God's Sovereignty in Salvation - Romans 9

 

Romans 9

Why does two people, raised by the same godly parents, who have faithfully taught them the Word of God, and taken them to the church end up with one believing and other not believing? Why is it that you became Christian? Is it because you are cleverer than your friends who are still in the stupor of drunkardness? Why are you saved and so many out there are still in unbelief? Because of God’s sovereignty. In this message we shall explore the sovereignty of God in salvation.

v God sovereignly prepares unbelievers for salvation (1-5)

v God sovereignly chose some for salvation (6-13)

v God sovereignly shows his mercy leading to salvation (14-18

v God sovereignly disposes his divine prerogatives in accordance to His Word (19-33)

1.   Preparations for Salvation of unbelievers (vv. 1-5)

1)   Preparation of the Preacher:

God raises the right man and gives him a burden for some sinners, or specific people group. Paul bares his hearts to us regarding his evangelistic convictions of his fellow Jews. “I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit – that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

2)   The Privileges of the Israelites

Who are Israelites? They are descendants of Jacob/Israel, and enjoy the blessings of the covenant that God made with Israel in Genesis 35:10–12

1.    The adoption: Israelites are children of God by adoption (Deuteronomy 14:1).

2.    The glory: Israel had been privileged on many occasions to see the glory of the Lord (Exodus 16:7, 10; 24:16; 29:43; 33:18-22; 40:34; Leviticus 9:23, etc.).

3.    The covenants: God made a series of covenants with Israel (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 2:24; 6:4; 19:5; 25:16; Jeremiah 31:33).

4.     The giving of the law: The law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20).

5.    The worship: Israel’s worship began with Abram building an altar to the Lord (Gen. 12:7), but was formalized in the liturgy of tabernacle, temple, and synagogue.

6.     The promises: Israel was the beneficiary of many great promises, the first being the promise of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17), and the last being the promise of the coming of the Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 118:22; 132:11; Isaiah 2:4; 7:14; 9:2, 7; 11:10; 25:8; 28:16; 42:1; 49:6; 52:14; 53:2; 55:4; 59:16; 61:1; 62:11; 63:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Ezekiel 17:22; Daniel 7:13; 9:25; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 6:12; 9:9; 12:10; 13:7; Malachi 3:1).

7.     The patriarchs: The great patriarchs were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:24; 6:3, 8; 33:1). They were the fathers of the Israelites, but now the Gentiles can claim them as spiritual fathers as well (4:11-12, 16-25; cf. I Corinthians 10:1) (Gagnon, 103; cf. Wright, 629).

8.    The Christ: “…and from whom is Christ.” The Messiah was born of the house and family of David, the great king of Israel (Luke 2:4—cf. Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38).

 

2.   The Sovereign Choice of sinners (v.6-13)

The fact is that the word of God has not failed (v.6).

When he says “the Word of God,” he is referring to the promises that God gave to Israel. The word “failed,”, literally means “to fall,” like to fall over, to fall and no longer stand, that is to be defeated to do what was intended. Is the Word of God empty promises? Paul will use the Old Testament to show, that the Word of God has not failed. There are 15 OT quotations from verse 7 going to verse 33, and Paul uses these OT Scripture passages to show that the Word of God has not failed! And if the Old Testament Scripture has not failed, then all the New Testament Scripture will also stand and bear the fruit intended by God. Look at this;

Verse	Old Testament citation
7	Genesis 21:12
9 (cf. 14)	Genesis 18:10
12	Genesis 25:23
13	Malachi 1:2 & 3
15	Exodus 33:19
17	Exodus 9:16
25	Hosea 2:23
26	Hosea 1:10
27	Isaiah 10:22; Genesis 22:17 and Hosea 1:10
28	Isaiah 10:23
29	Isaiah 1:9
33	Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 8:14.

The Bible is clear that, heaven and earth will pass away but the Word of God will never pass away. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring. The second half of verse 6 is a clarification regarding Scripture.

This clarification is very important since it is the key that will unlock the door to understanding not just other following verses here but even all the Old Testament promises regarding Israel. “For they.” That is, the ethnic Israel, or the physical Israel, in other words, Jews. “For they (Jews) are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.” Now what does that mean, because it almost sounds like kind of double-talk, or…what does that mean? The word Israel here has double meaning. Israel means, both the ethnic Israel (Jews) but it also means spiritual Israel.

The Illustration: …and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This is the first illustration – Abraham and his sons (vv.6-8). The second illustration is Isaac and his (twin) sons (vv. 9-13). We must notice that these are not obscure examples – everyone knew and even now knows of the story of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. These are the patriarchs. But the point is clear – God has not changed his way of doing business of salvation. He is the God of the living – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

3.   Sovereign Mercy to Sinners (14-18)

The statement, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” is very crucial in understanding what God is doing for sinners in his sovereignty.

