God's Sovereign Choice Part 5
Salvation is of the Lord • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Introduction:
I have a measure of appreciation for what most modern day synergist are attempting and desiring to do.
The problem is not with their desire, for I am sure that it is a noble desire.
My problem is, of course, of a theological and biblical level.
Because at the end of the day, they are trying to create a God that is comfortable to them, one that they can feel good about.
But the Lord has already said:
These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
God is not like us and any thoughts that we have about who God is need to come directly from the Scriptures, not our own thinking.
There are some things that we read in the Scriptures about God, that, if we left them to our conception of who God is would seem to be a tab bit harsh or brutish even.
Many within the Church want to think of an omni-benevolent God that caresses everyone equally and loved everyone equally and attempts to bring to repentance all men equally.
But such is not the case.
Are you ready to say that when God commanded the Israelites to go and commit genecide of the Moabites, that He loved them equally the same way that He loved the people of Israel?
Or how about when God told them to completely destroy the Canantites, did He love them equally to the way that He loved the people of Israel.
Some will say, “Oh, but that was the God of the OT, now we have the God of the NT.”
But wait a minute, so the God of the OT is different than the God of the NT?
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
So, since we know that the Lord never changes the God of the OT is the same God of the NT.
So, since God showed particular love in the OT there is no reason for us to think that He does not show particular love in the NT and has every right to do it.
The synergist, I do not believe, knows how to get around and the truth that is contained in that chapter.
So what they attempt to do, as we have seen, is to create a picture of a national chapter instead of an individual chapter.
The problem with that picture is, first of all not Scriptural, but it is also does not make a difference.
Let me explain why, as we have seen before.
Even if this was a national context that does not accomplish what the synergist is trying to accomplish; that is, trying to create a God that does not condemn individuals but only nations.
But that only exasperates their problem; because are not nations made up of individual people?
This chapter is packed with truth and admittedly some of it hard truth.
It is hard to read:
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.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Romans 9:18
And Paul was no different than we are in the objections that he heard.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
In other words, the objector will say, “well, if it is God that does the hardening and softening, and he determines that He is going to harden someone, they how can God hold someone responsible for the thing that He has already determined is going to happen”.
Perhaps you have heard that same kind of objection.
Paul’s answer was simple and to the point.
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?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
In other words, we do not have the right to question why God chooses to do what He does.
He alone has the right to do what He wants to do and does not have to offer a reason why.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
In other words, Job when you have done all of this, then you may have the right to question why I do the things that I do, but until then…shut up!!!
Listen, it also comes back to God.
Think about this.
Since God has exhaustive knowledge of the future and (if the synergistic position is true) since He knows who will and will not of their own autonomous free will choose Him and since He knows the billions of people that will not choose Him and died a Christ-less death; if He were omni-benevolent, should we not therefore conclude that it would have been more loving for God to have not created Him?
As we look prepare to look at a couple of other verses in this text, I want to give you a couple of verses that the synergist always seems to go to.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Over the years, I have heard a lot of preaching and I heard a lot of preaching by synergists; and the interesting thing is that when that verse is quoted as a proof that God desires that everyone be saved, not one time have that verse quoted in its entirety.
All I ever hear quoted is the last part of the verse, because if the first part of the verse was quoted then it would destroy their theology because the first part of the verse sets the context.
The “us” that Peter is referring to are believers; this verse does not have a universal context, but its context is believers.
These believers were being told that Jesus had already returned and His promises for them were not true and Peter is saying, “No, God has not forgotten God has not forgotten His promise to you. He has not returned yet, because He willed that you be saved and He could not return until all of His church age people have come to Him”.
Another verse that I want to bring to your attention that I have heard, not too often but I have heard it, being used as some kind of proof for universal atonement.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Again, only the last half of the verse is usual given.
The problem is that when you have someone just quote that part of the verse, then it makes the hearers (if they do not know better) think that God offers saving Grace to everyone single person without exception and it is up to their free will to receive it.
The problem is that that verse is not at all in the right context as to make it try and say that.
In fact, I would say that saving grace is not in view in this verse at all; I would say by the context that it is sanctifying Grace that is in view here.
Paul is saying do not think more of yourself than ought to, if your life is more of living sacrifice than others, because it is God that gives us the grace to be any kind of living sacrifice at all and nothin in ourselves.
You always have to examine these verses in their context.
But in the time that we have left, I want to move on to a another thought in our text.
Let me remind you of where we have been by our outline.
I. Paul’s Passion (vs. 1-5)
II. Paul’s Proclamation (vs. 6-8)
III. God’s Prerogative (vs. 9-29)
One of the text questions that normally come out of this discussion is, “what is God’s purpose then for the non-elect?”
That is a fair question and Paul gives us a little insight into that question in our text with the next verses.
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:
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Why does God allow evil people and an evil world exist?
First, understand that the word “willing” is the Greek word “θέλω” and does not mean indifferent or helpless acquiescence but it means a determined purpose.
God determined to allow sin in His creation and sinful people because it gives Him an opportunity to demonstrate His wrath.
We must understand that God is glorified in displaying His wrath, just as surely as He is in demonstrating His grace.
The reason is because both of these attributes, along with all of His others, comprise His divine nature and character.
Even God’s anger, vengeance, and retribution poured out on sinners are glorious, because they display His majestic holiness.
Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Second Anticipated Question Answered
Second, God allowed sin to enter the world in order to make His power known. His power is manifested in His judgment and punishment of sin. The vivid and sobering events found in the closing chapters of Revelation depict God’s ultimate judgmental wrath. The plagues, the fiery judgment, and all the other curses of the apocalypse leave no doubt that the Lord will judge and remove all sin and sinners from the earth before He establishes His millennial kingdom
Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Second Anticipated Question Answered
God’s power, originally displayed in creation, will be equally glorious in destruction. It will be awesomely manifested in His vengeful, but wholly righteous and justified, conquest of all enemies who would attempt to conquer Him.
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:
Notice, that the text says that God will make His power known on vessels that are fitted (lit. prepared) for destruction.
The word for “fitted” is “καταρτίζω” and is a Perfect, Passive”.
We need to go a little deeper at this point and we will see this next week.