Romans 9:1-18
Key vs. 9:18 “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”

 We are going to study one of the most controversial topics in the Bible, so-called predestination. Some people like this while others don’t like it or others are confused and don’t want to think about it again. But I think if we study it in the proper context, it will strengthen our faith and give us great assurance of our salvation. I pray that the Lord may grant us open and humble heart to receive the truth of God and our faith may be strengthened thru this message.

I.  Paul’s shepherd heart for his people(1-5)

 This part serves as the prelude for the main topic we are going to study today. Lets read vs 1-2. “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”.  Paul says that he had great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart. In the preceding chapter, he was shouting with victory, saying that we are more than conquerors thru him who loved us. He was convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Then What caused him such anguish here? Lets read vs 3. “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 reason was because of his unbelieving Jews whom he considered his own brothers and own race. Paul was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles. As a result of his hard work, many Gentiles came to believe in the gospel and enjoy the blessings of God. They became sons of God and heirs, co-heirs of Christ. However, the majority of his own people rejected Christ and they remained under the wrath of God.

 Because of his shepherd heart, he preached the gospel to the Jews first whenever possible. But the Jews persecuted him and wanted to destroy him. When you look at 2Cor 11:24-25, you will see how they treated him. He was flogged 5 times 40 minus one lashes. He was beaten 3 times with rod. He was in danger from his own country men. Wherever he went, they did not leave him alone. He should have hated them naturally. But he rather had great sorrow and unceasing anguish. The pain was so strong that he said he could wish that he himself were cursed and cut off from Christ only if they could be saved. He prayed for them with great anguish.

 When we believe in Jesus and know the blessings, it is natural that we want to lead our family members or friends to Christ so they can receive the same blessing of God. We don’t want anyone to remain under the wrath of God. I saw whenever shp. Jennifer prays, she prays for her family and invite them to worship service. We want to make sure that all family members believe. But when some of them don’t believe, we feel pain and anguish. Beyond his family members, Paul had broken shepherd heart for his own people, even more so because they were chosen by God and received so much privileges from God.

 Lets look at the privileges they had received from God. Lets read 4-5. “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.“  Israel had a special bond with God. They were adopted as sons. God called them, “my first-born son.” God’s glory were present with them as a pillar of cloud in the wilderness. Israel packed and moved when the pillar of the cloud moved; they pitched the tent when the pillar of the cloud stopped. God was their shepherd. He was protecting them and guiding them. God made covenants and promises with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying “You will be my people and I will be your God. I will give you an everlasting possession.”  They were recipients of the laws. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were their forefathers, and even Christ came from them. They were proud of being “children of Abraham.” The Gentiles did not have anything like that. They were treated like dogs. But God blessed Israel with abundant privileges, hoping to make them a kingdom of priest and a holy nation. What do you think the greatest privilege was? But when they rejected Christ because of unrepentant and selfish hearts, they lost everything and remained under God’s wrath. So Paul felt great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart.

 Life is full of paradox. Those who are loved and privileged become ungrateful and rebellious, while those who are less privileged become thankful for something they receive. We are surrounded with many blessings: There are many shepherds and parents who pray day and night for us and teach us the word of God. We should not take God’s blessings for granted like Israel. I think America is a truly blessed nation. God seemed to make America a showcase of God’s blessings in modern days. So many foreigners want to taste some glimpses of America’s blessings by any means - even by smuggling. When I arrived here 22 years ago, I was inspired by the beauty and abundance of blessings. Even the street names inspired me. There are so many streets named after great men and women of faith: Knox Road, St. Paul St. St. Andrews place. Davidson St. Maryland. They stirred my memories of their lives of faith. You know the Olympic games are being held in Sydney, Australia. A few days ago TV channel reporter said, “Australia and America have much in common: Both speak English and also were founded by the exiles from England. But there are also differences: Australia was founded by prisoners while America was founded by pilgrims.” God blessed this nation because of the faith of our forefathers. America used to be called a Christian nation. However, these days so many people trust in materials, technology and economy rather than God who has blessed them. As a result they suffer from divorces, broken families and violence. They reject Christ and remain in unbelief. We should have shepherd heart for this nation and pray that God may raise up many shepherds like Paul.

