Paul confirms the Lord’s mercy within His sovereignty. He will not forget his covenant or His promises to His people.
Romans 9: God's Sovereign Choice
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ---I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit---
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
9 For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."
10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad---in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls---
12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
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 moulded say to its moulder, "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 honourable use and another for dishonourable 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?
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."
Israel's Unbelief
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."
Things to think about…
1. Remember what Paul had just finished saying in the previous chapter. He had just said nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. But Paul is now in angst, Rom 9:1-3. What has happened to his countrymen, the Jews, did God forsake them? Are they now separated from the Lord and God is not faithful to His word? The question we must ask if this is true is, if He wasn’t faithful with the Jews’ inheritance, how can we trust that He will be faithful with us? Paul explains…that they did not pursue it by faith, Rom 9:33.
2. Paul’s whole point is that the law cannot save you, even though the Jews had the law and the promises, Rom 9:4,5 – one thing was needful, faith! Paul even goes to extremes by saying he wishes he was cut off, that they (Israel) could inherit the promises given to the Jewish people, but they needed faith to receive them. Paul knows even if he sacrificed his faith for others the outcome would be the same. It is all about God’s purpose in election, he goes on…
3. Paul says, not all who descend from Israel are Israel, Rom 9:6. This is one of the verses that ‘replacement’ theologians jump onto to say that God is finished with Israel prophetically. Paul confirms that this not the case in a couple of chapters, but that is not the point Paul is making here. Paul is saying not all within the nation of Israel are true Israelites according to the promise. Paul is speaking about true Israelites within Israel. He is not speaking about other nations here. This is where replacement theology misses Paul’s point. Paul is only speaking about blood Israel here. Some of whom will receive the spiritual promises in Christ, most will not, until this time is fulfilled, Rom 11:26.
4. God has a habit of flipping things on their head. The older will serve the younger, Rom 9:12. This was not how it was meant to be through Jewish inheritance. God calls and God determines in all things, Rom 9:15. Let’s not fight it but rejoice in all that the Lord does because it is good, even though we don’t fully understand or appreciate it at times. Paul makes the point in all of this – as we saw with Job, we cannot answer back to God, vs 20.
5. Who can understand the fullness of God’s sovereignty? I have to confess I struggle with the truth found in Rom 9:22. While I do not believe God predetermines and creates people for hell and is therefore the Author of sin, he sets people on a path that without His grace the inevitable destination becomes apparent. This is why we need to pray that our Lord extends His grace to many.
6. The vessels (objects) of wrath and vessels of mercy, Rom 9:20-23 is possibly one of the most difficult passages in the bible to come to grips with. Did the objects of wrath have any chance at all? We know from Romans 1 that they are without excuse and that they have suppressed truth in their unrighteousness. Could they ever have repented if they were never to receive mercy? Answer, no. But the object can’t turn and say “why have you made like this”, vs 20. Surely if there was such a desire for change the object would cry out for mercy. This is the point, they don’t want to change and therefore do not cry out for a change. They therefore remain under judgment as objects of wrath. A native rebellion and hardness to God (personal will and choice) as well as the Lord’s soveriegn will are blended together to drive the outcome. The question is, does this concern you? If so, be encouraged and ask God for mercy, you will receive it. That’s the promise, John 6:37.
7. Paul’s whole point is that the Gentiles would receive the promise that most in Israel miss out on because they didn’t have the essential ingredient – faith in Christ, Rom 9:30-33. Jesus (Yeshua) is their stumbling block even today. Pray for Australia and Israel that they would both cry out for their need of a Saviour.
Vision Point for Cell groups
CBC's Vision "To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission".
Cell group questions from Sunday morning’s sermon “We’re in trouble” Romans 3:1-19.
1. Have you ever been so far behind the 8 ball that you were never able to win from there. I remember years ago Qld beat NSW 52-6 in the State of Origin. Discuss.
2. Paul paints a fairly bleak picture of the condition of humanity in Rom 3:10-18. What do you think, is it really that bad? Discuss.
3. Paul uses 3 words – Righteous, Propitiation and Justified. Do you remember what each of these words means with respect to our standing in Christ?
4. We are on the winning team. We are more than conquerors in Christ. We are victors and overcomers. What does this mean for you when have have the occasional lose in life?
Prayer Points
1. CBC Carols and Christmas Day. Pray for advertising and that these events bring many visitors to celebrate the Saviour.
New folk coming to church, pray they are loved and looked after.
2. America still considering who will be their president. Pray for the supreme court challenges. Pray for truth, grace and peace.
3. Keep praying for Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington not out of the woods yet.
4. Sunday’s message. This week – “An object lesson” Rom 9, Graham.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. Rod’s health and the worship team on Sunday. Great job folks.
2. All those serving in ministry at CBC.
3. All those who served on Sunday with Music, audio, words and streaming.
4. Angelo, Helen, Doug, Maddison, Yuki thankyou for your efforts every week.
5. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Finances have been blessed. Thankyou.
Announcements
1. Carols Sun 20th Dec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Christmas Day service – 9:00am, Friday 25th December. 1 hour service.
