Romans 10:1-3 - Zeal Without Knowledge

Romans 10:1-3 - 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Message: Zeal without the knowledge from God.

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome.

What the Lord is Saying:

From BiblePilot, for chapter 10.

1. 10:1-4 Zeal without knowledge
2. 10:5-13 Basis of righteousness
1. 10:5-8 Law vs. Faith
2. 10:9-13 Belief, confession, and justification
3. 10:14-21 Preaching produces belief
1. 10:14-17 Faith comes through hearing
2. 10:18-21 Salvation of the Gentiles

Chapter 9 - 11 are generally thought to be distinct from the first 8 chapters and it seems appropriate based upon what I have studied. The first 8 chapters marked a declaration of the Gospel, specifically a focus on the righteousness of God. Righteousness is imputed to us by faith apart from the works of the Law. Yes, we are judged by the Law but we don't become righteous through obedience but by faith. This was a tough message to a Jewish audience and Paul thoroughly had gone through it with them and with us, the reader. Righteousness is shown to not be a new doctrine, but that Abraham's faith was based on righteousness. The Jew hears that the things they thought were pillars of their beliefs, carrying the law, circumcision, works don't in fact make one justified. God's righteousness is then demonstrated in the life of the believer with the Power of the Spirit. We are adopted family members and we are sanctified after salvation through the fulfillment of the Law by the Power of the Spirit in our lives.

Then in Chapter 9 Paul reminds us that the basis of our salvation is God's choosing. But, God is not random. He has purpose. He doesn't choose people for hell. People choose to not go in the path of God. God calls them through His divine providence. God is just.

Zeal Without Knowledge
At the end of chapter 9 we are reminded that Israel seeks righteousness by works. They pursue a law of righteousness. They don't focus on faith. Jesus rather than being the stone that saves them is a stone of stumbling. Once again, Paul shows us the prophecy from Isaiah of this truth.

In Chapter 10, Paul reiterates that his desire is for their salvation. He can see their zeal for God, but they lack the correct understanding.

I'm always struggling sometimes what to pray specifically for those that are unbelievers or I see don't know Christ as Savior and Lord. Verse 1 of chapter 10 could be a fitting prayer. "My heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation."  It is fitting and to the point.

Verse 2 of chapter 10 is such a clear and haunting verse, really. It states, "for I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge." Perhaps this is a telling verse about people that appear on the surface to have a zeal for God, but are not following God in the manner in which God prescribed. They don't have an accurate understanding of what it is they need to do or be.

And verse 3 clarifies, as is Paul's custom. People "establish their own" means of getting God's righteousness. Rather than submitting to God's way of faith (9:32 - "they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.") they instead come up with their own way of seeking after God. They go about it selfishly, thinking that it is by their own effort.

Verse 3 is haunting, "For not knowing." That's where we come in as his vessels. Telling the masses. Telling the individual. They don't know. We must tell them it is by faith. People have a conscience, yes. That was reminded of us in chapter 2. People have a knowledge of God. This is true. But, people don't naturally know that life with God and coming to be known as righteous is by faith.

I love these verses. 

 

Promise: People often see a Law and think that it is for keeping and this is what will make them worthy. But, the Mosaic law is to point us to our own inability to meet God's standard and then through faith in Him that He will provide the righteousness that we need before His judgment seat. Obeying the commands of our Savior is not optional. However, our good works are not the means by which we establish a right relationship with God. We do not make ourselves worthy by our obedience. We are accounted worthy of heaven only by the righteousness of Jesus, imputed to us by faith alone. --- Tabletalk, July 22, 2014

Romans 9:30-33 - The Faith of the Gentiles

Romans 9:30-33 -30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written,
     “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,
     And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Message: Faith versus works.

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Summary of Chapter 9
As I end my study of Chapter 9, I remember where I have come from in this chapter.

This chapter has been about Paul first expressing his deep love for Israel. I pray that I would always have a deep love for all people. Paul wanted the best for Israel. He wanted them to be of faith. Paul mentions in verse 3 and 4, "3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises." He is right. Adoption as sons belongs to Israel. That is not saying that they are the only ones that should be adopted, but it is saying that adoption belongs to them. They were set apart for a purpose. But, God proceeds to show that God elects and has compassion on who He wants. Being chosen by God is not based upon one's heritage or birth. People have it in their hearts a desire to not please God and turn to their own way. For those, God gives them over to their desires. But, I can also be confident that God will preserve his remnant.

