Foundations, March 22, 2009

Sovereignty of God, March 22, 2009

[Dr. Bob Utley (Free Bible Commentaries) and Dr. Alex Tuckness
(Harvard, Cambridge, Iowa State) have been resources for this message.]
For Further Discovery
Read Romans 9:25, 26
Hosea again! Isn't it amazing that the message we studied in Hosea is revisited
in this quotation? God took those who are not his people and made them his people. It is in God's character to take those who are not his people and make them his people. He made the Jews of Abraham's faith his people, and also now in Christ, the Gentiles who believe.
Read Romans 9:27-29
When you go back to the Old Testament, you can see God's plan is a remnant. Not everyone, but those who believed in God. It makes sense now that only a few Jews believe. This vindicates God's faithfulness and trustworthiness.
Read Romans 9:30-33
The bottom line for both Jews and Gentiles, it is the same deal…faith in Jesus Christ. It is a stumbling block for those who want to be saved by works. There is a practical application here: When God gives us a mystery,
sometimes we need to hear one side more than the other. For those of us who have already trusted Christ, we need to hear: We have nothing to boast about. Our faith is something we can take credit for. God chose us when we did nothing to earn it. We need to be humble. No doctrinal pride. For those who have not yet trusted Christ, we need to hear: We are called to respond to Christ when he calls, not harden our hearts. "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden heart." (Heb. 3:15) There are a lot of people who have confidence that they are God's people, but they base it on the wrong thing. Their response is not, "Yes Lord I submit. I ask for your mercy." We cannot require God to answer twenty hard questions before trusting Christ.
The key questions are: Do I believe God knows more than me and is trustworthy?
Do I believe His word is true?