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Sovereignty, Justice, Faith and Fairness Romans 9-11 |
October 10, 2004 Pastor Tom Marcum |
One of life's immutable realities is that our experiences of great joy and gladness are oftentimes tempered by an underlying element of sadness and sorrow.
--Parents bursting with pride and joy as they watch their son's graduation from boot camp are also keenly aware of the ache in their heart as they contemplate the possibility of their son going to war.
--A young bride marries the love of her life but the joy that she's feeling on her wedding day is tinged with sadness because the long anticipated walk down the aisle with her father didn't happen because he died unexpectedly just a few weeks earlier.
It's just the way life is. Oftentimes we celebrate the great experiences of our lives in the shadow of sadness and sorrow.
And that's the dynamic that we see at work as we make the transition from chapter 8 to chapter 9 in our journey through the book of Romans. If you'll recall, when we left chapter 8 we were standing on the mountaintop of joy as Paul ended the chapter with these powerful words of hope and confidence:
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) What an incredible word of assurance. There is absolutely nothing that can separate God's children from God's love!
And from that mountain peak of joy we move to chapter 9 and Paul immediately plunges us into the depths of the valley of sadness, writing, "I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart." (Romans 9:1-2)
Just two verses earlier Paul told us that nothing, "in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." And now he's telling us that his heart is filled with "great sorrow and unceasing anguish."
How can both realities be true? How is it possible for Paul to be completely secure in "the love of Christ Jesus" and at the very same time torn up with sorrow and anguish?
Paul answers those questions in the verses that follow. His sorrow and heartache are not for himself. His sorrow and heartache is for his Jewish brothers and sisters who were given every possible advantage by God and yet still chose to reject Jesus as their Lord and their Savior.
Writing in verses 3-5 he says, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen."
The depth of Paul's love for his fellow Jews is evident from the intensity of his anguish over their condition. But in spite of his obvious love for his Jewish brethren, his primary assertion was highly offensive to them…and it remains offensive to them to this very day-namely, that simply being born a Jew does not guarantee that you will be saved. In other words, you can be Jewish and still be lost.
The very notion was outrageously offensive to the Jews first because they considered their salvation to be a birthright and second because suggesting that God would not save some of His own people seemed to call the very character of God into question. So, what we find, in chapters 9-11 is, in essence, Paul's defense of the character of God.
Now, before we move into these chapters I want to offer a brief word of explanation about the approach I'm taking with this text. Since most of the ideas presented in chapters 9-11 have been presented in one form or another in the previous chapters, we're going to look at key points from all 3 of these chapters this morning. So, we're going to be covering a lot of ground today and if you've been with us since the beginning of this journey nine months ago you know that that's a major departure from our typical verse-by-verse analysis of the text. Now, then, let's dive in.
Objection -- God Has Failed; Response -- Faith, not Bloodline
As we move to verse 6 we see that Paul anticipates that some are going to raise the following objection, namely, that if some of the Jews are not saved then obviously God has failed. If God can't even get all of His own people saved, then God is weak at best or untrustworthy at worst. Paul offers a two-fold response to this objection.
The first part of his response is seen in verse 6 where he draws upon the life of Abraham. He writes, "It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." And he continues in verse 8 saying, "In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring."
Paul's point is that God has always distinguished between those who are Jews physically…in other words by birth…and those who are Jews spiritually…in other words by faith. Paul had addressed this idea earlier when he wrote in Romans 2:28-29, "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code."
So, Paul's first defense of God's character is rooted in the fact that the scriptures have never taught that getting right with God is the result of having the right kind of blood line, rather, getting right with God has always been about having the right kind of heart. As long as we think that salvation is something we can earn through our own effort or something we deserve because of our cultural heritage we'll never be saved. Only when we come to God in faith, acknowledging that our only hope for salvation is for Him to do for us what we could never do for ourselves, namely, change the very nature of our hearts, only then can we be saved. Consequently, the fact that some Jews will not be saved because they are trying to claim salvation on their terms rather than God's terms does not in any way mean that God has somehow failed.
