Ministry in the Book of Romans - Part 1

Introduction

  • Last week we spoke about the privileges God afforded the nation of Israel as His elect and covenantal people.
  • We highlighted the importance of the Law of Faith in Christ Jesus… Rom3;27
    • This faith being the very foundation of our relationship with the Triune Godhead whether Jew or Gentile. 
      • The righteous shall live by faith is the principle given to man hundreds of years before the Law of Moses. 
      • And the major truth of the book of Romans is “Justification by faith”
  • Today we continue in chapter 9 and deal with the Sovereignty of God… 

God is Sovereign

  • In most cases men either fear or hate the sovereignty of God …
    • But for the believer a good understanding of His Sovereignty brings great peace of mind, security and true worship…
      • Because what He has promised will become reality. 
  • What does sovereign mean …
    • Well Charles is the sovereign of the British Empire. 
      • He is the king…of a Constitutional Monarchy.
      • In the age in which Paul was writing the king had absolute power and authority. 
        • He is the supreme ruler.
        • They granted favour and death sentences as they saw fit. 
  • The decisions men make are a direct result of the man's inner nature …
    • Evil men make evil decisions …
      • Ahab, Saul, Amon, Hitler, Putin, Kim Jong Un.
        • Their decisions impact the lives of millions of people.
  • What does the scripture say about God …
    • God the King over all …
      • The Lord is high above all nations, His glory is above the heavens. Who is like Jehovah our God, who is enthroned on high… Ps 113;4-5
      • King of kings and Lord of lords… Rev 19;16 
      • King eternal, immortal, invisible,the only wise God… 1 Tim 1;16
    • God the creator of all things …
      • Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made even His eternal power and Godhead … Rom 1;20
        • The world is His because He created it for His purposes …
    • There are many attributes concerning God in this chapter… X14
      • Here are a few  for our purposes today …
        • God is over all …vs 5
        • God has a purpose that will be fulfilled …vs 11
        • Just in all His ways …vs 14
        • Merciful and compassionate … vs 15
        • Sovereign and powerful … vs 17-19
        • Patient vs 22
      • All of these attributes are very evident in how God responds to us…
        • He too acts in accordance with His nature. 
    • And God uses all of these attributes to accomplish His purposes.
      • And so He says to the exiles in Babylon… Jer 29;11
        • I know the plans I have for you, for good and not for evil plans to give you hope and a future…

God purposes

  • God’s purposes are clearly defined for us by Paul and Peter …
    • Paul … 
      • Before the foundation of the world …God made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ …He purposed to bless His children with every spiritual blessing… Ep 1;3-9
    • Peter …
      • God is patient with you, not willing that any should perish, but everyone to come to repentance… 2 Peter 3;9
  • So in order to have a sound understanding of these things we must always keep God's purposes in mind…
    • His creation of the world had a purpose …Revealing the God of creation 
    • Adam and Eve had a purpose …Obedience to God is essential.
    • Abram/aham, Isaac , Jacob had a purpose… Just shall live by faith
    • The Mosaic Law had a purpose… To bring us to Christ
    • Jesus advent… Seek and save the lost 
    • Teaching… I am the way the truth the life 
    • Death… Justification 
    • Resurrection … New life in Christ Jesus …
      • All of these things work towards the same purpose…
        • To Israel are the Patriarchs and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ who is God overall …Ch 9;5
        • And in Christ we have every spiritual blessing… Eph 1;3
      • And that purpose is … John 14;3
        • That where I am there you may be also. 
    • Our plans are mostly short term …  
      • Educate children for life on earth… neglect eternity. 
  • God's purposes are always long term…
    • From Genesis to Revelations the purpose is the same …
      • That I may dwell among men … And God himself will be with them and be their God…. Gen 3;8 & Rev 21;3