A lot of things are said in this chapter of significance because we don't ever need to think that God has somehow failed.

• Verse 6 - It is not as though the Word of God has failed
• Verse 8 - Children are not children by flesh but by promise
• Verse 14 - There is no injustice with God
• Verse 16 - It depends on God who has Mercy
• Verse 17 - God's power will be demonstrated and His name will be proclaimed - It is always for God's glory. 
• Verse 20 - We are the clay, He is the potter. The potter makes the decisions. The clay doesn't ask "Why?"
• Verse 23 - God is about securing vessels of mercy. God does not create people for hell. 

I believe their are significant truths in Chapter 9. And the overriding truth is I must let God be God. God's name is honored and proclaimed on high in this chapter. God is to be trusted and His ways are always right. But, don't for a minute think that I pray less, like for the souls of others. Chapter 9 doesn't go against other commands. By reading these truths, they don't then diminish other truths. God loves people. He loves all people. But, the reality is not everyone will receive the "Word of Promise." 

Concluding thoughts 

The outline that I have been using:

1. 9:30-33 Pursuit of righteousness
1. 9:30-31 Success by faith. Failure by works.
2. 9:32-33 The stumbling stone

In these concluding thoughts of verses 30-33, I see words that are familiar. Paul is reminding us that those that attain righteousness do it by faith and not by performance. Recently, I took a moment to think about a phrase of what it means to be a new person in Christ. In these verses here is the reminder that we don't pursue God by righteousness. We don't pursue him on our own. We have faith and that is how righteousness is received. Everyone wants to be right in life, but it isn't by our doing, but by Christ's perfect doing. So I voice these thoughts:

When you look at the life of Jesus you see people that followed Him. He taught people truths. He spoke like no other person. And along the way He called out or recognized the faith that people had it in Him. Having faith in Him was significant.

He was tempted, but he did not sin. Yet, he knew he was on a mission, to the cross. He did not deserve death, but He knew He must submit to the Father because He knew it was His purpose. At the end of his time on the cross, Jesus said, "it is finished." What did, "it is finished" mean?

Remember previously, when there was sin, God demanded that a sacrifice must take place. A perfect, clean animal, such as a lamb, had to shed its blood, in order to provide a substitionary death for a person sinning in their life. To sin is to break God's laws. Sin is lawlessness. Yet, a Messiah was always promised to one day come and remove sin once and for all. The prophets always spoke of a future Messiah, such as the prophet Isaiah. This Messiah would once and for all remove the penalty of sin. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy's spoken by the prophets. Jesus is the Messiah.

It is finished meant that the sins of everyone had been paid for on the cross where Jesus died. But Jesus did not stay dead. He rose from the dead, thus conquering death. By placing your faith in Christ, you are stating that you are unable to be or become accepted by God on your own because though you do good things in life, you have sinned and therefore you are not perfect and God requires perfection or a perfect substitution for sin. No amount of obedience to the Laws of God will take away the sin you have in your life. When you place your faith in Christ, your old life or your life up to the point, this life of sin and doing things that are against God's laws and commandments, that old life of you trying to be obedient to the law, thinking that obedience will remove or make up for your sin. That old life is gone. That old life is dead. That old life is no more. Just as Christ had died on the cross and rose again, when He rose from the dead sin had been paid for and taken care of. Now, in Christ, we are, it could be said, born again. We are new. There is no longer a stain of sin on our lives. We no longer have a debt that we must pay because of the sins we have committed. Sin no longer has any reign or control over us. We are new. Glory hallelujah. This doesn't mean that we never sin again. But we have acknowledged our sin, we have confessed our sin before God and He forgives us because of the faith we have in Him. We are brand new.

If I should stand before God (though I wouldn't stand, I would fall on my face and not even be able to stand up and look up before the Almighty God, but hypothetically) and He said to me, "Chris, why should I let you into paradise or heaven?" I would not bring out my resume and point out to Him all of the things that I have done. I would not point out how I have observed His laws and commandments because no matter what I have done, the problem is I have sinned. I have lied. I have not honored God all the days of my life. I have not loved God all the days of my life. I have not respected all of His commandments all of the time. I would not boast in my own works. I would say to Him, "I have not done anything of value to earn your favor. There is nothing special about me. I have simply placed my faith and trust in what Your Son did on the cross for me. I am trusting in what Jesus has done and Him alone."