Objection -- God Has Failed; Response-Election
Now, as we move forward in the text we find the second part of Paul's response to this objection that God has somehow failed by not saving all of the Jewish people. And his response stretches the very limits of our human understanding as he once again draws us into a discussion about God's election, God's calling and God's sovereignty. Now, before we move ahead, let me offer a very brief, summary definition to help us get a handle on each of these enormously complex concepts.
In brief, the concept of election means that before time had even begun God had already identified those who would be included in His family. Before any of us were even born, God already knew which of us would ultimately become His children.
Then, as history began to unfold God began calling His children and one by one they…we…responded in faith to His call. God called, we said, "yes" and the call of God awakened us spiritually. We became spiritually alive.
And while the natural, human response to these mind-boggling concepts of election and God's calling some and not calling others is to cry foul and accuse God of being unfair, the biblical explanation is the assertion that God is sovereign. And that means that God is free to do whatever He chooses and that He is in no way accountable for His choices to either you or me.
Now, with that very brief explanation to guide us let's look at Paul's second response. Paul built his first response around the well-known example of Abraham. Now, he builds his second response around the equally well-known example of Jacob and Esau.
In verses 10-13 he writes, "Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls-she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'"
Now, folks, don't get thrown off course by that last statement about God loving Jacob and hating Esau. That's not to be taken literally. Paul was simply using a common Jewish idiom to make a strong point by drawing a stark contrast. The point that Paul is making is that God's choice of Jacob over Esau had nothing to do with Jacob's superior bloodlines…after all, they were twins…and, it had nothing to do with Jacob's superior morals or behavior, since the choice was made before they were even born, as the text says, "before they had done anything good or bad." The point is that God in His sovereignty chose Jacob over Esau because this was the choice that best served His purposes. Case closed.
Objection -- God is Unfair; Response -- Sovereignty
Now, obviously, this is not the kind of response that sits well with us. It's also not a very satisfying response. We want more details. We want more information. In fact, the human ego being what it is, we think we deserve more information. And Paul knows this. Paul recognizes that this is going to be a very hard lesson for us to accept so he anticipates and answers another objection. In verses 14-16 he writes, "What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
So the objection that's being raised is this, "If God calls some and doesn't call others, doesn't that mean that God is being unfair or unjust?" And, Paul's response to the objection is basically this, "To even suggest that God could in any way be unjust is patently ludicrous. God cannot be untrue to His character. Election doesn't in any way mean that God is being unfair. He's just exercising His sovereignty."
But, again, while Paul's remarks are obviously true he realizes that we are not likely to be satisfied with his response. Like little children crying, "But why? But why?," as they argue with their parents over a decision they don't like or understand, Paul knows that we are likely to keep pressing God for a more detailed explanation of the reasons behind His actions. So, it's at this point that Paul takes off the gloves and hits us between the eyes with a stunningly harsh question asking, in verse 20, "Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?"
It reminds of the many times I was in the middle of an argument with my parents when they dropped this bomb, "As long as you live in this house…" It immediately brought the argument to an end and did so with great clarity. And that's exactly what Paul has done, here.
"Who are you to talk back to God?" In other words, "Do you really think that you're in a position to second-guess the judgment of God? The truth is that God's ways are always best and God's decisions are always right. And the next time that you realize that there's something about God's ways or decisions that you don't understand, instead of questioning the character of God you'd be wise to accept your lack of understanding as a gentle reminder that God is God and you are not."
Folks, we are foolish to imagine that we will ever be able to completely understand everything about God. I love what one commentary said about this. It said that if you ever come to the place where you think you have God completely figured out…you've solved all the mysteries and answered all the questions…you've got no more doubts or uncertainties about any aspect of who God is and how He operates. The commentator said that if you ever get to that point then you need to immediately drop the concept of the Trinity and add your name to the list. "Father, Son, Holy Spirit and Bill." Folks, how foolish it would be to think that we could ever completely comprehend Almighty God.
