Presented, November 21, 2004
Is there Unrighteousness with God?
Romans 9:14-33
We continue our study in the book of Romans, a book that in my opinion is difficult (but certainly not impossible) to understand. It is a book that is used to teach so many main stream denominational doctrines (faith only, elements of Calvinism, the nature of man, the work of the Holy Spirit, etc.). It is my hope that we have rightly divided the word of truth as we have examined the various texts. We have noted that Paul began by saying all have sinned and need Jesus in order to be saved. Paul anticipating various questions has answered them. One of the main points he has developed is Israel’s relationship to God: Why did He reject them or did he? If He rejected them, is the Law, HIS LAW, flawed or imperfect (and consider the implications of that)? What about the Gentiles? Concerning salvation, Paul has concluded one thing – ALL men are now saved the same way – by God’s grace through our faith (not faith only).
Chapter 9 enters a new area of discussion in Paul’s applications. In chapters 9-11 Paul is explaining WHY God rejected physical Israel. In our last lesson we noted first Paul’s attitude toward Israel – he loved them and would do anything if it could convince them to accept the truth (1-2), he noted the benefits of the Law before Christ (3-5) and God’s right to election (6-130 [to choose WHO and HOW man can be saved – not arbitrarily choosing specific individuals, but determining the standard that would apply].
Today, we examine the rest of chapter 9 where Paul answers the question, “Is God unrighteous?” and then notes what the Law of Moses really said and then finally he explains WHY Israel was rejected.
I. “Is there Unrighteousness with God?” (14-21)
1) Vs. 14 – answering yet another question, Paul asks, “Is there unrighteousness with God?” This is based on the previous section. Concerning election (9:6-13) Paul noted that God has the right to choose whom He wills to accomplish His purpose – God chose Jacob over Esau, and Sarah a barren woman to bring forth the promised seed. We noted that God’s choices here did NOT remove the individual ability of salvation from those NOT chosen (Esau, Ishmael, etc.) – but simply the lineage through which the whole world can be saved. And BTW, consider the fact that God chose Israel when He could have chosen some other person to fulfill His promise.
2) “Certainly not!” – is his answer. “May it never be”
i.
He begins with quote to Moses (15-16). Found in
Exodus 33:19. Moses had been on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and the people
commissioned Aaron to make a golden calf. Moses comes down and with righteous
indignation he breaks the tablets and proceeds to punish Israel. God then
orders Israel to leave Mt. Sinai because they are not worthy stating that He
would not go up in their midst (33:1-6). But Moses intercedes with God on their
behalf noting that if He is not with them they are hopeless. He even reminds
God of the consequence of such a decision – how would others know of God’s grace
and that Israel was His chosen people. To this God listens and replies with the
quote in our text. God is saying, He has the right to be merciful to whom He
chooses. And that does not mean He is unjust to the ones He does not
choose.
This mercy is like God’s grace – it is a free gift, NOT something earned. (Keep
in mind the context – God is not dealing with the eternal salvation of specific
individuals). ONE mistake man makes is to assume this mercy and compassion is
without conditions. That is not taught – in fact Israel was given
conditions OVER AND OVER.
Vs 16 – The blessing comes from God NOT man. He is the giver and has the right
to choose to whom and what He gives. His mercy is a gift, not something we can
earn. NOTE: This does not mean that our salvation is unconditional. God has
set the conditions by which man can be saved. But after man has done all that
God requires, it is STILL God’s Grace that saves us – Ephesians 2:8-9.
ii.
Pharaoh – Next Paul quotes Exodus 9:16. Where Egypt
is in the midst of being destroyed by plagues. Moses is told to again appear
before Pharaoh (the 7th plague) and in the conversation, this verse
is quoted. Contextually, the idea is taught that God raised up Pharaoh to use
him as an example. In other words, Pharaoh rose to prominence through God’s
providence. The purpose was to demonstrate His power to Pharaoh and all the
earth.
At this point, let it be understood that God is able to know the future. That
is seen in prophesies and in passages like, Isaiah 42:9 “Behold, the former
things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I
tell you of them."
And Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient
times things that are not yet done, Saying,'My counsel shall stand, And I will
do all My pleasure,'” While the text does teach that God used Pharaoh, we
need to know that God knew His heart BEFOREhand. God knew that Pharaoh would
reject Him and there was no hope that he would truly change and serve God.
In other words the text is not saying God arbitrarily predestined
Pharaoh to destruction against his own will. Pharaoh would accomplish that on
his own. God simply used Him to accomplish His will and to teach a lesson for
the better good of man.
THINK ABOUT IT – How many plagues would it have taken to drive you
to your knees and to humbly submit to God and His will? Yet with ten plagues,
Pharaoh STILL rejected God. Amazing!
