustly arbitrary in choosing one over the other long before they would have opportunity to trust or reject Him or to be obedient or disobedient. That natural response, however, is tantamount to saying that there is injustice with God. So Paul asks rhetorically if we have a right to accuse God of being unjust. • Romans Commentary

Genesis 18:25 Abraham says: • That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: • Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Look at Vs. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Romans 9:18-19 • Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. • Thou wilt say then unto me, • Why doth he yet find fault? • For who hath resisted his will?

Romans 9:20 • Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Paul says: Who are you man that you would to talk back to God?

That’s the Issue: Two thieves on the cross— what was the difference between the two?

Think about the Garden of Eden Satan tempted Adam and Eve to question God’s right to hold something back from them?

The Perceived Issue Is: God cannot show mercy to one that He does not show to another.

We (think) we Want • A level playing field on a round earth.

Application This means that once a state trooper has NOT given mercy to one man speeding he can never give mercy again.

Here’s a level playing field: You don’t get a second gospel presentation until every person on the planet has had one.

Here’s a level playing field: Paul can’t have a “Damascus Road” experience unless God does that for everyone.

Look at Verse 20Question Do we have biblical examples of men talking back to God?

Yes, BUT never from a questioning of His Sovereign right to execute judgment. Abraham, Jacob, Moses

Romans 9:20 • 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? Illustration

Romans 9:21 • Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Consider wood instead of clay.

Romans 9:22 • What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted [prepared] to destruction:

But you SAY: “I don’t want to be a vessel prepared for destruction!”

Whosoever “blocks of wood” See Romans 10

Romans 9:23 • And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore [before] prepared unto glory, • Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

God’s Sovereignty in Vessels of Mercy and Wrath