The Freedom of God’s Will | A Verse by Verse Exposition of Romans 9:8-13

Scripture

• Romans 9:8–13

About this sermon

Introduction: A theodicy is a defense of God’s actions. The claim is that God has done something wrong. The claim is that God has done something that does not add up to good or does not add up to justice. A theodicy is an answer to such a claim. It is a vindication of God’s character. It is a demonstration, a defense, that shows that the claim is false. Romans chapter 9 represents such a defense. Paul raises a question (has the Word of God failed), answers the question, and then anticipates a false claim based on a true answer, and then answers that false claim with a defense of God’s character. HE DOES NOT DO THIS OUT OF ACADEMIC INTEREST. This is not just theoretical for Paul. These are the very questions, and objections, and accusations, that Paul dealt with in his ministry. And as I look at this theodicy, a couple of things stand out to me at the very outset. One of these I have mentioned many times before, but it bears repeating. WE WILL MEET WITH THE SAME OBJECTIONS PAUL MET WITH IF WE PREACH THE SAME MESSAGE This is something that is very instructive, and I think obvious. If you take the Arminian position with respect to man’s ability or inability in sin, and God’s sovereignty in salvation, you will NEVER meet with the objections that Paul met with. But if you preach the truths recognized by a reformed soteriology (the truths of election, predestination, effectual calling, etc.), it is THEN that you meet WITH THE VERY SAME OBJECTIONS PAUL HAD TO ANSWER. It seems to me that this is one way that you can test your ministry, and your doctrine, against the New Testament standard. Do I meet with the same enemies? Do I meet with the same agitation? Do I meet with the same objections? But the second thing that stands out to me, and again, is VERY instructive, has to do with Paul’s defense of God on the question of sovereignty versus an Arminian defense of God on the same question. WE WILL DEFEND GOD’S CHARACTER IN THE SAME WAY PAUL DID IF WE ARE PREACHING THE SAME MESSAGE We will see, when get to verse 14, that the question of JUSTICE is raised based upon God’s CHOICES. Are God’s electing purposes somehow unfair? The Arminian defense of God says that the problem is one of misunderstanding God’s sovereignty. What we are missing, they say, is that God’s choices are only reflective of man’s choices. The Arminian defense of God is one that makes God just by MAGNIFYING MAN’S FREEDOM OF CHOICE. All God does is simply affirm man’s choice. This is true with salvation; this is true with reprobation. God looked down through the corridors of time and chose those whom He knew would respond positively to Jesus — to the gospel. God chooses those who choose themselves. God chooses those who make the right choice. NOW, SOMETIMES, THOSE WHO ARGUE LIKE THIS WILL DO SO INDIRECTLY. That is, they will say that this entire chapter is misunderstood because it has nothing to do with the individual salvation of sinners. This chapter, they say, has to do with choices made regarding nations. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL SALVATION, it is the matter of man’s choice that is determinative in the final analysis. If a person is saved, yes, Jesus did all the work, but it was the man himself who was responsible to choose Jesus, and his choice is not explained by a predetermination on God’s part. In whatever way you explain the salvation of a sinner, you do not explain it in terms of a sovereign, free, choice on God’s part. And the same is true with reprobation. God has nothing to do with making a choice that in any way determined the lost man’s future. GOD IS DEFENDED ON THE GROUNDS OF MAN’S FREEDOM OF CHOICE! BUT WHAT WE FIND IN ROMANS 9 IS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THAT! What Paul magnifies in these verses is NOT MAN’S FREEDOM OF CHOICE, BUT GOD’S FREEDOM OF CHOICE. At every point, what the apostle is fighting for, is the CREATOR’S RIGHT TO DO, WITH WHAT HE MADE AND WHAT HE OWNS, EXACTLY WHAT HE CHOOSES. And even though Paul takes up the matter of God’s choices regarding nations or peoples, the whole reason he takes it up has to do with the lost condition of individual sinners. WHY ARE HIS KINSMEN REJECTORS OF THEIR MESSIAH? WHY ARE SO MANY JEWS LOST? So, you cannot avoid the question of individual salvation in this chapter. This is a trustworthy test as to whether you have understood Paul’s teaching here. Do you defend the character of God in the same way that the apostle does? NEW TESTAMENT SALVATION THEOLOGY DOES NOT EXALT MAN’S FREEDOM ABOVE GOD’S. NEW TESTAMENT SALVATION THEOLOGY MAKES MAN SUBJECT TO THE FREEDOM OF GOD, AND GOD IS FREE TO SHOW MERCY TO WHOMEVER HE WANTS. So, before we look at Paul’s argument here, ask yourself whether you are standing WITH the apostle, or standing AGAINST the apostle, in terms of the big picture. Do you stand against the apostle by voicing your objections in the very way the apostle feels necessary to answer in this chapter?

Topics

• Bible Study
• Overcoming Obstacles