Those are some words I wrote to a lady in Florida that asked about what it means to be a new creature in Christ, that the old has gone away.  In verse 30, we are reminded that it is not through our observing or obedience that we attain something. It is through God and God alone. We have faith and then He ushers in His righteousness.

Stumbled over the stumbling stone
However, there is one phrase in verse 32 that stands out to its meaning. "They stumbled over the stumbling stone." This is interesting. Paul makes a note that people don't pursue righteousness by faith. I think it could even be said that this isn't natural. Or it doesn't become natural because of the world that we live in. Instead people think it is pursued by works. This is why evangelism is so important, to help people see that it is not by works.

And so in these verses is a great truth. People stumbled. For Paul, his readers stumbled. The obstacle in their life is pursuing God by works. This is really a key verse for so many other faiths, like Mormonism that are so quick to say that they are about faith but then set up all these works in their faith or hoops to jump through. And thus, people, start living life like it is jumping through hoops.

This too was prophesied by Isaiah. Isaiah 8:13-15, " 13 “It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. 14 “Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.” Wow, that is amazing. What a beautiful predictor of what will happen. People will stumble or the stone will strike and be received in our lives.

Psalm 118:22, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone." That's great. I now understand that verse. Some people will look at Jesus and he will be a stumbling stone and even a rock of offense (offensive), but to others Jesus will be, as it says in Isaiah 28:16, "Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed."

Promise: Take joy in looking at who Christ is and why he came. He came to save sinners.

Romans 9:27-29 - The Salvation of Israel's Remnant

Romans 9:27-29 - 27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Unlough the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; 28 for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold, “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity, We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.”

Message: The remnant remains.

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

The key word here is "remnant" in verse 27. Paul is taking a quotation from Isaiah 10:22, " For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness." However, from what I have read, Paul is not quoting from the Hebrew, but from the Greek version of this verse for the phrase, "A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness" has been excluded here by Paul. The focus though, I think Paul is making here, is that not everyone who is of Israel will return or be saved or escape judgment.

We turn our focus toward God and trust Him for outcomes. Paul is speaking to Jews though (and Gentiles) in Rome. But, I think he just wants to make another point that God chooses. God determines. God is sovereign. God knows. I don't think Paul is saying that the door is closed on the Jew or those of Israel. But, he is saying that there are some that will be saved and some that will not be saved.

In verse 28, we can also look at Isaiah 10:23 which says, "For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord God of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land."

The comfort that I can receive from all of these verses is God has a purpose. He has a plan. And I can trust Him for that plan and that purpose. God will work. He execute his plan on the earth. It is also amazing that this is seen to be thorough and quick. As I age and get older, life gets quicker. Life is on a sprint at the moment and I think it will continue.  

I need to not get focused on the outcome, but remain focused on the repentance. I need to remain focused on acknowledging my sin before God and coming before Jesus and asking forgiveness. I recognize that Jesus is the healer. He is the One. I can trust in Him. He leads me to God and takes me there by His life. That is the focus of my days. 

Promise: Through the Lord's mercy, a remnant of His followers will remain. All Sin. All Loved. All called. A remnant remains. 

Romans 9:25-26 - The People of God

Romans 9:25-26 - 25 As He says also in Hosea, “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’” 26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

Message: The People of God; The inclusion of Gentiles, declared by Hosea

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

God's calling not based upon 'into what family' a person was born
Verse 25 is a quotation from Hosea 2:23. Paul may have used Hosea because God had directed Hosea to name his children Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruhamah. These two names had special meaning. At Sinai, God covenanted with Israel for them to be His people. Gomer is the wife of Hosea and Lo-Ammi is their second son and his name means, "Not my people." Their daughter was named Lo-Ruhamah. This name means "not loved" or "Not having obtained mercy."

Hosea 2:23 states, “I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, And I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’ "

In this verse, Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruhamah are referenced. Paul is further describing to the people of Rome that God's choosing or calling will result in His people not responding and those that were not His originally people responding.

Promise: Paul once again is confirming with these people that the Lord does the calling and that calling is irrespective of whether a person is a Jew or Gentile by birth. 

