God’s Authority

Romans 9:14-33  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.  (15)  For he saith 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 him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  (17)  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  (18)  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  (19)  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  (20)  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  (21)  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  (22)  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  (23)  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,  (24)  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  (25)  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  (26)  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.  (27)  Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:  (28)  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.  (29)  And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.  (30)  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  (31)  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.  (32)  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  (33)  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

INTRODUCTION:  We as semi-righteous Christians need to know that in God NO unrighteousness exists.  None, no, not any.

              There is unrighteousness in you and I.  We are not worthy of the mercy and the “Amazing Grace” God has given us.

              If it wasn’t for the “blood” of His Only Begotten Son, we would all be heading straight to hell.  Then for those of us who now call ourselves Christians, wouldn’t be, then there would be fear in death.

I.            MERCY IS GOD’S RIGHT.                                       (vv 15-18)

              A.           His Mercy Is Doled Out At His Will.

                             1.           He has compassion on who He wills

                       

Romans 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

                             2.           Not necessarily deserving people

                                           i.            His mercy could go to a

                                                          non-Christian

                                           ii.           It could go to the most

                                                          undeserving

                             3.           God’s mercy to Israel was not because they:

                                           i.            Wanted His mercy

                                           ii.           Sought Him

                                           iii           Deserved it

                             4.           He chose them.

                                           B.           God’s Justice.                                (v 17)

                             5.           The Pharaoh is an example.

Romans 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

                                           i.            God raised up Pharaoh

                                                          a.           To do God’s Will

                                           ii.           Pharaoh was an unbeliever

                                                          a.           As was Nebuchadnezzar

                                                                        1.)          He got saved.

                                           iii.          Pharaoh was evil

                                                          a.           He was harsh

                                                          b.           He was stubborn

                                                          c.            He stood and cursed God

                                                                        1.)          As if he were face to       

                                                                                      face with God.

                                           iv.          Pharaoh heard the truth

                                                          a.           From Moses and Aaron

                                                                        1.)          He could have

                                                                                      repented and

                                                                                      accepted God.

                                                                        2.)          Nebuchadnezzar 

                                                                                      figured it out.

                                           v.           God hardened the Pharaoh’s heart

                                                          a.           Pharaoh “sowed” a hardened

                                                                        heart

                                                          b.           Pharaoh “reaped” a hardened

                                                                        heart.

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

                             2.           God allows you have your desires

                                           i.            Though the Holy Spirit, He will

                                                          attempt to direct you right.  

II.           GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO DO HIS WILL.           (vv 19-20)

              A.           We Have No Authority To Argue.

                             1.           No right to ask “Why Lord?”

                             2.           God is Supreme in Being.

              B.           God’s Authority Is:

                             1.           As the potter and clay.

                                           i.            It is the potter who controls the

                                                          clay

                                           ii.           We are as this malleable clay

                             2.           The clay exists

                                           i.            God is molding us toward Him.

                             3.           This is not creation

                                           i.            You exist

                                                          a.           Quit resisting

                                           ii.           Do His Will

Revelation 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

                             4.           His is worthy

                                           i.            Are you?

III.         GOD’S AUTHORITY ALLOWS HIM TO PUT UP WITH

              EVIL AND UNBELIEVERS.                                      (vv 22-24)

              A.           Vessels Of Wrath.

                             1.           “Fitted” for destruction.

                                           i.            Man fits himself by rejecting God

                                                          and His Son.

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

              B.           Vessels Prepared Unto Glory.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

                             1.           Both Gentile and Jew

                                           i.            The Jew first

                             2.           God shows no partiality

                                           i.            His mercy extends to all

                                                          a.           Who will accept

                             3.           God does not choose

                                           i.            Some to be righteous

                                           ii.           Some to be of the wrath

1 John 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

                                                          a.           We choose

                                                          b.           He accepts

                                                                        1.)          Based on His Will

IV.         THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.                                           (vv 25-33)

              A.           Israel Was The First Chosen.

                             1.           Like Adam

                                           i.            Became a sinner

                                                          a.           Turned their backs on God.

              B.           The Gentiles The Second Choice.

                             1.           Jesus was the second Adam

                                           i.            The Gentiles second choice.

              C.           A Remnant Of Israel Remains

                            1.           Isaiah told this prophesy

Isaiah 1:9  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

CONCLUSION:  God chose us not to replace the Jews, but to be a part.

              As a chosen group, He chose us, it is now up to you and I to choose Him.

              He has extended His “Right Hand,” Jesus The Christ, to us.  All we must do is accept His “Right Hand.”

John 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Who Art Thou?