II. God’s Sovereign Choice(6-18)

 Israel was chosen by God and enjoyed God’s blessings, but now when the majority of them rejected Christ and remained in unbelief, questions arose naturally in the minds of people: Did God fail because of their unbelief? Israel’s failure seemed to frustrate God’s purpose and promises. For example, God promised to Abraham and his descendants, “You will be my people and I will be your God. I will give you everlasting possession.” (Gen 17:7-8). Now that Israel remained in unbelief, it seems that God could not do anything. Likewise we sometimes feel that God can’t do anything when we see sheep coming and going, without commitment to the Lord. Did God’s word of promise fail? What is Paul’s answer? Lets read vs 6a. “It is not as though God's word had failed.”  Paul asserts that God’s word of promise never fails despite men’s failure by first defining who the true children of God are, and next how God calls his own children:

 1st, Children of the promise(6b-9) True children of God are the children of the promise. Israel thought that they were chosen by God and so every Israelite was children of Abraham; they thought every one became automagically God’s children. Their idea was like thinking that those who go to the churches are all true believers. But Paul refuted that idea. Look at vs 6b-7a. “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children.” Paul separates true children of Abraham from mere physical children of Abraham like sheep and goat. Paul wants to prove that God never promises to bless those who are unbelieving. They are not God’s children, though they may be physically born to the Jews. God promised to bless only true children of Abraham who believe. Therefore God’s word of promise never fails. Then who are the true children of Abraham?

 Lets read vs 7b-8 “On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 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.”  Abraham had two sons - Ishmael and Isaac. In Genesis 21, when Isaac was 3 or 4 years old, God told Abraham to send Ishmael out because he was not entitled to the inheritance. Ishmael was born as a result of Abraham and Sarah’s impatience. Abraham slept with a maid-servant Hagar to produce a son. Ishmael was the product of unbelief and human efforts. On the other hand, Isaac was born of promise of God. Though Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah’s womb was as good as dead, by faith in the promise of God, he was born by God’s power. Ishmael was cast out and Isaac was regarded as Abraham’s true son. So God said, “It is thru Isaac that your offsprings will be reckoned.”  Paul concludes in vs 8 that “it is not natural children who are God’s children, but the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offsprings.” In other words, to become God’s children, physical birth to a Jewish family or Christian family does not mean much. One must be born of the promise of God by faith. When we believe in the promised son Jesus, we become born into the family of God. God’s word of promise become effective to true children of God only. God never promises to the unbelievers. Though Israel failed as a nation, God’s work continues thru his children who believe like Paul. They are called the remnants. We work hard to raise up servants of God, but sheep come and go. We should not despair because God always works thru his children who believe.

 2nd, Not by works but by God’s choice (10-13). Lets read 10-12. “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."” These verses teach how God calls his children. When Isaac and Rebekah got married, they did not have a child for 20 years. It was humanly impossible. But when they prayed for a child for 20 years, God gave them not one, but two at the same time. Rebekah had hard time carrying them along. The twins were kicking and wrestling each other in the womb. So when Rebekah inquired of the Lord, she was told that “The older will serve the younger.”(Gen 25:23c). Why do you think God chose one before they were born or before they did anything good or bad? This is the point. In order that God’s purpose in election might stand. That is,  not by works, but by him who calls. If God chose one after they were born, people might think, “O God chose Jacob because he was more spiritual than Esau. Look at how he behaved. Jacob was more qualified to be a patriarch than Esau.” We often think, “so and so is such a sweet girl, so God chose her to use her in his ministry.” There may be some truth in it, but that’s not the reason God chose us.