Romans 9:20b-24 - The Potter and the Clay

Romans 9:20b-24 - 20b The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Message: The Potter and the Clay

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Perspective
It is true that these are difficult passages to read, study and confront. But, I read them and study them because I love God and I want to know everything about Him. And yet I understand I am a finite creature and so there are some things that may appear to not make sense, but I still study them and will trust God with their outcomes. That said, I have always kind of loved this passage of scripture. There is something comforting about the clay not telling the potter what to do. There is a Christian group called "Jars of Clay" to remind us that God is at work in our lives and we are His handiwork. The idea of a clay and potter is also about perspective. It reminds me that people have different and distinct purposes. As a person, it is very hard to not grade people in this world and think that one person is somehow more important than another. We do this rather quickly by what we pay people monetarily for the work that they do. The more power a person has, the more he gets paid. I don't think it is that we are rewarding hard work, but we are rewarding certain types of hard work. Sometimes, it is just that a person has been smart about earning money and has found a niche that needs those services or goods. But, in the family of God, we all have equal worth. We can see this because God is the one that has gifted us.

In high school and college I admired and put on a pedestal musicians. But, as I was able to then associate with them and see them up close, I began to see that they are not that much different than myself or anyone else. They simply have a gift or profession that has placed them in the limelight. The same can be said of the Mayor or a head pastor.

To be sovereign means that God has the right to do whatever He wants. And yet we can be confident that what He wants to do will always have purpose. I should not think for a moment that God's ways are random. Nor should I think that God doesn't have love for all. I think the struggle I have is why is that there seems to be few people that have this love for God. But, that could just be my perspective and how I define following Him and being a believer and disciple.

Background
Starting in verse 19, Paul is answering the question that a person may be asking and that is (verse 19), "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" The issue is one of personal responsibility. If God determines who He His has mercy upon and determines whom He will harden; if these are based upon His desire, then what is my responsibility?

At first Paul wants us to be reminded of who we are dealing with here. We are dealing with God and you don't question God. In verse 20, "Who is man to answer back to God?"

God's position further clarified
So, using the analogy of a potter and a clay, Paul helps us to understand God, as the potter, is the one to determine outcomes of faith based on the fact that He is God. This can be a hard concept or truth to accept for anyone. But, I notice that those that start with the precept that 'there is no God' then it makes this concept even harder to comprehend.

Verse 20 begins with the further clarification of verse 20, "who is man to answer back to God?" "The thing molded will not say to the molder, "why did you make me like this?"" God is God and we are not God. Don't question Him. We can seek to understand Him, but we don't shake our fist toward God.

This is a concept not new to Paul. Isaiah 29:16 states, "Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?"

I think in this process of understanding there are a couple of things we know. First of all, everyone should be condemned. When we look at the holiness of God and then we look at the sinfulness of man, we are amazed that anyone is counted as worth. Second, people have been chosen and have been set free. There are people that God brings into His fold. Third, however, why does God not bring everyone? Fourth, God's power is paramount. It is said again, repeating Romans 9:17, "God will demonstrate His power and His name will be proclaimed." So God's power is to be known and seen by all. His power is great because of unbelief.

--- Personal struggle/question
I think the struggle I continue to see is that there are many faiths that acknowledge God, but don't acknowledge Jesus in the correct way. The JW, the Catholic (some), the Mormon, the Jew, the Muslim all acknowledge God, but, for the most part, do it in an odd way. They elevate other individuals to a high level to be equal spokesman for God with those individuals in the Bible. And when they do this, the focus is not the same as the entire Bible states. They all revert to the thought that the Bible is true, as long as it is translated correctly. Christianity pretty much says the same thing. The Bible is correct, as long as it is translated correctly. So, there are differences. And each group thinks they are the correct way.

In no way do I fold all faiths nor all people of the faiths I mentioned above, just as I would not bring in all Christians. Many approach their faith for selfish gain. 

And yet, each one will have similarities of the attributes of God. Each one will probably think that God's power must be revered and His name proclaimed. That is a little bit of a struggle for me. Granted, I still believe in John 14:6 that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father, but through Him.

