This is the thirty-sixth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Romans. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of January 19, 2014. This message deals with God’s sovereignty to show mercy, and to create/use people as He wills. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
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SERMON NOTES:
Romans 9:14-21
v.14:
God is perfectly righteous and just, and Paul in emphatic that unrighteousness can not be found in God.
We should all be so emphatic when God’s character is questioned.
v.15:
In relation to God’s righteousness, we must understand that God has the authority to have mercy on whoever He will.
God’s granting of mercy is not arbitrary. In fact, one must ask for mercy before it will be granted.
Luke 18:10-14
v.16
God’s mercy, quite simply, is not according to our works, but His grace.
vv.17-18:
Paul does not record those texts that say that Pharaoh hardened his own heart in unbelief and rebellion. What he is emphasizing is the freedom of God’s actions in all cases.
God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart can best be related to the principle laid down in ch. 1:
In dealing with those who reject the revelation of Himself in nature and history (and in Pharaoh’s case, also in miracles). God abandons them to the consequences of their decisions.
Romans 1:21-24
v.19:
****This verse does not teach irresistible grace****
John 6:37-40
These verses imply choice.
What Paul is doing, is simply anticipating an argument that one might make.
v.20:
Still, God is sovereign, and we have no right or authority to question God.
Isaiah 45:9
We can’t blame God for our sins by saying “you made me this way”.
Sin comes only from man’s own depraved nature.
James 1:13-14
This; however, is the very excuse which is used by so many people today, and the church has not done anything to counter this attitude.
EXAMPLE: (Quote via Mark Grungor)
“It is a psychopath that walks into a school and shoots children.A psychopath is a person who “never feels guilt or shame”.
The Bible says “godly sorrow produces repentance”.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Tough to get any sorrow in many churches today when it seems that their main goal is that nobody ever feels “guilt or shame” – kind of like psychopaths.
Jesus did not say “Go and make psychopaths”, but rather disciplined followers from those who believe and repent.
Here is a radical thought: If you do something bad, you should feel bad.
Perhaps then we would see more people set free through the grace of true repentance.” -Mark Grungor
The truth is that we have all inherited a sin nature. In short, everyone is predisposed to sin. It is our nature.
God; however, excels in the supernatural. He transforms us into something different than our natural selves.
Sin might be in our nature, but it is no excuse, and we can’t lay the blame on God.
The problem is that we want Jesus to save us, but we don’t want Him to change us.
We want Jesus’ forgiveness, but not His cleansing.
It doesn’t work that way. If we aren’t willing to let let Jesus cleanse us, we can’t have any part with Him!
John 13:8
When Jesus cleans us, we should repent. He demands it!
Matthew 4:17
v.21:
God has every right to mold the clay according to His will, and that’s a good thing.
Jeremiah 18:3-6
The great thing about being the clay, is that you are in God’s ( the Potter’s) hands.
As long as you are inGod’s hands, He can continue to mold you and shape you.
He can expertly craft you until you are perfect in His eyes. Isn’t that all that really matters?
But you can’t resist His will. You have to be willing to let Him do with you as He desires.
Being a disciple of Christ is not a matter of comfort or convenience.
It’s a matter of surrender to God’s will, not your own.
Once you realize this, then you are ready to receive God’s grace.
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on January 20, 2014
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