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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

“Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)”

 

 

 

GOD’S MERCY AND HARDENING

 (Rom 9:14-18)    6/1/08

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.        THE PRECEDING CONTEXT

 

A.      In verse 13, Paul quotes from Malachi 1:2-3 to demonstrate that:

1.       God’s Word had not failed in regard to Israel’s rejection (9:6).

2.       God had called a particular people, namely Israel (9:7-10).

3.       God’s purposes according to His call will stand (9:11-13).

B.      In speaking about God’s calling, Paul affirmed in particular that:

1.       God’s calling and election are predetermined (9:11a).

2.       God’s calling and election are not based on works (9:11b,d).

3.       God’s calling and election are based on God’s sovereign choice (9:11c,e).

 

II.      GOD’S SOVEREIGN CALLING IS NOT UNJUST (14)

 

A.      As is Paul’s literary style, he anticipates questions ahead of time. In response to Mal 1:2-3, some might say that God is unjust (adikía - unrighteousness cp. Ro 1:18; 2:8). The Greek sentence suggests a question about God’s character and righteousness in relation to His sovereign call of Jacob over Esau.

B.      However, Paul is not only speaking about the sovereign calling of Israel (Ro 9:11), he is also bringing attention to the concept of God’s sovereign call (Ro 9:11-23). In addition, we will see in this chapter and the following chapters that God sovereignly calls the Gentiles as well (Ro 9:24-25).

C.      Paul’s response is the familiar ̀ génoito, which means “no way” or “not in the slightest chance is this possible.”

1.       First, it is impossible for God to be unjust because it is impossible for God to sin (Ja 1:13).

2.       Secondly, the concept of the sovereignty of God means that God is free to do as He pleases. God is able to choose or reject at His own discretion and man has nothing to say in response (cp. Ro 9:20-21).

3.       If God has chosen to set Israel temporarily aside, this does not make God’s Word void nor does it make God unfaithful.

D.      The Scriptures clearly teach the concept of God’s sovereign call.

1.       The call of God could be broken into two aspects: 1) the general call of God and 2) the efficacious call of God.

a)       General call

(1)     …there is an universal call, by which God, through the external preaching of the word, invites all men alike (Calvin)

(2)     A general call is to all men (Mt 22:14; Jn 3:16)

b)       Effectual call

(1)     The calling of God is a Divine activity in which unsaved men are drawn to God. (Chafer V.2, p.113)

(2)     It is internal, and is the result of the enlightening and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit effectually drawing men to Christ, and disposing and enabling them to receive the truth. (Easton)

(3)     An effectual call is to the elect only (Ro 1:6; 8:29-30; 1Co 1:24).

2.       The terms “called” and “calling” are used of the believer extensively in the New Testament.

a)       Man’s merits are not the basis for God’s call (1Co 1:26)

b)       God’s calling is efficacious and sure. (1Th 5:24)

c)       God’s call results in a changed life (2Pe 1:3)

d)       God called those He chose to love and keep (Jude 1:1; Rev 17:14)

 

III.   GOD’S SOVEREIGN MERCY IS INDEPENDENT OF MAN (15-16)

 

A.      Paul now uses the example found in Ex 33:19 in order to demonstrate God’s sovereign calling and election. It is predicated on God’s divine prerogative to show mercy and compassion on whomever He chooses (Ro 9:15)

1.       In Ex 33, Moses, in order to know God and His ways, asks God to reveal Himself, His ways, and His glory (Ex 33:13).

2.       God agrees to reveal His glory, but He also reveals that He is sovereign to show mercy and compassion to whomever He chooses (Ex 33:19).

3.       Mercy (eleéō) is the act of pity that helps those in need. Compassion (oiktírō) is the sympathy behind the act of pity that helps those in need.

B.      God’s calling and mercy do not depend upon man in any way but depend solely upon God’s sovereign choice to show mercy (Ro 9:16).

1.       While Paul is explaining God’s choice of Israel, he is also amplifying the concept of God’s sovereign election.

2.       Man’s willingness (thélontes - pres. act. part. - continually willing) is not a factor in God’s decision to be merciful. If anyone is willing to have God’s mercy, it is a result of God first having mercy upon them and enabling them to be willing (Jn 1:12-13).

3.       As for the one who is running, the very fact that one runs to God, shows that God had mercy upon them and is drawing them.

4.       According to Ro 3:10-11, there is no one who is righteous or has spiritual understanding. Therefore, no one naturally “wills” to come to God.

5.       In addition, no one naturally runs to God since no one seeks God. No amount of human desire or effort will merit salvation.

6.       It is amazing that God has mercy on anyone, especially since no one deserves God’s grace. Furthermore, those who do receive God’s grace do so only on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice.

 

IV.    GOD’S SOVEREIGN HARDENING IS FOR HIS PURPOSE AND GLORY (17-18)

 

A.      In order to explain that God is sovereign in His purposes, Paul refers to Ex 9:16 where God reveals His reasons for raising up Pharaoh (Ro 9:17).

1.       The first reason God put Pharaoh in his position was so that God’s power (dúnamis - dynamic or miraculous power) might be demonstrated (endeíknumi - show as proof). When Pharaoh, ruler over Egypt, challenged and rejected God’s will, the world saw that God was the Supreme Ruler (Sovereign) over all, God’s purposes could not be thwarted, God receives all glory, and His name was proclaimed.

B.      From that episode with Pharaoh, God demonstrated that it is His sovereign prerogative to show mercy or harden whomever He desires (Ro 9:18).

1.       The Scriptures teach that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart nine times (Ex 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27, 11:10, 14:4, 8, 17) and Pharaoh hardened his own heart seven times (Ex 7:13, 22, 8:15, 19; 9:7, 34, 35).

2.       This is not a contradiction because God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in the sense that He removed all the restraints and orchestrated the plagues that would cause Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened. Pharaoh hardened his own heart in the sense that he was already a prideful and evil ruler and he responded with even greater pride and evil against the Lord’s will.

 

V.      OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.      Is God that sovereign in or lives today?

 

1.       God raises up people and removes people today to accomplish His sovereign purposes; we just may not be acutely aware of it.

2.       God may raise up people to accomplish His will and may harden others to show God is still in control. God is just as sovereign today as He was in Moses’ day. It is sad to say that perhaps we do not fully grasp God’s sovereignty.

3.       Furthermore, even if God’s purposes do not appear as spectacular as the ten plagues upon Pharaoh, all demonstrations of God’s power are dynamic and miraculous.

 

B.      Is God that sovereign in salvation?

 

1.       The Scriptures teach us that God is just as sovereign in His calling and election today as He was in Moses’ day.

2.       The believer who understands God’s sovereign election humbly and graciously praises God that He chose to show mercy and compassion upon him.