Lesson 6
Trapped by God’s Sovereign Choice (Romans 9)
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Lesson Theme: God is Sovereign to do as He Wills
Lesson Objective: To understand God’s Sovereignty
Question: What is Sovereignty?
Answer: Supreme independence and authority to do as one pleases: accountable to no one but themselves
Sovereignty is still an unsolved mystery of scripture – not that there is any question that God is sovereign, but just what exactly does that mean? There is huge theological diversity as to the meaning and extent of God’s Sovereignty. In general, though, there is agreement regarding the three primary areas of his sovereignty
Three areas of God’s Sovereignty
I. Creation
God has repeatedly demonstrated his sovereignty over creation
What are some examples?
II. Human History
God has repeatedly intervened in human history in order to accomplish his purposes
What are some examples?
III. Redemption
Perhaps the area of greatest debate, how much sovereignty does God have – or rather how much Sovereignty does God exercise – in the area of salvation
Six issues that are apparently at odds with God’s Sovereignty
· Evil - If God is sovereign, isn’t he responsible for evil?
· Free Will - If God is sovereign, how can I have free will if God can over rule my will at his discretion?
· Universal availability of salvation - If God is sovereign, can he not simply decide that I can’t be saved
· Human Responsibility - How can I be responsible for my actions if God can make me do what he wants me to do?
· Evangelism - If God is directing the course of history, then what purposes does evangelism serve?
· Prayer - If God is independent and not accountable to me and does what he wills and chooses to do, what purpose does prayer serve?
The Old Covenant was being replaced with a New Covenant… what did that mean? Did it mean that God’s plan for the Israelites failed? Is God somehow flawed because Israel, God’s chosen people, rejected his plan?
Paul’s answer is “Absolutely not” – God is doing everything exactly according to his plan – we just didn’t really understand that plan correctly.
So Paul transitions his discussion now to say that God was Sovereign in his election of the people of Israel.
I. God Sovereign election of Israel
Question: Why was Israel chosen?
A. Israel was chosen to bring about redemptive history (Romans 9:1-5)
1. Adoption as Sons
2. The Divine Glory (God chose to manifest himself in their presence)
3. The Covenants
4. The Receipt of the Law
5. The Temple Worship
6. The Promises (of the Messiah)
1. Including Christ’s lineage from the Patriarchs
Paul then makes an astounding pronouncement that ultimately has far reaching ramifications for the entire world. (Romans 9:6)
Not all descendants of Jacob belong to Israel…
B. Not all Abraham’s children were chosen (Romans 9:7-9)
1. Isaac was the child of promise
2. Ishamael was the child of the flesh
Ishmael had 12 sons like Jacob, who became 12 tribes like Israel
3. Abraham had many other children (Genesis 25:1-5)
Of all of Abraham’s children, only Isaac was the child of the promise
C. Not all Isaac’s children were chosen (Romans 9:10-13)
1. Jacob was chosen; Esau was rejected
2. Based on God’s choice; not merit (Malachi 1:2-3)
“Jacob I loved”
“Esau I hated”
The passage referenced in Malachi deals with God’s acceptance of Jacob and rejection of Esau as figurative representatives of nations – not individuals… God was not choosing Jacob for salvation and Esau for judgment, God was choosing Jacob to be the bearer of his covenant and rejecting Esau as the bearer of that covenant.
Just as God, in his sovereignty can choose whomever he wants, he can also reject whomever he wants. Although it may seem like it to us, this is not injustice. (Read Romans 9:14)
II. God’s Sovereign Rejection of Pharaoh (Romans 9:15-18)
A. God hardened him for a purpose
B. God never hardens anyone who hasn’t already hardened themselves
God knew in advance that Pharaoh would not submit and that God did not harden his heart until after Pharaoh had said “no” twice.
Where does that leave us? Why are we then held accountable? Now we can see the Trap of God’s Sovereignty
III. God’s Sovereignty does not excuse us (Romans 9:19-24)
In His Sovereignty, God created each of us for the purpose he created us
Note: Vs. 22: What if God… Not a statement that God did, but a “what if” statement regarding God’s Sovereign ability.
1. What if: Some were prepared in advance for wrath (9:22)
1. To make His power known
2. What if: Some were prepared in advance for glory (9:23)
1. To make His mercy known
These statements are hypothetical, not normative. At most, there may be some cases where God acts in this manner, but God does not always act in this manner. In what manner did God act? Thus, the question of predestination unto salvation.
Five “Official” Views on Predestination
1. God’s Choice – God determines who is, and is not, saved (Calvinist) (see Acts 13:48)
The Calvinistic view has other facets as well, including the fact that if God chooses you to be saved, you cannot say “no” (Irresistible Grace)
2. God’s Foreknowledge of Man’s Choice – God has infinite Foreknowledge of his creation (Arminian) (see Romans 8:29 and 10:13)
The arminian view has other facets as well, including the possibility of the loss of salvation, which we saw last week is just not possible.
3. Open Theism – Man has a choice and God does not know what that choice will be (does not have perfect knowledge of the future)
I personally believe this view is heretical…
4. Double Predestination – individuals are either predetermined for heaven or predetermined for hell (Romans 9)
Many people use Romans chapter 9 as a proof text for this view. In my opinion, it is a very bad interpretation of this chapter.
5. Hard Determinism – Every breath and action, including evil, is determined by God (we are essentially automotons) (see Psalm 139)
Additional possibilities…
6. Predestination applies to the group as a whole based upon those who believe, not individuals (Predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, Predestined to be adopted as heirs, etc.)
7. “Elect” are a subset of all believers and are predestined; other believers are added based upon belief (Ephesians 1)
8. Predestination is a mystery we do not understand
1. God’s Sovereign Action plus
2. Our Faithful Response
Predestination is not a new concept nor is it a new problem amongst Judeo-Christian believers
During Jesus’ time:
· Sadducees believed in man’s free will and responsibility (almost Open Theism)
· Pharisees believed in a balance between God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility
· Essenes believed in hard determinism
During the early church:
· Augustine believed in predestination, but it is unclear whether or not he believed in hard determinism
· Pelagius believed in complete free will of man (no original sin) and the ability of man to choose to live a perfect life
What conclusion then, did Paul draw from this?
IV. Paul’s Conclusion Regarding God’s Sovereignty
A. In his Sovereignty, God has called the elect based on Faith (Romans 9:24-29)
1. Not just Jews, Gentiles as well
2. Such was always God’s plan
1. Hosea
2. Isaiah
B. In his Sovereignty, God has rejected the condemned for unbelief (Romans 9:30-33)
1. Not just Gentiles, Jews as well
My conclusion regarding God’s Sovereignty and Romans Chapter 9.
God is Sovereign. He can choose to save us or condemn us at his own pleasure for his own purposes. It may offend my sense of fair play, but in the end, who am I to be offended by any action taken by a Sovereign God?
On the other hand, God has made clear, that righteousness comes by faith. Therefore, the elect believe; the condemned do not. Is this a result of God’s Sovereign action or the result of our faithful response to the gospel or somehow both? Does it really matter? It is irrelevant to our responsibility to respond to God in faith.
