LBC Sermons & Messages

Romans 9:30-f.f.

The last couple of weeks we looked at the faithfulness, righteousness, and justice of God. These are all inherently true of God because of who He is not because of man. God is all of these things because He said he was and he has been tested and tried to be true
every time.

Man’s choice is to obey and see God in his faithfulness. When we obey God, we see a clearer picture of his righteousness and justice. It is us who have changed not God for God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Hebrews 13:8.

Today, we will finish up the chapter and see how God, through Paul, now begins to swing from the unchangeableness of God to the duty of man.

We are reminded that God’s grace is free to all who will answer the call of God. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Jew or a Greek, Gal. 3:28. This free gift has nothing to do with man’s works but solely on God’s grace. The Jews tried to obtain God’s favor by keeping the law. However, the law is weak, it brings only knowledge of sin Rom. 3:20, 7:5-7, Gal. 3:24-25, and it is no substitute for Christ Rom. 8:3. The Jews tried to work for their salvation and the Greeks simply trusted God at His Word.

The Jews thought that the Greeks had to come up to their level to receive the goodness of God. In actuality, the Jews had to come down to the level of the Greeks to receive God. They were too proud in upholding the Law and forgot that all have sinned Rom. 3:22-23, all need Christ Rom 8:3, Salvation is a free gift John 3:16, Rom. 10:13.

However, Israel rejected the gift of God denying the faith and adding works. Israel was, is, and will always be God’s chosen people, but, in rejecting the gift, it was made available to all. For by grace are we saved and not of works. For if the gift was by works, we would boast and our boasting should be in Christ and Him alone.

Our salvation is based upon the completed work of Christ John 19:30, Heb. 12:2. The work was finished by Christ and made available to all. Our duty is to repent and cry out to Christ. We must turn to Christ because He is faithful, righteous, and just. He always will be no matter what we do. Therefore, we must turn to Him because one day we will all stand before Him. In God’s very being, He will have to pronounce judgment upon the guilty, which is all of us unless we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Our duty is obedience, period.

When it comes to understanding God’s faithfulness, righteousness, justice, or graciousness my human mind is too limited to fully grasp the truths. In a sense, this is what is so amazing about God. The more we fall in love with Him and seek His face, the more complete our understanding becomes though we may never ascertain to the fullness of God.

To learn more about the amazing God we commune with and
serve, we need to look further into the scriptures. When it comes to His faithfulness, some accounts come to mind such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, and many others. God was faithful through it all. However, when it comes to the disciples, Paul, early Christian martyrs, and those who were murdered during the dark ages God was just as faithful. Earthly outcomes do not dictate God’s character for no matter what happens, He is the very essence of faithfulness.

God’s righteousness and justice are very closely tied together. God is righteous; therefore, He must be just. His love is also linked and cannot be separated from the two for they are on the opposite side of the same coin. When I think of God’s love and justice, I think of the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts. The lie they told about the amount of money they gave to the church revealed a heart issue. Because of the heart issue, the Lord took their lives. He is just. If we break one of God’s commandments, we are just as guilty as breaking all of them and are condemned to an eternity in hell. God demands justice but gives love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

God’s justice leads us to God’s love in the form of grace. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. We all, including me, deserve an eternity in hell for breaking a Holy God’s law. However, the grace of God, Jesus Christ, offers us forgiveness and an eternity in heaven.

Men like Paul and John Newton knew well of this amazing grace. They both consider themselves to be chiefest of sinners and yet the gift of grace was freely offered to them both as it is to us all. God is just and must pronounce judgment upon all those who have sinned but offers grace through Christ.

So, where do you stand in relation to God? God is the biggest enemy to us all because He is faithful, righteous, just, gracious, and able to destroy both body and soul, unless the blood of Christ has cleansed you and made you whole. Then God’s attributes become an anchor in this old tumultuous world, an anchor that gives us the ability to holdfast in the face of adversity and remain true to our calling.

Romans 9:14-29

Last week we looked at God’s faithfulness and how at times it seems as though God is nowhere around, yet He is always there. God’s faithfulness also is not based on natural descent. His faithfulness is also not based on human merit. God is faithful, period. God’s faithfulness is based on God’s promises and God cannot lie.