But, it is not just these different faiths or religions. Within Christianity there are now so many different pockets and presentations of belief. Yesterday, I was speaking with someone about Osteen and Houston (of Hillsong) and whether the prosperity gospel message could be decreased to a lesser evil as long as those people believe in justification by faith alone. As fundamental Christians, we are not just bickering with the world, the other religions, but we are also bickering with those that have similar core beliefs but then very different offshoots. I guess it's puzzling to me that we spend so much time dividing that we forget about the person that is completely foreign to faith. 

The differing vessels
Looking at verse 22 and 23 now is very interesting. I want to look at verse 22 with a couple of different versions:

• NASB - 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

I looked at a John MacArthur explanation of these verses and thought it was interesting. He reminds us that Paul is clearly voicing that God is sovereign, so keep that in mind as you try to understand these verses. What he talks about is the use of passive voice and active voice. I really appreciated reading this because I've heard those terms thrown around many times and never quite understood what they meant. In active, the subject does the acting. In passive, the subject receives the action.

He states that in verse 22, the phrase, "What if God endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?" God isn't destining a person here for hell. He does not create Judas to betray Jesus. What he says instead is that there are vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. Man turns away from God. Romans 1:21, "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him or give thanks." Man is turning away from God. The verb here is passive--prepared. God here exercises patience with the sinner. He desires the sinner to exercise repentance. The vessels, however, exercise destruction. So God does not step in and doom people to hell. He provides opportunity for repentance. He loves them. He desires to see them repent.

We are all "vessels" and we are a container for things. In these 2 verses, there are contrasting contents of these containers or vessels. Verse 22 mentions "wrath prepared for destruction." Verse 23 mentions "mercy He prepared for glory." God does not create men for destruction, but men move away from God. Men embrace sin and embrace a life where God is not on center stage.

In contract, in verse 23, the verb--prepared is now active. God is the active agent. God prepares His chosen ones for glory. In verse 22, God is not the subject doing the preparing. In verse 23, God is the subject doing the preparing. 

Habakkuk 1:13 states that "You (God) can not look at wickedness." God hates sin. Psalm 11:5 is a stark reminder that "the one who loves violence His (God) soul hates." I must be so careful as to how I often dance with sin in my life.

RC Sproul states, "The elect get grace; the non-elect get justice." In the story of Pharaoh, Pharaoh first hardened his own heart and then God hardened it. As in Romans 1, the people did not give thanks to God, so God gave them over.

Reflection on how we now define sin
I really appreciate the time at our church where we stop and consider the sin in our life. And confess it, sometimes individually, sometimes corporately. It's sad that this is so refreshing in our day and age. But, in the world in which we reside, sin is constantly being redefined as acceptable behavior. People want to think that their pleasure is acceptable in God's eyes so the Word of God is twisted and reshaped and redefined and reinterpreted so that their life choices can be validated. We live in the age of tolerance. We live in a time when safety and comfort is the highest value. It is not bad that we are hyper-sensitive to this, but in doing this we elevate it as the highest good. And God's highest good of sin is thrown by the wayside. We are so engrossed in how we affect one another that we have placed by the wayside how we affect God's justice. Everything can't be important. We must make choices.

Understanding God's call on lives
In verse 24, Paul is writing and speaking of himself and those he is writing at the church in Rome. Alongside the previous thought in verse 23 where he stated that God prepared beforehand vessels of mercy, Paul brings himself into picture, as well as the church in Rome he is writing to and states that "even us, whom He also called." We are His called out ones. This is clear. He already defined this based upon the fruit that He knew of from their lives in the chapter 1, in spreading the gospel.

Our calling is not defined because we are Jews or even because we are Gentiles. We are called by God.

Promise: God, in history, calls people and designates them.

Romans 9:19-20a - Answering Back to God

Romans 9:19-20a - 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20a On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?

Message: Answering Back to God

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
This section of scripture continues to speak of God's sovereignty and election. To be sovereign is to act according to His pleasure. Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past God chose those who will be saved. So God doesn't choose those who will have faith. He chooses those who will be saved and they then have faith.