John 1:15-34  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  (16)  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  (17)  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  (18)  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.  (19)  And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?  (20)  And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.  (21)  And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.  (22)  Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?  (23)  He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.  (24)  And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.  (25)  And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?  (26)  John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;  (27)  He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.  (28)  These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.  (29)  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  (30)  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.  (31)  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.  (32)  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.  (33)  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  (34)  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

INTRODUCTION:           Here within this text the Pharisees (v 24) are trying to determine whom John the Baptist really is. 

              They knew of Baptism, they used it to cleanse a Gentile was when they converted to Judaism.

              They expected Elijah and the other prophet Moses talked about.  It is Christ's claim of being the Messiah that sent them to question John

              John tells them he is not the Christ and that he is not Elijah.

They expected John to be the one who would bring them out from under the Roman yoke.  He was not that prophet. 

              So the question remains “Who Art Thou?”             (v 22)

I.            JOHN BARE WITNESS OF HIM.                                         (v 15)

(Luke 3:16)  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

A.            A Forerunner of Christ

(Isaiah 40:3)  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

(Isaiah 40:5)  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

                             1.           Make straight the way                                (v 23)

2.               A highway for our God

3.               The glory of the Lord

                                           i.            Shall be revealed

                             4.           All flesh shall see it

              B.           Whose Shoe Latchet                                                  (v 29)

                             1.           I am not worthy to unloose

                             2.           If John the Baptist was unworthy

                                           i.            What are we?

              C.           He Is Preferred Over Me.                                         (v 30)

                             1.           He was before me

                                           i.            First born law

II.           WHY BAPTIZE THEN, IF NOT THE CHRIST                 (v 25)

(Matthew 3:6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

(Mark 1:4)  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

              A.           Confessing Their Sins      

(Matthew 3:6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

                             1.           Repent ye           

                                           i.            Walk away from your sin

                                           ii.           Turn to God,

                             2.           Bring forth (Signs) fruits meet

                                           (Acceptable) for repentance

              B.           John Said "I Saw The Spirit"

                             1.           Descend from heaven

                                           i.            Like a dove

              C.           I Knew Him Not 

                             1.           He Baptizes with the Holy Ghost

                                               

III.         BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD.

              A.           Christ Is The Lamb of God

                             1.           As the great sacrifice

                                           i.            An atonement for our sin

                       

              B.           Christ As The Lamb of God

                             1.           Removes the sin of the world

                                           i.            For the convert

              C.           Jesus Takes Away:

                             1.           The guilt of sin

                                           i.            By his death

                             2.           The power of sin

                                           i.            By His grace

                                           ii.           Sin shall not have dominion over us.            

(Romans 6:14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

              D.           It IS Our Duty To Behold Him

                             1.           In faith see Him

                                           i.            Taking our sin away

                             2.           Do not hold fast to the sin of our past.

                                           i.            Get away from it.

                             3.           Christ will either:

                                           i.            Take our sins away or

                                           ii.           Take us away

CONCLUSION:  “Who Art Thou?”  The Pharisee’s question John the Baptist, asked “who are you?”

              My job is to ask you that same question.             Who are you? Are you a born again died     

in the wool, separated, hate sin, King James Bible believing Christian?                          Are you?

Which one of the items; do you not believe describes you? 

              Are you born again as Jesus requires in

John 3:7, …ye MUST be born again.

              Are you absolutely without any doubt saved? 

Can you go to your deathbed knowing that you are eternally secure.  John said in:

(Matthew 3:8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Can you?                           Are you as separated as you can get? 

What about the TV, movies you watch?  What about the music you listen to?                What about that sin that you haven’t dealt with?

              Do you hate sin?  You should. 

Are you doing your best via Jesus in prayer to eliminate the sin in your life?

              You see we seem to segregate ourselves from church. 

The world today wants everything their way.  What I do in my home is my personal business and has nothing to do with the church. 

              That is true, until it becomes a shame on the Body of the Church.

              You see God knows what is going on there. 

He wants it corrected, so no shame comes onto bride.  

Do you know Him?           In John verse 3:16 Jesus uses the word "Believeth" and Paul uses the word "Believe" in Romans 10:9.

We need to understand that those words require something of us.  We MUST believe, and it MUST be a sincere belief.

We MUST also understand the there are two things we MUST believe.

              1.           We MUST believe Jesus is the Son of God.

              2.           We MUST believe we each are sinners.

Without this understanding salvation cannot happen.

              Once we have accepted Jesus and do understand that we are a sinner, then and only then can we look to God for acceptance.

(Romans 10:9)      (Romans 10:13) 

So what are you going to do?         Accept Him now, step boldly forward, come to the altar                     Ask Jesus to accept you just as you are.

Then thank Him for accepting you.              Then ask Him to forgive you of your sins. (And mean it)