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: