Romans, Part 29
Romans 9:16-29
Introduction
- Concluding chapter 8 what we saw was a rally cry for all believers
-- Living for God is a command that we each must follow, totally, and completely
- Wednesday night we discussed Paul’s position as a Disciple, but also a Jew
- We examined a good portion of his human side being revealed
-- Understood the plight of his people, wanted to rescue them, desired to help
- Whatever God does, must be just / God's grace alone makes them differ
- Grace from God is not deserved; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only
- Stand and read Romans 9:16-29 / Pray
Point 1 – God is Faithful to His Promises (16-18)
- On Wed night we ended with a very thought provoking question
-- We asked, “Why would we need to understand Paul’s reasons for writing to the Jews in the church at Rome?”
- Today, we will not only answer that but prayerfully gain strength from it
- In v15 we see that God’s declaration is that He will have mercy and compassion
- It is God that will bring His mercy and grace on those who He desires
- In v16, we see the application of this verse – it is not about what we do
-- If ever there was a verse to take away our pride of who we are, it’s this one
-- Even v17 continues and speaks directly to those of Jewish descent
-- Pharaoh was raised up for God’s purpose, not for his own; nor to be served
-- Ex 9:16, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
-- Ex 14:4, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So the Israelites did this.”
- As Paul writes to the Jews in the church in Rome; he is speaking to us as well
- APP: It is God that we are to serve, and it is God that we are to seek mercy from
- Many today are dealing with all kinds of life issues;
-- They are seeking to drown out the issues of life with drugs, sex, alcohol, etc.
-- But even in all of this, God still reaches out to declare His majesty over us
-- He still desires to bring us into a right relationship with Him – CRITICAL POINT
- V18 – “Therefore (because of all of this), God has mercy on whom he wants”
- APP: What’s the primary application? God is faithful to His promises!!
-- He is not a God who plays let’s make a deal, nor is it a Burger King mentality
-- We can have it our own way, but in order to be successful it must be His way
- TRANS: God gives us the answer to everything we would ever need
Point 2 – What do we need today? (19-29)
- The instruction Paul gives is given in a manner that they would understand
- As the created, who are we to come against God – to argue and disagree?
- Even so, we spend more time resisting God than we do obeying Him
-- Example: removing God from our lives, from society, from even church
- All across this world we see God taking a back seat for human desires
- But right here, Paul gives us a profound solution that is not common today
- It is because of this broken relationship that we were given Jesus Christ
- There is nothing that you or I could do to earn this; it’s God’s sovereignty!
- Verses 22-24 gives the church a great opportunity to pause on who God is
-- Re-read verses 22-24 (emphasis on Paul’s curiosity to think outside the box)
- Consider this …
- What if God chose to use His own creation to show us mercy and patience?
- What if God chose to use His authority to give us grace and peace that we need?
- Turn with me to Hebrews 9 and then back to Luke 2
- Luke 2:16-20, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
- Hebrews 9:24-28, “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
- Guess what? God has ALREADY used His creation to give us what we need!!
- Verses 26-29 are indication of the promise that was to come by the prophets
-- These men of God cried out for repentance and mercy; for Israel to take note
-- In this same manner, Paul cries out to the church in Rome to put aside its things/preferences
- To focus solely on the One given to us for life, for salvation, and for grace
- This is why Paul can calmly declare “God will have mercy on whom He chooses”
- It is not that He picks and chooses, but that He already paid it all for you and I
- APP: He has left us as a remnant to deliver the message; else we’d be destroyed
- TRANS: God’s choice for us is JESUS, and He is the potter/creator
Conclusion
- This morning, we really do have a choice that we have to make
- Will we recognize that the cries of the past have already been answered?
- Will we seek out the one who gave it all so that we can be made free?
- Invite Singers / with every eye closed and every head bowed …
- Many are hurting today, many are hurting right now and need relief
- Many are seeking to fill the void in their lives by worldy things
- Would you be willing to put down those solutions for the giver of eternal life?
- Pray (Salvation / Repentance / Healing)