Here is the outline I have been using from biblepilot.com:

1. 9:1-5 Anguish for Israel
1. 9:1-3 Paul’s deep love and grief (Exodus 32:32)
2. 9:4-5 Israel’s extraordinary heritage
2. 9:6-29 God’s sovereign election and mercy
1. 9:6-8 Children of the promise
2. 9:9-13 Election illustrated by Israel and Edom
3. 9:14-18 God’s purpose and mercy illustrated
1. 9:14-16 Mercy on Moses (Exodus 33:19)
2. 9:17-18 Hardened Pharaoh (Exodus 9:34 – 10:1)
4. 9:19-24 The sovereign potter’s preparation
5. 9:25-26 Inclusion of gentiles declared by Hosea
6. 9:27-29 Exclusion of Israel declared by Isaiah
3. 9:30-33 Pursuit of righteousness
1. 9:30-31 Success by faith. Failure by works.
2. 9:32-33 The stumbling stone

I have seen examples presented to show me how God is sovereign and His election is right. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Pharaoh, Moses have all shown me that God has mercy on whom He has mercy and hardens whom He desires. God has a purpose and that is all I need to know. It is for His glory, to His power, and I continue to proclaim His name.

Personal Reflection
There is something difficult about these verses. On Sunday, at our home group bible study, we talked about how we often hear from God or experience God in our life. Sometimes, there is challenge in Jesus words to us. "Come follow Me leaving father and mother" or "Go and make disciples." These are often commands and carry with them a price. They are a push to ourselves to do something. But, other times Jesus words are a comfort and remind us we are safe, such as "I will give you rest" or "I am the light of the world." And we talked about what do you need to hear more of in your life right now.

I thought that I tend to focus more on the commands. Life seems more about doing something. I often look at life and see what I need to do. And yet, in these verses, they are really more about resting in what God has done for us. He has done it all for me. I am to trust God. I can have peace that God has had mercy on me. Though I don't really comprehend how that has happened and why it has happened to me and not others I see, I can still rest in that.

And I need to rest in that. I need that reminder. I need to listen to the voices that are encouraging me. The new church we are going has fantastic worship music. All of the leaders are phenomenal, but my wife and I are actually a little partial to this female leader that plays the piano. Not sure what it is, but is is very warm and inviting and very encouraging. But, I admit, sometimes I struggle singing those songs and reflecting on what God has done. It is just hard for me at times to rest in God's promises.

A Question
So, in these verses, there is a little bit of a struggle, not so much for me, for I know my security, but for the other guy. After verse 18 which said "So then" to explain verse 17, Paul now in verse 19 uses a question that obviously comes from the reader or listener. The question seems appropriate. If God determines who he will have mercy on or harden, then what responsibility does man really have before God? But, Paul will show that God being sovereign doesn't free man then of being responsible. It doesn't free man of fault or guilt before God.

The accounts in the Old Testament are all about God finding fault with the obedience of His people. It does seem odd that there would be such a concern of disobedience from God toward His people when He has mercy and hardens who He desires. And this is a question that does not immediately have an answer from Paul. Instead he will ask more questions.

There is an answer to this question (verse 22), but for now our focus must be on God and trusting Him and believing Him.

Remember who we are dealing with
And Paul clarifies this further in verse 20, "On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?" This is important. We need to understand our place in this world. God is our maker, our creator, and the sustainer of life. He does choose us. And so God should be allowed to do what God wants to do. Surrender to him and accept His hand of providence. Don't try and take control. That's what people want over and over. They don't want to admit it. The atheist just wants control. The atheist is trying to convince us that God doesn't know what He is doing. They are looking at the outcomes of life and assuming the worst outcomes and therefore, not trusting God.

God wants me to believe Him. And then, God wants me to trust Him. I think it can be summarized like that.

It is kind of sad in life to hear of where people sit with God. I was at a sports bar the other day talking to a man that went to my alma mater. He had clearly grown up going to church and then went to a religious institution. I asked him if he went to church and his reply was, "No, I couldn't convince my wife to go after we got married." To hear those words kind of were a stinger. That there was first no value in church, but also that something must have happened for her in church. And then, for this man, that church wasn't something to fight for. That church was something that we could live without and it was really just about making a choice. When I hear that, my first impression is that these folks have something with God that is kind of small. In the words of Steve Taylor, "It's a personal thing and I find it odd You would question my believing in a personal God; I'm devout, I'm sincere, ask my mother if you doubt it;
I'm religious but I'd rather not get radical about it."

I didn't probe him further. I wanted to. I really did. But, taking that extra step and asking "why" is a hard next step for me to take. I need to take it more. But, with him, I didn't feel comfortable.

