ROMANS 9:13-21

Sunday Morning:  August 20, 2006

Text:  Romans 9:13-21  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  14  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 dishonor?

IS GOD UNRIGHTEOUS TO DO THIS? NO!

Romans 9:13-14  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS

Psalms 145:17  The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

ISN’T IT LAWFUL FOR ME?

Matthew 20:15-16  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?  16  So the last (younger) shall be first (first born), and the first (firstborn) last (younger): for many be called, but few chosen [elect, called out].

 YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not . . . ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought [redeemed, Re 5:9] with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

I WILL PROMOTE WHOM I CHOOSE

Romans 9:15  For he saith to Moses (Ex 33:19), I will have mercy on whom (I choose) I will have mercy [pity], and I will have compassion [only here in the NT] on whom (I choose) I will have compassion. (in promotion)

PROMOTION COMES FROM GOD

Psalms 75:6-7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

HE RAISETH UP

Psalms 113:7-8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;  8  That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

WE CAN NOT FORCE GOD

Romans 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

I HAVE CHOSEN YOU

John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

HARDENED FOR HIS PURPOSE

Romans 9:17  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. (includes the world, Israel)

 GOD’S PURPOSE WAS ACCOMPLISHED

Joshua 2:9-11  And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  10  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  11  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. (Rahab believed in the God)

NOT FOR COMMON SALVATION

Romans 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

THE LORD IS GOOD TO ALL

Psalms 145:8-9  The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  9  The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

GOD WOULD HAVE ALL TO BE SAVED

1 Timothy 2:4  Who will [present active, desires] have all men to be saved [aorist passive infinitive], and to come unto the knowledge [epignwsiv, experiential knowledge] of the (no article) truth.

DO NOT RESIST HIS WILL

Romans 9:19-20  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?

 ANNUL HIS JUDGMENT?

Job 40:8  Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

HIS JUDGMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUS

Psalms 19:9-10  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  10  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

THE POTTER HAS THE POWER

Romans 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor?

THE FATHER IS THE POTTER

Isaiah 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

WHAT HE DESIRES HE DOES

Job 23:13-14  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

WHAT HE DOES WILL STAND

Ecclesiastes 3:14  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

IT SHALL COME TO PASS

Isaiah 14:24  The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

WHO SHALL DISANNUL WHAT IS PURPOSED

Isaiah 14:27  For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE

Isaiah 46:10-11  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:  11  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

VESSELS OF HONOR RULE

2 Timothy 2:19-22  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour (Jacob), and some to dishonor (Esau).  21  If a man therefore purge himself from these (lusts), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.  22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.