This week we will look at God’s righteousness, vs. 14-29. To show God’s righteousness, Paul brings up two totally different men, Moses and Pharaoh. Though these men are very different, God’s righteousness never wavered one time teaching us the God’s righteousness is not based in man’s actions. Moses was obedient to God even though he argued at times with God’s plan. In the end, God was God and Moses was man. Pharaoh on the other hand was disobedient. Exodus 8:15, 19, 32, 9:12 tell us that when God goes to Pharaoh, He is denied several times. Later on we are told that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Keep in mind that God allowed Pharaoh to obey several times and only allowed his heart to be hardened after mercy was shown.

God’s righteousness is not based on man’s actions but rather in God’s person. God is our ultimate example, therefore, we need to do what is right no matter what those around us do or say. Acts 5:26-32 reveals an account of Peter and some others who were imprisoned for preaching the gospel. When they were tried and warned about continuing, they responded by telling them that they would obey God rather than man. Mankind all around us is giving us the same message today and sadly we listen many times. Let us be like our Master and show forth righteousness no matter what is going on around us.

Next, we see God’s justice, vs. 19-29. The world thinks that just because people deny God and reject His gift of grace, that it is somehow unjust to punish them and allow heartache and pain. Paul asks us, “who do you think you are to argue with God and question His justice?”

Paul also reminds Israel that God has a plan and a purpose. We might not understand it, but we do not have to. God is sovereign and we need to trust Him. We need not to question but to have faith.

Paul also reminds Israel that the Gentiles coming to know the God of Israel, was prophesied. Even the turning of Israel against God was prophesied. Hosea and Israel both taught and warned Israel about turning from God. So, God’s justice is not up for vote. It is true, swift and solely based in God’s plan. Justice will come, so once again, do what is right no matter what.

Romans 9:14-29

Last week we discussed God’s faithfulness. Two people Paul brings up to remind us of faithfulness are Jacob and his brother Esau. He ends the section with the saying that God loves Jacob and hates Esau. The word hates means rejected or to turn against.

This seems somewhat odd to use this example but upon further study, it is not odd at all. Heb. 12:16, 17 is very clear why the Lord turned against Esau. Esau would not repent. God blessed Esau and gave him many opportunities to repent and yet, Esau would not. Therefore, it was Esau’s choice and yet God was faithful to the uttermost. God’s faithfulness is secure in His promises.

Then, Paul goes on to God’s righteousness. Again, a man that on the surface seems out of place yet fits like a glove when studied in the big picture. This passage just taken at face value teaches election based on God’s choice, but when taken in context and with the whole Bible as II Pet. 1:20 tells us to do, we see that God has given man some choices to make and He has foreknowledge of our choices. To spite it all, God’s faithfulness does not quiver for it is based in His very person. God’s faithfulness should give us the strength to stand in the face of adversity like men that have gone on before us, Dan. 1, 3.

Then we get to a very hard concept and that is the topic of God’s justice. God’s justice is so pure and ours is so skewed that I believe it is hard, not impossible, for us to fully understand God in His justice.

Psalms 89:8-14 remind us that there is none like God. No one shares his glory, power, strength, wisdom, etc. Therefore, we can trust him and his justice. Proverbs 21:1-3 encourages us to do right for it pleases God, to not only do right but also to judge right or make right decisions, have the right standards. Man will always try to sidetrack us and derail us. Satan will try to get us to doubt God’s justice and see God as being not fair. However, God is ultimately just for it is His very plan.

Romans 9:1-13

This passage at first glance seems out of place. In the first 8 chapters, Paul deals with doctrine such as: the sinfulness of man, the guilt of all mankind, the grace of God through Jesus Christ offered to all mankind, justification by faith alone, and God’s character and faithfulness. Chapter 9 seems to be a shift but upon closer study, one would see the perfect flow continued through the next three chapters and then into the practical duties in the last chapters. Chapters 9-11 are not transitional chapters but rather most necessary to the doctrine of justification.

Paul now shows God’s faithfulness to the Jews, His elect children. He starts the case by discussing his salvation and if possible, he would give it all up to save the Jews, vs. 1-3. To show his sincerity, Paul uses language that would be familiar to the Jews. The same language and thought process which Moses used in Exodus 32:30-f.f. When was the last time, if at all, that you mourned the lost like these? How dare us not spread the gospel just because it might inconvenience us at times. I am glad Christ did not take this approach when it came to saving me.

Paul then moves on to the doctrine of the election of the Jews, vs. 4, 5. In Exodus 4:22, 23 we see that the Jew is God’s chosen son or children through whom he makes His covenant. It is through the Jews that God chose to bless the whole world. Yet, they rebelled. We see a divine balance of election and choice or free will. They are God’s chosen and yet they still have the ability to reject the leadership and gift of a loving God to His children.

