Sunday Recap for 020220 – God is Sovereign Part Three
Sunday, February 2, 2020, Evident Grace Fellowship looked at Romans 9.14-24:
Romans 9. 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.
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? 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?
From those verses, we pursued this Big Idea and these 3 points:
Big Idea: God is Sovereign Part Three
Is God Unjust aka Is God Unfair?
Salvation Depends on God Alone
Criticizing God’s Sovereignty Invites His Wrath?
Is God Unjust aka Is God Unfair?
Romans 9. 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.”
This is Paul’s question after read just prior that God love Jacob and hated Esau, and He made that choice before either was born or before either had done anything good or bad. Paul’s answer to the question as to whether God is unjust or unfair? No, because God as God has the right to be merciful and compassionate on whomever He wants to be compassionate.
Salvation Depends on God Alone
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.
People will ask, “But what about free will?” God answer’s, “Don’t care.” God raises up people for whatever purpose he wants. He purposefully hardened Pharaoh in the book of exodus to pour out His wrath. God pours out mercy on who He wants and hardens who He wants.
Criticizing God’s Sovereignty Invites His Wrath
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? 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 shows His anger against anyone who questions His sovereignty. So to demonstrate it, He reminds us the truth of Isaiah 45. God is the potter, and all humanity is the clay. God makes us into whatever He wants. He gifts salvation to whomever He wants.
Big Idea: God is Sovereign Part Three
Is God Unjust aka Is God Unfair?
Salvation Depends on God Alone
Criticizing God’s Sovereignty Invites His Wrath
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Truth: God makes no apologies for His ownership of salvation and judgment.
Application: Live knowing that God saved you so that He might show His power in your life, and that His name might be proclaimed in all the earth
Action: Pray for humility to embrace God’s sovereignty and power to demonstrate it to the world.