In Isaiah 55:9 God says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." There are certain aspects of God's ways that are simply beyond our human capacity to comprehend. Consequently, it is critically important for us to think very carefully about how we're going to respond when it happens.
So, let me tell you my solution. A long time ago I decided that anytime I encounter something in God's word that is just beyond my limited, human ability to fully comprehend…like this whole notion of election, for instance…anytime that happens I just assume that the problem is mine and not God's. I don't try to twist God's word to make it fit comfortably with my positions. I just accept God's word as truth and then I try to live my life accordingly. And I take great comfort in knowing that while I may not always understand God's ways I know that His character is good and He will always act in ways that are consistent with His character.
Man's Responsibility
So, now that Paul has introduced the mind-numbing concept of election and shown that election does not in any way mean that God is acting in an unjust way toward us, Paul uses chapter 10 to help us avoid the critical mistake of thinking that election somehow means that we have no responsibility in the salvation process. In fact, the consistent teaching of the Scriptures is that God doesn't force anyone to be saved against their will. Rather, salvation comes to those who respond in faith when God calls.
And that's precisely Paul's point in Romans 10:9-13 where he writes, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Romans 10:9-13)
Folks, listen very carefully. God does not have multiple plans of salvation. Everyone is saved in exactly the same way-by responding in faith to the call of God. And the substance of the faith that saves is built on these two foundations.
First, saving faith is built on the confession that Jesus is Lord. Now, let's be real clear about what that means. To confess Jesus as Lord is to acknowledge that God's Son, Jesus Christ, is the unquestioned, absolute ruling authority in your life. It is to acknowledge that Jesus has full authority to guide your life as He sees fit and to acknowledge that your mission in life is to follow His leadership wherever it may take you.
Second, saving faith is also built upon the belief that God raised Jesus from the dead. That God literally acted supernaturally in history to bring His crucified Son back to life. And the belief in the literal resurrection of Jesus is critical to salvation because God's resurrection of Jesus proves decisively that Jesus was not just another in a long line of moral teachers. The resurrection proves that Jesus is nothing less than the Son of the Living God.
Folks, election aside, our responsibility in the salvation process could not be clearer. If you confess that Jesus is Lord; if you believe that God raised Him from the dead YOU WILL BE SAVED! EVRYONE who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
A Christian Response to the Jews
Finally, now, in chapter 11 Paul wraps up his discussion with a message of hope for the Jews and an evangelistic appeal to Christians.
In verse 1 Paul writes, "I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!" The Jews have always had a unique place in God's heart and, to this very day, God has not given up on them. The passionate desire of God's heart is to see the Jewish people respond in faith to His call and be saved.
Then, in verses 13-14 Paul turns his attention to Gentile Christians and writes, "I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them." Here's the point-God's great desire is that non-believing Jews would be moved to place their faith in Jesus because of the authentic expressions of faith that they see in the lives of believing Gentiles like you and me. God's desire is that we would live such attractive, loving, gracious, genuine and appealing Christian lives that our Jewish friends and neighbors would be moved to place their faith in Jesus because of what they see in us.
Folks, to live each day with the sure and certain confidence that you are absolutely, totally and eternally secure in the love of God ought to fill our hearts with so much joy that we cannot possibly contain it. At the same time, to live each day with friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers who remain untouched by the love of God ought to break our hearts. That's the dilemma that Paul has been wrestling with in these three chapters and it's our dilemma as well.
So, it seems to me that we have 2 options available to us.
Option #1 is that we can be so overwhelmed with sorrow over those who don't know that Lord that we allow ourselves to be utterly filled with sadness and grief and go around weeping and crying all the time.
Option #2 is that we can let the love of God in us so transform our lives that it flows through us constantly, spilling out onto everyone we get close to, so that our unsaved friends long to have for themselves what they see in us.
I don't know about you, but I'm going with Option #2. My prayer…my hope…is PVBC will be a church filled with Option #2 Christians.
© Copyright 2004 Pastor Tom Marcum