Romans 9:19-33

God's Merciful Election

by James Lincoln on Sunday, June 11, 2006

 

As we said last week Romans nine will take some hard mental work to follow Paul's statements. My goal is to guide us through these verses but I warn you it will demand concentration. We'll have to be willing to step outside of ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us and see God from His perspective as well. This is hard for us. We will have to let go of our preoccupation with ourselves and our powers and the illusion of self-determination to lay hold of his points.

The Cross: The Demonstration of Christ's Justice

In Romans three Paul tells us what Christ accomplished on the cross and why. Notice Paul's insistence on God's justice.

23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

We have all sinned. Therefore we all are dead to God's favor and under the condemnation of the law. So, God saves us as a gift. However, He paid dearly for that gift. On the cross Jesus paid the full and total price of all man's sin. So, God's mercy in grace is not in spite of justice it's always through justice. Justice has been done in Jesus Christ. Mercy is a gift. But God doesn't sacrifice or compromise His truth and justice for His mercy not even for His own Son. That's why Jesus died on the cross and horribly so. He came under the wrath of the Father for your sins and mine. That is justice. So, believe in Jesus and rejoice in His justice and mercy toward you in Christ.

Paul begins chapter nine with a statement of his deep love for his kinsmen (Israel). He was in deep anguish over their rejection of Jesus and the gospel. He would even give up his on salvation if it would change things. He's not writing these things out of any malice or hatred. He loves his kinsmen. What he can do is to answer this objection they have brought against the gospel.

The Gospel: In the gospel God offers us a righteousness that comes to us as a miracle of God's sovereign grace received through faith in the Lord Jesus. There's only one way anyone can be made right before God and that is through faith or trusting that God will provide righteousness for us in Christ; a righteousness we could never provide for ourselves. This is the gospel. It's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. If you believe it is because you have come under the power of God. And in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God has been made known from faith to faith. Israel raised three objections that Paul wants to answer:

1. If God made the promise to Israel of universal blessing and national prominence and if Israel as a nation instead, stands under His judgment then God's word of promise to Israel has failed.

2. If being right with God ultimately depends on God's choice and His mercy to some that makes God unjust (9:19).

3. If being right with God is a matter of His sovereign mercy (9:16) then God is to blame.

All of these charges attacked the reliability of God's word. What does Paul say in v. 6? "No, it is not as though the word of God has failed." And then he begins to demonstrate from Genesis, Exodus, Hosea, Malachi and Isaiah that this gospel of sovereign grace received by faith has always been the teaching of the Scriptures. He implies that they just don't know or accept the Scriptures. Let me summarize Paul's answers to their objections.

First, (vv.6-9) God's word has not failed in this matter of His promises to Israel because His word teaches that (true Israel) are those who are called or named like Isaac by a miracle of grace received by faith. Physical descent or race does not make one a Jew...¹ The promise came through the miracle of Isaac not Ishmael.

Look at v. 8 "In other words, it's not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring." This was a staggering statement because they assumed they were under God's favor precisely because of their race. They mistook the privileges of God as a sign of the favor of God. However, the true children of Abraham come into being like Isaac did--through a miracle of grace (God's call cf. 2Cor.4:6) not through natural descent.

It was physically impossible for Sarah to have children. So when God promised Abraham that in the following year Sarah would have a son Abraham had to believe in a miracle of sovereign grace. How else would it happen? With Hagar there was no extraordinary faith required; pregnancy was perfectly natural. She wasn't barren. So, Paul says, "Look, God's word of promise to Israel didn't fail. Not all who descended from Israel are Israel. You shouldn't define Israel merely in terms of race. True Israel has never been Israel by physical descent.² Salvation is a matter of grace not race.

What did Sarah do when she heard she was going to have a son? She laughed! Isaac means laughter. She was ninety years old and barren. It was absurd and impossible. And it's just as laughable that we would be called or named righteous (saints). For me to be called righteous is a joke (laughable) if it depends on my record to claim such a thing. Paul says that true Israel are those who recognize that their righteousness is result of God's call or naming. It's a miracle of sovereign grace received by faith not race. So God's promise to Israel stands.

Second, (10-13) the word of God has not failed in this matter of election because God's word has always taught that one can only be right with God by His calling or by His purpose in election (not by works). Then he takes them back to Genesis and quotes Malachi as evidence.