Lastly, Paul discusses the grounds of Israel’s election, vs. 6-13. From verses 6-10 we see that the election is not based on natural descent. He calls attention to Isaac first who was the second born of Abraham, Genesis 17. The family possessions and blessing should have been passed down through Ishmael but God chose Isaac. Then Paul brings up Isaac’s children, Esau the eldest and Jacob. Scripture tells us the blessing is once again passed on through the younger, Jacob, Genesis 27.

Then Paul shows them that it is not of human merit, vs. 11-13. God chose Jacob before either had done good or bad leaving out human merit. Paul ends the section by quoting from Malachi 1:1-3. Esau is representative of those who reject God’s Son. The word hated means literally to turn against. God will turn against those who reject Him leaving justification to His promise and faithfulness alone.

Luke 14:15-24

Election is a hard topic and I do not claim to understand it at all. I may be wrong. That is why our beliefs and doctrine do not come from feelings but what the Word of the Lord says. As a New Testament church, our source of faith and doctrine is the Word and it alone.

First, to understand election, we must understand that all have sinned, Rom 3:23, and that there is none righteous, Rom 3:10. Therefore, there is guilt and judgment to all, Rom 1, Rom 5. None of us deserve salvation and we just discussed justification this morning and during previous Sunday messages.

Secondly, we must understand the will of God. John 3:16 shows us His love for all mankind and II Peter 3:9 teaches us that He is willing that none should perish, yet many perish. This is not because God is weak and not able to save all. God is all-powerful and able to save all. However, God allows man to cry out to him or not. We will continue on
this thought in a moment.

Next, we must understand the calling of God. This is different then election. There is a call that goes out to all mankind, Matt 20:1-16, 22:14, Luke 14:15-24. The Luke passage is very interesting for you see Jesus teaching that those He first called to a feast rejected. You see man’s choice to attend, specifically the Jews. Since they refused, He calls out to all, targeting the poor and needy, this would be us non-Jewish ones. The call was general and to all and man still had the choice to attend or not. The master’s anger was kindled against those who refused and he delighted in those who accepted. This is the idea of election.

The word elect means choice ones or favored ones. What would make you favored in God’s eyes? It is not your human lineage. It is not your good works for all our good works are as dirty, infectious rags. What makes you and I favored in God’s eyes is based solely upon what we have done with His precious, beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We have all received the call, however, few there are that accept and act accordingly. When we accept His Son and receive forgiveness, God now favors us. When one rejects this free gift, God’s anger is kindled against them and they only have God’s hot wrath and judgment to look forward to unless they accept.

Therefore, when Peter encourages us to make sure of our election, he is encouraging us to make sure we are in right standing with God. Make sure your relationship is good. Make sure you are the favored with God through Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Romans 8:31-f.f.

Paul ends the eighth chapter of Romans by taking away our excuses. Paul has just told us that we can trust God’s promises when we meet the conditions of those promises. God will work all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Therefore, what shall we say to these things, vs. 31? How can we argue? We cannot. When we are walking according to the Spirit and are communing with God, our complaining ceases. When we are walking in the flesh, we complain. Job found this out and when God finally brought him to a point at the end of himself, Job 40, 42, Job said, “there is nothing I can say for thou art God.”

Paul then goes on to remind us that God giveth all things, vs. 32. This includes His only, begotten Son, Jesus Christ. II Peter once again reminds us that God giveth us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Philippians tells us that God shall supply all our need. We need to pray Psalms 61 and allow the Lord to take us to the Rock that is higher than I.

Then Paul reminds us that God is the judge. Now, the Bible does tell us to judge ourselves and each other using the scripture. However, when we begin to judge circumstances and events, this is when judging becomes wrong. Have you ever thought that you would have done things differently? What we are saying by all of this is that God does not know what He is doing and it would be better is we were God. This is unbiblical judging. Lord, help us to understand who you are and never try to dethrone you.

Then Paul ends with some of the greatest words of encouragement, vs. 33-f.f. He reminds us of God’s great love. Even when we make excuses, forget the many ways God has blessed us and try to dethrone Him, God still loves us with a deep, complete love. Once we are in the hand of God, John 10:28, 29, we are there forever. There is nothing or no one that can separate us from the love of our Great God. Praise the Lord for His great love.