Sermon Central
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Why God Does What God Does Series
Contributed by Alan Braun on Mar 22, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: A study of the Book of Romans
Why God Does What God Does
Chapter 9
Does God make mistakes?
Paul, your logic says that justification is how God is making His people right but if that is true, what about the promises made to the Jews?
Did He lie to them?
Did He finally give them up after they continually disappointed Him?
If He did then what makes you think that He will not someday tire of the church and give them up?
If only those in Christ are God’s special people then are not we creating a teaching that is basically anti-Jew?
V2 When Paul looked at Christ he rejoiced but when he looked at his people he wept.
V3 Paul is in love with his people of physical birth.
Read Moses’ words in Ex 32:30-32
He was willing to stay out of heaven for the sake of the saved (Phil 1:22-24) and willing to go to hell for the sake of the lost.
Phil 1:21-24
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
(NKJ)
V4 Israel was adopted as God’s own people - Ex 4:22-23
He gave them His glory in the tabernacle and the Temple - Ex 40:34-38.
V5 Jesus is called God.
All of these blessings were given freely to Israel and to no other nation.
V6 But in spite of these blessings Israel failed. When the Messiah appeared they crucified and killed Him.
It looks like on the surface that God has abandoned His people but,...
Paul defines his terms so people are not confused, “Who is Israel really?” This was first brought forward in Romans 2:28-29.
We could say, “For they are not all the church who are in the church”
Christian family is not enough, Baptism is not enough, church family is not enough only those who enter the promise of the Father that all who are in the Seed shall be blessed and given life.
This was also hinted at by John the Baptist:
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ’We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9 "And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
This is also told by Jesus:
37 "I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."
39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-- God."
V7 “seed of Abraham” means his physical seed that produces children in the flesh.
“In Issac your seed” means the spiritual seed.
V8 This means...
Gal 3:15-22
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