Look at v. 11:

"Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls-she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Rom 9:11-12

Now there rises up within us the response, "You've got to be kidding?" or "That's not fair! Esau didn't have a chance." Paul anticipates the question and he says, (14) "what shall we say then is there injustice on God's part!? "No! That would be blasphemous." God is always just. Whatever worries you might have about God being unjust you can just forget that. God is always just.

One reason this troubles us is because we don't see ourselves as already under God's judgment or wrath. However David wrote, "In sin did my mother conceive me." (Ps. 51:5). He saw himself as a sinner before he was even born. Even Jesus said that we are evil by nature (Mtt.7:11). This was Paul's argument in the first three chapters of Romans. All are under judgment already. Justice demands that all be condemned for our rebellion. God's hatred or His wrath against Esau is His righteous indignation against all sin. By nature we're all under His judgment of condemnation already. Of course we don't like to hear this. Eph.2:1-5 says. "... we were all (already) by nature children of wrath" Esau and Jacob and us. So then, on what basis then could Jacob experience God's love? Paul says in v. 11 it was "not because of works but because of His call."

Does God's mercy to some (like Jacob) make Him unjust?

Third, (vv.14ff) God's word has always taught that you can only become right with God through an act of His sovereign mercy not your race, your will or your works. And God's mercy to some does not diminish his justice to all.

"So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth." 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
Rom 9:16-18

Here's the question (14): Does the fact that God shows mercy to some make God unjust? Paul says, "No." Please listen carefully. Mercy and justice aren't the same kind of thing. Justice must be universal. Justice is mandatory and universal by definition. It's only just to treat all cases alike. It must apply equally in all cases and at all times to be justice. Justice shows no exceptions ever.

Beloved, mercy is not necessary...it's optional. By its very nature mercy is wholly at the choice of the giver. Mercy is an exception to justice. It's merciful. Mercy doesn't need to be universal to be mercy. You can have mercy on one individual only and it would still be mercy. Mercy when demonstrated to one or many comes without constraint. It is freely given. Mercy is not justice done in a gentle manner. We want God to be mercifully just. But justice is exact and unrelenting. You don't ever obscure or ease off on justice. The question Paul raises is, "Is there injustice with God?" Not possible. Therefore God is just to everyone.

Do I experience the justice of God? Yes! Upon whom does God's justice fall? Everyone! Everyone! Justice by definition must be universal or it's not justice. Do I suffer the justice of God? Indeed I do - THROUGH CHRIST! By grace and through faith I am in Christ. By grace and through faith I am so identified with Christ and He with me that God's justice upon me fell on Christ who paid it all for me. God paid a horrible price to be merciful. He never compromises His truth, justice and righteousness for His lovingkindness, mercy and grace.

Mercy and compassion are both aspects of grace. Mercy is discretionary. It doesn't need to be universal to be mercy. That's why v.15 does not say, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and justice on whom I will have justice." God's justice is universal; it rest on everyone. It's not discretionary. But instead it says, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and compassion on whom I will have compassion." Mercy and compassion are both aspects of Gods grace. But God never compromises His justice to show mercy. In Christ He paid the full price of justice.

Now, hardening is the opposite of mercy but it too is discretionary. Hardening is a way God responds in justice to the sins of men. When God hardens a person He leaves that person to the continuing consequences of their own sins. God hardened Pharaoh's heart by leaving him to the consequences of his arrogance and pride. God has every right to withdraw His restraining grace from our hard hearts to show His righteous indignation towards evil as He did with Pharaoh. He also has the right to extend mercy to whomever He wants to show the riches of His grace. But what we forget is that like Pharaoh, Jacob and Esau we're all born with dead and hard (stony) hearts (cf. Ezk.36:26). Without mercy everyone is headed for hell already and justly so.

Is God to Blame Because of His Mercy to Some?

The next question was this (19), "If He is sovereign in all of this then why does He find fault with me?" In other words,

"My sin and rebellion is God's fault! Why does He blame us? Paul you say that Pharaoh was manipulated to work out God's plan - that Pharaoh's evil actually brought about glory to God. How can Pharaoh be held accountable for his actions since he was used by God? Your God is unfair!"

What's Paul's answer? To begin with he says, "Who are you O man to talk back to God? (v.20). Oh tiny man whose life is just a breath, whose history proves over and over that despite all his learning and technology he repeatedly makes colossal errors and falls into unspeakable barbarism. This puny man stands before the God who knows end from the beginning, who has never learned anything because He knows everything, who is the perfection of wisdom and justice and love and he talks back to God. How absurd! It's like a two year old arguing physics with a PhD in physics. God is never obligated to explain Himself within the parameters of our limited comprehension. We will never be able to tie up every loose end within the limits of our comprehension. We are the creature. He is the Creator.