The bottom line is I am to walk through life trusting God, even if that means not understanding everything that is before me.

One of the guys from our home group said Sunday, "I'm reading the Bible right now, but nothing is coming from it." Just stay with it. Don't give up. Stay consistent. It will come alive again.

Promise: From Tabletalk, July 15, 2014, "Our most Holy creator is a God of purpose. He has reasons -- good reasons -- for everything that He does. We can be confident that the Lord's choice to save some and leave others in their sin is not made on a whim, even though He has not revealed all His reasons for choosing those who He does for redemption." 

Romans 9:17-18 - God's Will and His Mercy

Romans 9:17-18 - 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.

Message: God's Will and His Mercy

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

"For Scripture says"
Scripture here is personified. Paul is stating here that when Scripture speaks, God speaks.

"to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I raised you up"
People everywhere believe there life is in their control. Their lives are their own. But, could it be that God designates and plans what kind of a life a person will have? Did Pharaoh assume that everything he did in his monarch was by his own free choice for his own human purpose? Through Moses, Pharaoh had a divine purpose. And this purpose he wasn't even aware of.

These are powerfully strong words. God had a purpose in the life of Pharaoh. From the words of Romans 1:21, Pharaoh was a man that, "knew God, but did not honor Him. He did not give thanks to God. He became futile in his speculations. His foolish heart was darkened (hardened)." God had a purpose in Pharaoh rejecting God.

"I raised you up to demonstrate"
The Greek word is endeiknumi. It is to make known the character or significance of something by auditory, visual, gestural, linguistic means. It is to point out, to demonstrate, to put on display, to prove, to show proof, to show forth, to show oneself, to give visible proof, to show in anything and implies an appeal to facts. It is like Pharaoh is to act as an index finger in pointing to God.

I'm not sure we can really comprehend or that we even take the time to realize what is going on here. God is using a man that has no care for God. This is a man that has no desire to make God known. And takes the things of God and laughs at them and calls them no big deal. How often to we center around the pious and religious and call out that they are the ones pointing us to God.

Is it possible God is using someone like Obama for His purposes?

"to demonstrate My Power in you"
This is a quote from Exodus 9:16. This is God's purposes. It is to demonstrate His Power in us. It is to demonstrate His might, His capability, His ability, His strength. God uses all sorts of people to demonstrate His power. But, I'm not sure if that means that every person is used. Each person has a purpose and this was clearly Pharaoh's purpose.

"and that My Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth."
His power is to be known, but His name is to be proclaimed. Mark 3:13-14, when Jesus called the disciples, it is for 2 purposes. "That they might be with Him" and thus witness to His power "and that He might send them out to preach" and thus that His name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth. 

"So then He has mercy on whom He desires and He hardens whom He desires"
Paul with the words "so then" is speaking a conclusion. Paul used the words "so then" back in verse 16 so he is giving a direct conclusion simply based upon the words and message of verse 17. There is a mystery in God. We must surrender to Him and accept His hand of providence. Accept His ways. We are such creatures in that we always want an explanation. This will come out further shortly in verse 21 when Paul gives us the example of the potter and the clay. But, God has mercy on whom He desires. I can definitely see how that verse can cause problems in people's lives and specifically problems with an atheist who wants a clear cause and effect for everything in life.

There is no injustice God. What there is in God is mercy and compassion.

That mighty act of God in delivering Israel from bondage in Egypt demonstrated two great truths. He delivered Israel to exhibit His sovereign mercy on [those] whom He desires, and He raised up and destroyed Pharaoh to exhibit the corollary truth that He hardens those whom He desires. Only His divine desire determines which it will be. - preceptaustin.org

God has sovereign will and this means that God acts as He sees fit.

In Exodus, it mentions that Pharaoh's heart was hardened and it also mentions that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. There is still the free will of man. Even though we can't comprehend this with our finite minds, the two still exist. God is sovereign. Man has free will. They work in concert with one another. Again, I return to Romans 8:28 and rewrite it that "God causes all of man's free will to work together for His sovereign purpose."

Promise: It is not that God has mercy on those who He foresees will believe and hardens those who He foresees will not believe. It is not that God has a knowledge then of our free will and then makes a decision, otherwise the notion of justice is moot. We cannot locate God's reasons for election. He chooses those to whom He will show mercy and we must trust God in this.