Chosen For God's Eternal Purpose

CHOSEN FOR GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE--Romans 9:1-26

***Jimmy and Billy were brothers, born more than ten years apart. Jimmy seemed successful from an early age, graduating from the United States Naval Academy, and serving in the Navy before going home to the family business. Billy tried college, but dropped out, also going home to the family business, while working to promote a liquor company. Jimmy had a heart for justice and civil rights, going into politics. Jimmy—Jimmy Carter—went on to become the 39th President of The United States, and Billy took advantage of his brother’s success to promote his product, “Billy Beer.” Billy Carter was disgraced by taking a bribe from Libya, and died at age 51. Jimmy went on to promote human rights and Habitat for Humanity, living well in to his 90’s.

What should we say about Jimmy and Billy? Should we condemn Billy, or feel sorry for him? When a reporter asked Jimmy whether he was embarrassed by his brother, he simply replied that he loved him. Should we give Jimmy credit for being such a good man? Perhaps—but I think he would give God credit for that; at least, I hope so.**

Last week, we considered how God works in our lives, to make us his children. Our text was Romans 8:28-30, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” God is committed to our salvation, from beginning to end.

That raises a lot of questions, however. If the entire process begins before we are born (and it does; Ephesians 1:4 says, “God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”), how does God choose who will be saved? Does he see in advance that some people will be better or more responsive, so that they are predestined to choose him? Does he choose on the basis of lineage or privilege?

Then, if God’s choice leads to predestination, is there still room for human choices, or free will? It all gets rather confusing. In fact, we must say that how it all works together is a MYSTERY—a mystery that cannot be solved by people like ourselves, bound by time and space, and limited in understanding.

If we struggle to understand the relationship between God’s choice and human choices, we are in good company. The Apostle Paul also struggled with the concept of ELECTION (or choice). He didn’t solve the mystery, but in Romans 9-11 he provides answers to 4 of our most important questions.

First, ARE PEOPLE CHOSEN BY BIRTH OR HERITAGE?

It is certainly an advantage to be born into a Christian home, go to church, and learn about God. Yet some people who seem to have every advantage do not accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Why do some not respond to God’s goodness and grace?

This might be a personal question for some of us, if we have children or grandchildren, brothers or sister, or friends we grew up with who have rejected Christ. We would do anything to bring them to Christ.

Paul felt the same way about his people, the Jews Although he called as an apostle to the gentiles, he had a deep concern for Jews who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Read Romans 9:1-5.

Paul lists the advantages of the Jews: the covenant with Abraham, the law given by Moses, and temple worship. By descent they were children of Abraham, of the same lineage as Jesus and Paul. Yet they rejected Jesus as the Messiah.

God had promised Abraham that he would be his God, and the God of his descendants. Paul struggled to understand how the Jews, who were included in God’s covenant with his people, could be allowed to reject the good news of salvation, and be cast aside.

Paul was forced to reconsider his understanding what it meant to be a descendant of Abraham.

Read Romans 9:6-9.

In the Old Testament, it sometimes seems that salvation was by birth and family lineage. Paul points out that faith is not inherited by birth, but by God’s PROMISE.

As an example, Paul refers to the children of Abraham. God promised Abraham a son, but as Abraham and Sarah were much too old to have children, Sarah encouraged Abraham to have a child by her servant, Hagar.

Ishmael must have heard about God and his covenant promises. In fact, Abraham circumcised him, as a sign of the covenant, along with the male servants in his household. Was he the descendant through him God would cause all people to be blessed?