Justice of God

  • What shall we say then … is God just ?…vs 14
    • What about Esau …Was hated by God ?… vs 13
  • Firstly …
    • Both men were born with Adams' fallen nature …
      • Neither of them was good  …Both were bad…
    • But God so loved the world …John 3;16
      • Not willing that any should perish …2 Pet 3;9
  • Jacob, have I loved … Agapao …
    • Loved unconditionally and sacrificially … 
      • Despite his many shortcomings.
    • Why … Because in faith he sought God’s blessing. 
  • Esau have I hated …Miseo
    • Miseo is the opposite of agapao…
    • It speaks of man's capacity to hate and therefore harm …
    • But here it speaks of God’s hatred not of the person but the sin he committed…
  • Remember God does not dwell in the time zone…
    • He is omniscient …
      • He numbers our days before we live them 
      • And knows before birth the outcome of a life before it is lived
      • God told Rebekah 2 nations would come from the birth…Gen 25;23
        • The older & stronger would serve the younger. 
          • God knew the outcome before birth.
      • Esau, born first, had the birthright… God's blessing ..
        • He should have received a double portion of Isaacs estate 
        • Plus become head of the clan.  
        • From which the lineage of Jesus came. 
      • But the scripture says he despised it … Gen 25;34 
        • He traded it for a bowl of red stew….vs 30
      • Can you see that he lacked the faith in God that Jacob had …
        • And he made a short term decision …Rejecting God's blessing …
          • He went on and fathered a great nation called Edom 
          • Who became Israel's constant enemy… God’s enemy…
  • So we have 2 scenarios …
    • God loves the nation of Israel … Because of Jacob’s faith. 
      • But as a result of Esau’s rejection God hated the nation  of Edom 
      • And came in judgement against them…Mal 1;1-5
    • But individually he still loved Esau but loved obedient Jacob more…
      • And so from him came Jesus/ Messiah.
  • Is God just …
    • Yes … Because Esau despised God’s gracious offer of blessing…
      • And he loved Jacob more because he sought God’s blessing thru faith. 
  • Secondly … Pharoah …Ch 9;16-18
    • I raised you up for this very purpose … vs 16
      • Then why does God blame us?... vs 19
    • Pharoah like all men was born with a broken nature …
      • Like all mankind he is a sinner and falls sort of God’s glory… 
    • It is important to notice the language …
      • God did not create him evil for a purpose …
        • God raised him up for his purposes. 
    • God is sovereign … and can use anyone of his subjects, good or bad , to achieve His purposes…
      • Isaiah prophecies against Godless Israel and her evil … Isaiah 10;6
        • And God promises to come in judgement …
        • But he says He will use pagan Assyria to do the dirty work …
          • Then will punish Assyria. 
      • As we follow history that is exactly what happened …
        • !0 tribes were destroyed by Assyria never to appear again …
        • Assyria was overrun by Babylonians who defeated Judah and Benjamin only to be defeated by the Persians. 
    • So God takes an already evil man and raises (Promotes) him up to the status of king of Egypt… Pharoah …
      • And in his grace and mercy offers him the chance to let the Israelites leave Egypt …Ch 5;1-2
        • But once again God knows the outcome before it happens…
          • Though I do miraculous signs and wonders … he will not listen to you… Ex 7;3
          • Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgement I will bring out my divisions… Ex 7;4
        • Pharaoh's response is …
          • Who is the Lord that I should obey him … 
          • So Moses starts with the plagues…
            • And the purpose is to show Pharoah that the Lord is lord of all including Pharoah … vs 17
            • And as expected Pharoah hardens his own heart …and refuses to listen …
            • And so this story plays out time and again each time Pharoah hardens his heart …
            • But notice Pharaoh's changes …
              • Blood … I will not listen
              • Frogs … Pray Lord take them away
              • Gnats … The Lords finger -Magicians
              • Flies … Pray for me
              • Livestock … Investigation.
              • Boils … The Lord hardens heart
              • Hail…I have sinned-The Lord is right
              • Locusts … Forgive my sin-Lord hardens
              • Darkness … Lord hardens
              • Ist Born die… Go and bless me. 
            • But again he changes his mind and pursues Israel …
          • Can we see the patience and mercy of the Lord over and over…
            • But in the face of continual rejection …
            •  Righteous judgement follows
        • So who is to blame other than Pharoah himself. 
          • The Lord is quite within His rights to use a man who refuses God’s patience, mercy and grace 
            • And to judge him for his own willful sin. 

Conclusion

  • God is sovereign … but He always uses His power within the framework of his attributes. Love, grace, mercy, compassion.
  • He works to a very specific plan which is for our benefit. 
  • He can do what He wants to, use whoever, whenever, always steering us towards the faith we need in Christ Jesus.
  • What He plans will become reality
  • But we are a people who come to God in faith … Believing His promises…
    • And He dwells in us and with us… 
    • And one day He will come to take us to be with himself…
  • The question is are we responding to His call.