 Not by works. It means that we are not chosen because we are qualified. In fact we are the object of God’s wrath. If chosen by works, no one can be saved at all. But we are chosen by God, by his grace alone. God chose us according to his sovereign will even before we were born. Rebekah did not know even who was the younger or the older. Actually Jacob wanted to come out first, clinging to Esau’s heel, but Esau was more athletic than him. No matter how they struggled, it did not change God’s plan. God determines Jacob to come out last to be the younger. God chooses his children according to his sovereign purpose and works out in all things and accomplishes his purpose. Election does not depend on our works at all. It is God who chose us before we were born by grace and called us, justified us by grace, and glorified us. God has a plan for each of us. We are blessed with new comers, I mean, babies. Msn. Faith delivered Susanna Joy tow weeks ago; Msn. Mary delivered Joshua last week tow weeks earlier than the expected date. Shp. Faith is in labor pain anxiously because the expected date was two weeks ago. Let me ask mothers. Do you plan for your babies after they were born? You think about cribs or clothes or their future after they were delivered? No. You think about them and pray for their future even before they were conceived. Likewise God has a great plan for each of you before you were born and works out his plan step by step. It is all God’s doing for us by grace. Therefore we can have assurance of our salvation.

 Think about if we are chosen by works, can you have assurance of your salvation? Today you may have great faith, but tomorrow you may lose faith! If my salvation depends on my fickle emotion or decision, I cannot be sure of my salvation at all. But thank God that my salvation rests on the absolute Almighty God and his promise. I can be assured that he who is faithful to his promise will carry it to the completion. Therefore we should be thankful for choosing us by grace by his sovereign purpose.

 3rd, By God’s mercy(14-18)  Some people may argue that God is unjust if he chose Jacob over Esau even before they showed their colors. This question leads to the 3rd principle that our salvation depends on God’s mercy. Lets read vs 14. “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!” When people say of just or unjust, they often think they were passed over opportunity despite their qualifications. I am glad that shp. Bob worked hard for the past 14 months to get MCSI certificate. Imagine that shp. Bob located a dream job and applied for it. He thought he was well qualified for it, but later found out that less qualified person without MCSI certificate was hired. What would he say? He might complain that it was unjust and unfair. He has a valid point. When we say of just/unjust, we base our argument on our qualification, achievement or works.

 God’s choice is not the matter of justice, but a matter of God’s sovereign choice. He can exercise justice or mercy freely. Lets read vs 15-17. “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. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: I have raised you up for this very purpose that I might display my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”  God can exercise his justice or his mercy to display his power. As the creator and owner of all creation, he has the right to do anything as he wants. Lets read vs 18. “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden” God can treat us justly as he treated Pharaoh or he can treat us in his mercy as he did to Moses. But God chose us by his great mercy.

 It is like shp. David one day became a millionaire, he felt so blessed by God and wanted to share some of his blessings with others. Walking down the street, he left $50,000 in the mailbox of one person; skipped a few more houses, then he left another $50,000 for another person, and on and on. The next day the people found out that some people got $50,000 while others got nothing. Can you, if you’re an unfortunate one, complain that you were unjustly treated by David? No. you didn’t deserve at all. He gave out his own money because of his compassion. All you can do is seek his mercy and ask him to consider you. In the same way we must seek God’s mercy. We must not complain as if we deserved something. We should plead with God for mercy as sinners. God who does not want to see anyone to perish may show mercy on you.
 
 If God’s choice depend on my desire or effort, probably I would not have stood here today. My desire changes every day. Sometimes I don’t want to follow God. I have sinned too much. If my salvation depends on my effort, I cannot be sure I would make it to the end. But I thank God for choosing me by his mercy. Therefore I can be assured of my salvation whether I am weak or sinful. I thank God for choosing us by his great mercy and blessing us.

 Some people are so caught up with the argument, asking, “why not others?” Why didn’t God choose them? And they fall into fatalism. We should ask, “Why me?” Why did you choose me, a sinner, the object of God’s wrath? Then we will shed tears of thanksgiving and joy. God is under no obligation to choose anyone, but he chose you by his mercy and has been working out his purpose by his grace. Salvation depends on God’s mercy alone. Therefore we can pray to God for the lost ones, too, because he can show mercy on them when we pray for them. Those who are not sure of their salvation, you should cry out to God for his mercy, asking him to grant you faith in the promise of God. We should pray that God may open our hearts to believe in Jesus as we study his word faithfully.
 
Lets read key verse 9:18. “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”