The Potter's Rights over the Clay

In v 20-21 Paul then uses the ancient analogy (Jer. 18:1-10; Isa. 45:9) of the potter and the clay.

"Shall what is formed say to he who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? Does clay ever talk back to the potter?

Moreover, the clay of mankind is sinful through and through. This was the just consequence of the rebellion of Adam and Eve. Again, we don't like this but it is thoroughly just because justice is determined by the terms of the covenant. God told Adam and Eve that on the day they ate of the tree on that day they would surely die. They ate and they died; they lost the capacity to pass on life or fellowship and favor with God to their children. As a result we sin freely; it's our nature. It comes natural to us. No one forces us to sin. God doesn't force anyone to sin. The clay is thoroughly sinful. We're not born neutral in this matter. We are born at enmity or hostile to God. So the question isn't, "Why are some sinners made to dishonor." That makes sense. The question is "Why are some chosen for honor?"³

Paul says that God is not answerable to man for what He does. However we can be certain that God is never unjust.

A Hypothetical Purpose in Election

In vv.22-24 Paul presents a hypothetical reason for God's choice. What if God wants to show His wrath or righteous indignation and power against sin more clearly by postponing His just judgment against sinners that He has justly prepared for them? God may want to pile up of evidence to demonstrate how sinful mankind really is. We are always asking, "Why doesn't God do something about injustice in the world?" He may be massing up more than enough evidence. God is free to do that. What if God chooses some vessels for mercy to make the riches of His mercy and glory against the backdrop of that evidence more clearly known to those He prepared in advance to bless? God is just to do both.

(24-25) How then did Gentiles get right with God? From Hosea Paul says that God called them who were not 'My people to be My people,' who were not beloved to be beloved who were not sons of God to be the sons of God. What could this lump of clay sinners (Gentiles) bring to the table? Nothing! Like Sarah's barren womb...like Isaac... like the stars God created out of nothing. Nothing. On what basis can the Gentiles claim to be right with God? One thing only. The miracle of God's sovereign grace that names them or calls them into being just like God named Isaac and called him into being (v. 7) received by faith.

Look at v. 30. Were the Gentiles searching for, seeking or pursuing God? No. Verse 30 says they were not pursuing righteousness. Remember, No one seeks God. What about Israel? Were any of Israel deserving of such grace? Look at v. 27-29:

"Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality."

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:
"Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants, (there it is: the gospel is the power of God)
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah."

What did Israel deserve? She deserved what Sodom and Gomorrah received which of course was judgment and the judgment that is to come at the end (that will come quicker than we think.). Outside of the miraculous and merciful intervention of God's grace all Israel every last one of them would have been utterly lost just like all the Gentiles.⁴ But instead God showed mercy to a remnant.

Stand on...Don't Stumble over Jesus: The Rock In vv.30-33, Paul finishes the chapter by restating his point that to be right with God is a miracle of God's sovereign choice and grace received by faith.

"What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33 As it is written:

"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Notice that the Gentiles didn't pursue righteousness at all. And that the Jews pursued righteousness by trying to be righteous enough to merit God's favor. By nature everyone gets this wrong.

The Jews worked hard to demonstrate to God, themselves and others that they were the righteous ones. God wants us to work hard to demonstrate to the world that we are saved by the power of God and that He is the righteous one who saves us by His grace.

Israel's effort was not an innocent mistake; it was rebellious and stubborn. The prophets told the Jews over and over that they could not do this that they had first to trust God as their deliverer and savior. But they would not. In v. 33 They simply did not want to put their faith in God. They wanted to put it on or rest on themselves.

But what of us? In whom do we trust for our righteousness, ourselves or God? How often do we consciously turn to the Lord and entrust our hopes, our love, our thanks and praise, our fears and all the rest which weighs upon and concerns us to Him? Jesus has become our righteousness.

Believe in the gospel of God's freely given love...Believe that God will not forbid anyone from forgiveness for sin and receiving eternal life if they place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Jesus is like a huge bolder in the middle of the road of everyone's life. He says, "Come to Me. Believe in Me.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me. Isaiah 55:1-3

Jesus calls to us, "Receive My righteousness. Abandoned any hope that you can produce your own." Let the justice of God fall on Christ for you. It's not your gene pool or the record of your righteousness that saves. Jesus saves. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Don't try to go around that stone. Instead rest in it, lean on it and rejoice in the Lord over it...over Jesus!