|
|
|
4000 E.
Collins Rd. “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 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 mề 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