Romans 9:6-24 is the most detailed passage about the sovereignty of God in election.  Paul is answering the objection that “salvation is not certain because so many of God’s people, the Jews, refused to believe in Christ”.  The passage teaches that it was God’s purpose to save some and not all.  One of his examples is Jacob and Esau.  God chose to love Jacob before either child was born, so His choice was not because of (their) works, but because He already had a purpose of election (v.11).  This calling to salvation does not depend upon man’s will or exertion, but upon God’s mercy (v.16). 

The doctrine of election not only fits in with God’s sovereignty, but also with the fact that because of sin man is totally unable to do anything to save himself.  Unless God saves, all men will continue in their sins and go to hell.  We are like a drowning man totally dependent upon another to choose to rescue us from certain death.

“Predestination” is another word that is used, and it emphasizes the purpose (or goal) for which God has chosen us (see Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1:5).  “Foreknowledge” is a word used to emphasize that it is God who first enters into a close relationship with men with the purpose of saving them from their utter helplessness of sin (Romans 8:29, 1 Peter 1:2).

 

4.   Sovereign Election for the Salvation of Sinners

 

God’s Purpose of Election Explained:

What is God’s purpose of election? It is explained in the following statement, “…though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told…”  It had nothing to do with what the twins had done. They had done nothing to deserve what they got! They were unborn. Notice that even though they were unborn, they were not simply fetuses or mass of cells – they were children. They were a people. So life begins at conception and not at birth as many abortionists say in their unbelief and murdering wickedness. We must care for the unborn.

When did God do this choosing? When it is scrutinized further the timing of his choice in election, we discover that it was before the foundation of the world, for in Ephesians 1:4–6, this is what we read;

…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

This is such a glorious plan. That our salvation does not depend on us but on God. We did not chose God – God chose us for salvation. It is not the human will that chose us… definitely not ours but the divine choice of his grace. We read later, in verse 16, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” It is not the will of the flesh of the will of man but the will of God. (John 1:13).

God’s Purpose of Election Applied:

v God’s purpose is graciously sweet

It is such good news to know that we are saved by grace. Though we deserved death, we have been made partakers of salvation. Though we were children of wrath, we are now children of God. Though we were going to hell because of our sins, we are now going to heaven. We shall inherit salvation and glory. All because of the gracious electing love of God poured upon us. Praise His name.

v God’s purposes are written

In these passages we see Paul employment biblical hermeneutics – interpreting Scriptures with Scripture. He also illustrates using Scriptures. He applies the Scriptures accurately. Notice how Paul rightly handles the word of truth. He is a skilled expositor. Apart from citing verse after another, he also interprets Scripture with Scripture so that he easily demonstrates that Scripture has one cohesive message. This is what we are to do. We are to let the word of God dwell richly in us. We are to use Scripture to teach Scripture. The Bible to teach the Bible. We are to teach interpret Scripture with Scripture and illustrate the Scriptures using the Scriptures. Yes, use Scripture to apply Scripture. 

v God’s purpose is exclusive

The point has been made that not all Israel is Israel. Not all Isaac’s sons are God’s sons! Isaac had one son that was chosen to be saved – Jacob. The other son, Esau, was not chosen to be saved. We all well know that even within families today that go to church, not everyone is necessarily saved. It is possible to have the same physical father and you be saved, but one of your siblings is not saved. That’s the way it was with Abraham and Isaac and everyone. God’s election is both inclusive and exclusive. The gospel is the same, it both saves and condemns. It saves those who believe in the Christ who is the object of the gospel. But those who reject Christ who is freely offered in the gospel are condemned. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

 

Honour Marriage 3 - God will Judge the Sexually Immoral and Adulterous!

 

“You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14). This is moral law of God, which provide what is ethical, and thus acceptable before God when it comes to sexual relations. The seventh commandment forbids all impure thoughts, (Mat 5:28; Col 4:6), words (Eph 5:4; 2Ti 2:22), and actions (Eph 5:3). The Lord Jesus said so categorically in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Therefore, sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (Eph. 5:3).

 

Why should believers shun all forms of sexual immorality, that is homosexuality (gay and lesbianism), bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery? First, when Christians indulge in sexually immoral, they cause the testimony of the gospel to be spoken ill of, Christ’s name is brought to shame and His church is reviled by the world. How awful that you or me can be involved in such a thing! How we should work hard, depending on God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit to disdain anything that does not bring glory to Christ’s name… and he has given us his Spirit to help us.

