October 1, 2017
Morning Service

We finished Romans chapter 8 last week and found out that our adoption into God’s family includes being glorified with Him, but that also come along with suffering with Him as well.  We were shown that at times that we are so burdened that we can’t even find the words to pray, that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and communicates what our heart really needs to our Heavenly Father.  We then received one of the most peace giving promises the Bible has to offer to us.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

·         As a Christ follower, we can take great comfort in knowing that God is in control of our lives.  He uses “all things” that happen along the road of our Christian walk to work out the purpose He has for us.  It is not always easy, but we are promised that in the end it is what is best for us.  He has a plan to mold us into what He wants us to be.  When things happen that we can’t understand, we can lean on this promise for comfort.  He gave His all for us and will finish what He has started in us as well.

·         He followed that up describing that there is nothing that can stand between you and God’s love for you.  (Rom. 8 33-39)

·         Paul begins chapter 9 by exposing his heart felt desire for the salvation of God’s chosen people the Jews.  According to God’s plan many of the Jews had been blinded to who Jesus really is and would not accept Him as the Messiah.

 

Romans 9:1-5  I tell the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,  (2)  that I have great heaviness and continual pain in my heart.  (3)  For I myself was wishing to be accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, (4) who are Israelites; to whom belong the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; (5)  of whom are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to flesh, He being God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

·         Paul shows his true colors as he says he would gladly be accursed if it would allow his Jewish brothers to be able to see the truth of Christ. Jesus told His disciples that there is no greater love than for one to give his life for another.  That is what Paul offers, but of course in this case it is not an option.  It is in God’s hands alone to make that decision and Paul now begins to try to explain the sovereignty of God through a history lesson.

Romans 9:6-18  For it is not that the Word of God has failed, for not all those of Israel are Israel;  (7)  nor because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children. But, "In Isaac shall your Seed be called."  (8)  That is, not the children of the flesh are children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for a seed.  (9)  For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son."  (10)  And not only this, but when Rebekah also had conceived by one, by our father Isaac  (11)  (for the children had not yet been born, neither had done any good or evil; but that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who called,)  (12)  it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger."  (13)  As it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."  (14)  What shall we say then? Is there not unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!  (15)  For He said to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."  (16)  So then it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of God, the One showing mercy.  (17)  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth."  (18)  Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He hardens.

·         This world we live in and the life we live are not really our own, we are living in God’s world and He is the One in control.  He created you and everything around you.  We are living in His world not ours.  He chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob over many others to begin the plan that He set into place before He created this world.  He told Moses “I choose whom I want.”  He chose Pharaoh to use him so that His might would be on display for the whole world to see.

 Romans 9:19-23  You will then say to me,” Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will?”  (20)  No, but, O man, who are you who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it,” Why have you made me this way?”  (21)  Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor?  (22)  What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction;  (23)  and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had before prepared to glory;

·         Paul using the example of a potter and clay puts our questions as the creation towards our Creator into perspective.  Does this mean we can’t question God when we don’t understand our situation?  Not at all, I do it all the time, but in the end I yield my will to His.  Remember we are promised that “all things work out for the good for us who love and are called by God.”  What if He chooses your suffering to inspire someone else to turn to Him?  That change everything doesn’t it?  It is a comfort to know that all the hills and valleys have a purpose designed by God Himself.  Though we don’t understand, we can trust Him in all things.

·         Paul now explains why God blinded the Jews.  It was so salvation could be offered to “whosoever will.”

Romans 9:24-33  whom He also called, not only us, of Jews, but also of the Gentiles?  (25)  As He also says in Hosea, "I will call those not My people, My people; and those not beloved, Beloved."  (26)  And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them. "You are not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God."  (27)  Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel is as the sands of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.  (28)  For He is bringing the matter to an end, and cutting short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work on the earth."  (29)  And as Isaiah said before, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we would have been as Sodom, and would have been like Gomorrah."  (30)  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness have taken on righteousness, but a righteousness of faith.  (31)  But Israel, who followed after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at a law of righteousness.  (32)  Why? Because it was not of faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that Stumbling-stone; (33) as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumbling-stone and a Rock-of-offense, and everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."

·         Paul using his knowledge of the OT scriptures quotes a prophecy of Hosea here that was written 700 years before Jesus’ birth stating that the Jews would reject God’s plan allowing the Gentiles to be included.  He then quotes Isaiah that a small portion of the Jews would be saved, but as a whole the Jewish nation would reject Christ and it would be a stumbling-stone for them.

·         He sums this thought up in that the Jews tried to follow the law to righteousness, choosing works to earn their way to God’s favor.  He shows that it is not works that earns righteousness, but it is faith that saves us.  Can you see how all of God’s plan just like a puzzle fit together in the end?

 

Lord, thank You that You alone are in control and thank You for Your perfect plan of salvation.