Vs. 18 – Therefore, He has mercy on whom He wills and hardens whom he wills.
Concerning the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart notice this -
There are 9 occurrences where the Lord says, “I will harden his heart” or
something similar. Exodus 4:21, 7:3, 9:12, 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10, 14:4,8 (last 2
at Red Sea crossing)
There are ALSO 9 occurrences where Pharaoh hardened his own heart – Exodus
7:13, 14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34, 35.
What is the point of this – HOW God hardened his heart is not that He took away
his freewill to repent, but the thought of submitting to God caused Pharaoh to
harden his own heart. It has been said, “The same sun that melts butter hardens
clay.”
3) Who’s the Creator here? (19-21)
i.
(19) This might prompt the question, “Why does He
still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” The point being – who can
resist God. The answer is NO ONE!
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND - in this context God is NOT dealing with Individuals but
His right to accept and/or reject physical Israel.
If God holds men accountable and they have no control over their own destiny
then God IS unfair. Such also contradicts scriptures such as 2 Peter 3:9
Whether one is saved or not individually is up to his own will – 2 Timothy 2:21
– how does one become a “vessel of honor”? By cleansing himself!
ii. But all that having been said, NO ONE CAN STOP GOD FROM ACCOMPLISHING HIS PURPOSE! That is why we have great confidence in Him.
iii.
Vs. 20-21 - Who are you to reply against God?
He is the potter and we are the clay. Does the creation question the creator?
II. What did the Law of Moses say? (22-29)
1)
22-24 – Are a single statement pointing to the fact
that what God does is ultimately for the hope and glory of those who will be
saved.
In these verses Paul alludes to the fact that God “endured with much long
suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.” In other words,
he PUTS UP with their sinfulness and rebellion (again 2 Peter 3:9 –
He is longsuffering) 1 Peter 3:20 speaks of the “divine longsuffering waited in
the days of Noah…
Why does He put up with it? 3 reasons are given
i. Wanting to show His wrath – for example Pharaoh. Could it be some repented as a result of this? Consider Exodus 8:19 where the magicians of Pharaoh said to him, “this is the finger of God” Knowing the wrath of God leaves one without excuse when they face it.
ii. Make His power known – Again that is what God did with Pharaoh. We also find this continually manifested throughout the time of the nation of Israel AND during the time when Paul penned this letter to the Romans
iii.
He might make known the riches of His glory to the
vessels of mercy – HOPE for the saved. When the righteous see God’s wrath
it gives them courage. How did Israel react when they saw the dead bodies of
Egyptian soldiers floating in the Red Sea? Exodus 14:30-31 – They feared and
believed the Lord.
VS. 24 is his conclusion here – Both Jews and Gentiles have been called.
2) Vs. 25-29 are a number of Old Testament passages showing that God PLANNED for it to turn out as it did – salvation made available to all.
i. VS. 25-26 found in Hosea 1:10, 2:23. Hosea was a prophet during the days of Israel and Judah who was commanded to marry a harlot named Gomer. The message was to warn about the unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah and that God would find a remnant and His people would be more than just those of Israel.
ii. Vs. 27-28 are from Isaiah 10:22-23 – Written during a time when the fall of Israel is imminent and Judah is not doing much better (740-701 BC). Reference is made to a remnant who would be saved and it will be brought to a conclusion swiftly.
iii. Vs. 29 – Isaiah also said, (Isaiah 1:9) unless God had left a remnant they would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah (which is what they deserved considering their rebellion).
III. Where is Israel now? (30-33)
1) Paul’s Summary – What shall we say then? He is summarizing what we have been discussing concerning Jews and Gentiles.
2) The Gentiles have attained righteousness – The fact that they did not pursue it has reference to the overall picture once again, not individuals. It was the Jews to whom the adoption pertained (vs. 4), etc. Let it also be known that even in the Old Testament there are examples of Gentiles who pursued righteousness somehow - Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, etc.
3) Vs. 31 – But Israel pursuing the law of righteousness has not attained it. THEY REJECTED GOD over and over. Chapter ten will develop this more
4)
Vs. 32-33 – answer why Israel did not attain – They
did not seek it by faith. Over and over in Israel’s history we read of their
arrogance thinking God would put up with whatever they did just because they
were “His chosen people”. They were wrong!
Vs. 33 – again quotes Isaiah, 28:16 and 8:14. God gave them what they needed
and they stumbled over it.
Thus we can see that God is NOT unrighteous. Israel’s rejection was their own undoing. We just happen to benefit from it – IF we are part of spiritual Israel. Are you a part of Spiritual Israel? Have you obeyed the gospel? If not, why not obey tonight?