Secondly, the text gives us the reason – it is that God will judge fornicators and adulterers because they dishonour marriage and defile the marriage bed. In other words, God's judgment, wrath and curse, will sooner rather than later fall on unrepentant people who defile and destroy his institution of marriage.

Thirdly, the body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. (1 Cor. 6:13). Moreover, the Word of God in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 makes it even clearer that,

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Fourthly, sexual sin wrecks marriages, and relationships. It is one of the only possible ground for divorce as the Lord said in Matthew 19:9, “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Fifthly, sexual sin carries many risks to the perpetrator. It can bring physical harm to the body like infections and disease. Sexually transmitted diseases are many – syphilis, gonorrhoea, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Disease Syndrome (AIDS) and many other diseases. Physical harm and injury if the perpetrator is caught by the spouse, or relatives. One can be successfully sued for damages. Then there is emotional social liability like shame and loss of reputation, which could even have financial or economic loss and liability, e.g. loss of jobs, expulsion from school, etc.

Therefore, flee from sexual immorality. Do not try to fight this sin – run like Joseph from the wife of Potiphar. Run! Because attempts to resist this strong bodily urge, is usually met with failure – the body succumbs to the craving and urge for sex. It is advisable that you do never visit a woman in her house when it is just the two of you – or let her visit you when alone. This is tempting the temptation!

Anyone who has been caught in this sin should know that there is mercy in the Lord if there is an open confession of the sin, and turning away from it in repentance. There is mercy in the Lord for adulterers and sexual perverts. No one is the reach of God’s mercy. Anyone who is unrepentant will wreck his/her marriage.

That word "unrepentant" leads to a third way to dishonour marriage and keep the marriage bed defiled. Any Christian couple that does not live a life of deliberate repentance to God and to one another is not going to last long together as husband and wife. Unless there is willingness to humility and to humbly deal with our sins against each, we risk God’s judgment upon us and our marriage. Lack or repentance and lack of forgiveness will most certainly mess up with your marriage and your family big time.

This is not the only text that says that God will judge fornicators and adulterous in the Bible. 1Corinthians 6:9-10 assures us that fornicators and adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God. There will be no sexual immorality in heaven. How can God who is so pure allow defilement, and abomination inhabit his presence? God is holy and he cannot tolerate sin of whatever nature. He will not accept anyone into his kingdom if tinted by sin. We read in Revelation 21:8 and

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

 

But is there any good news at all for those who fall into fornication and adultery? Is there hope for those who defile their marriage bed? Thankfully yes, for where it not for the grace of God, we all would be fornicators and adulterers. God has given Christ so that all sins should be cast at the foot of his Son’s cross where all the sins must be crucified so that you can be fit for heaven. You must be willing to plunge into the crimson stream of the blood that flowed from Calvary for cleansing and pardon. My plea for you today is, come ye sinners, poor and needy, come for full salvation, come for full cleansing, come for mercy, come for grace to Jesus Christ without any more delay. This is the only permanent remedy for the healing and restoration of your marriage.

It is the grace of God that keeps us from sin, and it is the grace of God that enables us to be what we are today. It is possible that in the past your were sexually immoral, adulterer, among other sins that you indulged in, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1Cor. 6:11). This is the good news, that sinners, even lewd sinners can be forgiven and be allowed a new lease of spiritual life in Jesus Christ.

As I conclude, I wish to draw some observation from the ship yard. He who builds the ship does not make his work of such a sort that it may avoid waves and billows, that is impossible; but he so builds it that it may be tight and stanch, and able to endure all weathers. Even so, the unmarried are like the ship on the shipyard, under construction. Every nail must be hammered to the end, upon every board and every hinge. They need to wait for the day of their wedding with perfect purity, godly readiness and holy reverence of marriage knowing that marriage itself is like a ship in the high seas and susceptible to storms and bad weather. Chastity is the way by which your ship will be able to endure the storms of life, before it is put on a voyage. The ship cannot stand midway while on the voyage – it must land not just on any shoreline, but on the dock. Those who are married must encourage and support the captain of the ship, the husband, to order, steer, direct and lead the ship in the right direction, speed and bring it to the right direction. Those under the command of the captain must desist from insubordination, and insurrection for this will bring not just distress and pain, but even possible casualties to all the seafarers.

Now I don’t know what is the state of your marriage. I do not know whether you have run aground upon the icebergs or rocks. I do not know what pain and injuries you may be nursing. But I want to impress this word to you - Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Honour your marriage by fighting hard so that it can survive – do not look at those seemingly beautiful women on the internet who are offering themselves freely or at a fee and think that they can be better than your wife. Your wife is more beautiful than them. Your husband is a better man than them all! He married you! Honour him. Submit to him. Love her!