November 12, 2023
Evening Service

God's Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:1  I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 

Romans 9:2  that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 

Romans 9:3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 

Romans 9:4  who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 

Romans 9:5  of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. 

Paul gives a heart-felt account of his feelings for the fellow Jews and the Gentiles that are present with him. He is getting ready to discuss the rejection of Jesus from the Jewish people and the calling of the Gentile people. He wants to show how both of these groups agree with God’s sovereign love for his creation and they are chosen. Paul sincerely and seriously pleads to Christ; and his conscience directed by the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth. He says that he would give in to being treated accursed from Christ for the saving of his fellow compatriots and brothers in the faith if he could rescue them from their unbelief and sure destruction to follow. If we are desensitized to the eternal condition of our brothers and sisters, it is in conflict with both the love required by the law and the mercy of the gospel. The Jewish people for a long time had been and proclaimed to be worshippers of the Lord God Jehovah. The law given to Moses by God and the national covenant of the people of Israel through Jacob belonged to them. The temple worship was a representation of salvation by the Messiah, and the method of communion with God. These promises of the Messiah coming and His promises concerning salvation were given to them already. Jesus Christ is not only the Mediator, but also He is over all, and He is God in the flesh and blessed forever.

Romans 9:6  But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 

Romans 9:7  nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED." 

Romans 9:8  That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 

Romans 9:9  For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON." 

Romans 9:10  And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 

Romans 9:11  (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 

Romans 9:12  it was said to her, "THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER." 

Romans 9:13  As it is written, "JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED."

When Jesus came as the Messiah, the Jewish priesthood rejected him and this did not break any promises God made to the patriarchs in the bible. Anything God has promised in the bible, be it for good or for bad will be fulfilled. Grace is something that does not “run in the blood” as they say; nor would having a position in the church entitle anyone for benefits related to becoming saved. This is the same for the offspring of Abraham, some were chosen for a purpose and some were not, God will work according to His own will. When Jacob and Esau were born, they were born in sin and therefore, by the nature of sin, born to wrath as all children are since sin entered the Garden. If there were no intervention, they would have continued in sin throughout their lives; but with reasons of holiness and wisdom of which we do not know, God purposely intervened to change Jacob’s heart and to left Esau to his wickedness. This example of Jacob and Esau sheds light upon the holy conduct of God to the fallen sinners of mankind. There is a complete and total difference between a professed Christian and a true believer in Christ Jesus. God can and does choose many who are not the children of God to place in positions of privilege. However, we are encouraged to diligently use the grace God has given to us to inform non-believers about free grace and love God offers. Grace was freely given to us and we are to freely give it to others through the Lamb of God who provides.

Romans 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 

Romans 9:15  For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE COMPASSION." 

Romans 9:16  So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 

Romans 9:17  For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I HAVE RAISED YOU UP, THAT I MAY SHOW MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MAY BE DECLARED IN ALL THE EARTH." 

