Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Work in the World

God created Adam and Eve with the moral capacity to choose Him and glory, and they chose otherwise (; )

God enslaved all men to a dark mind and an evil heart, so that in themselves they cannot do good – by good I mean image the glory of God the activity for which they were created (, ).

God’s wrath and justice abide on all men (, , ; ).

God in mercy has chosen to save for himself a people so that His glorious grace and mercy might be known among the nations ()

God distributes his mercy through free and sovereign election so that no one might boast before God and man.

(, ; ; )

God brings into glory all those whom He elects ()

God’s Goodness in All He Does

Good is a relative term and the standard by which it is measured must be defined.

We will look at four different ways in which God is Good.

God is good in that He is wise

Wisdom is knowledge applied to the right end.

– Jerry Bridges

Wisdom is the ability to discern both the best end and also the best actions to achieve it.

– Daniel Barta

1) His End | Glory to His Name

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34  “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

35  “Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever.

Amen.

2) His Plan| Salvation by Grace

2) His Plan| Salvation by Grace

22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.

23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them.

And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

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2) His Plan| Salvation by Grace

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

His Plan| Salvation by Grace

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

(See | “Chosen by Grace”)

(See | “Chosen by Grace”)

(See | “Chosen by Grace”)

(See | “To the praise of His glorious grace”)

3) His Method | Election of Sinners

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

But “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

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(See )

God is good in that He is capable

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

I am God, and there is none like me,

10  declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring… -

God is Good in that He is just

God is Good in that He is just

(See )

14 What shall we say then?

Is there injustice on God’s part?

By no means!

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault?

For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

14 What shall we say then?

Is there injustice on God’s part?

By no means!

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

(See )

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault?

For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles.

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(See )

God is good in that He is satisfying

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34  “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

35  “Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever.

Amen.

(See also )