Romans 9:18  Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 

Romans 9:19  You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 

Romans 9:20  But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 

Romans 9:21  Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 

Romans 9:22  What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 

Romans 9:23  and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 

Romans 9:24  even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 

Our God is a just God and whatever He does is just. As believers in Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer, we are happy and striving to be holy and are different from the non-believer; God’s grace is what makes the difference! We are different when we receive the Grace of God, it seals and distinguishes us as His children, God is the giver of good things and the Grace is His own! Not one person born of man has ever deserved grace, so all who have received it from God must be eternally grateful to Him only! In addition, any who have set in the hearing of the Word and have not chosen to believe in their heart, repent, and ask forgiveness from God will perish, they will only have themselves to blame. Nothing can bind God from anything unless He chooses to bind Himself by His own covenant and promise, which is truly His communicated will. Truthfully, through His covenant, He will receive and not cast out, those that come to Christ Jesus; but the invitation of souls to come to Christ, is a foreseen, individualized favor to whom He will. Why does God still find fault in one of His creations? This question is not appropriate for the creation to ask of the Creator. The scriptures states that as the Potter, He will mold the clay for purposes He desires, some for honor and some for dishonor. The truth as it is in Jesus, reduces a man as nothing, as less than nothing, and promotes God as sovereign Lord of all. Whom do we think we are to be able to judge Divine counsel; we are feeble minded and overflowing with foolishness, unable to rightly discern. It is fitting for us to submit to Him, not to retaliate against him. It is smart for men to allow the infinite God, all sovereign rights to manage the affairs of His creation. God does not do wrong, however it may appear to men. God will hates sin all of the time. In addition, he formed vessels of flesh filled with mercy. Becoming sanctified is our preparation of the soul for glory in the next life, this is God's work. Sinners will make ready themselves for hell, but it is God who prepares His saints for heaven. All those whom God prepares for heaven after the earthly life is done, He corrects and suits them for heaven now. Do you think we could discern whom these vessels of mercy would be to choose? God has called them not only of the Jews, but of the Gentiles also. God will choose with all authority and power to correctly choose any of these exemptions of normal requirements to obey His commands righteously. God is very merciful and He exercises long-suffering, patience, and tolerance towards sinners before he brings destruction upon them. The fault of coming to judgment for the deeds of the flesh is in the impenitent sinner himself. We who love and fear God; however such truths appear beyond our reasoning to understand, we should keep silent before Him. It is the Lord alone who made us to be different, we are to be thankful and adore His mercy for our pardon. His Grace is sufficient and we are to be diligent about honoring Him for choosing us.

Romans 9:25  As He says also in Hosea: "I WILL CALL THEM MY PEOPLE, WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, AND HER BELOVED, WHO WAS NOT BELOVED." 

Romans 9:26  "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD." 

Romans 9:27  Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, THE REMNANT WILL BE SAVED. 

Romans 9:28  FOR HE WILL FINISH THE WORK AND CUT IT SHORT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE THE LORD WILL MAKE A SHORT WORK UPON THE EARTH." 

Romans 9:29  And as Isaiah said before: "UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT US A SEED, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE LIKE GOMORRAH."

These Old Testament references foretold the rejection of the Jews and the taking in the Gentiles. These scriptures in Hosea and Isaiah show the truth of the bible by fulfilling the scriptures when Jesus came as the Messiah. If not for God’s infinite mercy and favor, there would not have been any that were saved. However, He chose to leave a remnant of the people instead of dealing with them according to their sins. If He had dealt with them (and me for that matter) according to theirs and my sin, we would have all perished. This is something to be read and understood by the scriptures and let it teach us understanding. Out of all those who profess to be Christians, it is to be feared that only a remnant of them will be saved.  

Israel's Unbelief

Romans 9:30  What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 

Romans 9:31  but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 

Romans 9:32  Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 

Romans 9:33  As it is written: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STUMBLING STONE AND ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." 

The non-Jewish Gentiles didn’t know about their guilt and shame for sinning and because of this, they didn’t seek to find a remedy for how to get right with God. However, they did seek to attain righteousness by faith in Jesus. They did not submit to the religious ideology of the Jews by trying to attain righteousness through obedience to the Law of Moses. They did listen to Christ Jesus as He taught and preached and embraced Him and believed in Him, so they submitted to the gospel message. The Jews talked a lot about being justified and holy, and were very determined to be God’s favored people. They sought after God, but not in the right way, nor in the way of becoming humble and this is not the appointed way. They did not listen to the gospel message and apply the faith in it to believe in Christ, they did not embrace Jesus and did not depend upon Him. They fully intended to be justified by observing the ordinances and ceremonies of the Law of Moses. The Jews in their unbelief had a fair offer of righteousness, life, and salvation, made them upon gospel terms, which they did not care for and would not accept. There is only one way to know how we may be justified before God, by diligently seeking that blessing by faith in Christ, as the Lord our Righteousness. Then we can stand firm in the Lord Jesus and His righteousness in that terrible Day of Judgment. All those who did not trust in Jesus, as their Redeemer will be swept away and God’s Holy Wrath will find them out in every place in which they may hide. Hiding ourselves and our souls in Jesus blood is the only way to avoid being put to death for the payment of our sins. Jesus willingly went to the cross so that you, I, and all hearing of the Word, shall not perish but be joined in His kingdom in Heaven.