WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.060 Open up your copy of God's Word and go to Romans chapter 9. 00:00:07.060 --> 00:00:13.859 ! The book of Romans is Paul's huge dissertation on our salvation, 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:19.820 ! that we have been redeemed and saved wholly in Christ. 00:00:19.820 --> 00:00:24.060 By His grace alone and faith in Jesus Christ alone, 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:26.440 we can be saved and restored to God. 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:30.940 So then we come into Romans 8, 00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:38.320 and this is an amazing, mountaintop, glorious view of our salvation in Romans chapter 8. 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:42.359 Kind of the huge climax of the book of Romans. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:46.900 And then we fall into chapter 9. 00:00:46.900 --> 00:00:53.740 And before we read this text today, I just want to say a few things. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:01:03.920 One is that as we study Romans 9, there's going to be a lot of questions that just come to your mind. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:07.060 Objections that may come to your mind. 00:01:07.420 --> 00:01:11.780 Just real, well, if that's true, then what about this? 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:19.519 And I just want to tell you that it's not my goal in this sermon to unpack all those questions. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:21.340 There's just not enough time. 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:25.760 In the coming weeks, I don't think we have an exact date yet, 00:01:25.820 --> 00:01:29.140 but we've talked about having a class on these things. 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:34.400 We've kind of opened forum to go through some things, ask questions, look at God's Word together. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:42.160 But my goal in this sermon is to be faithful to the text that we see here in Romans, 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:50.520 and not to take an aside to do an unpacking of all the doctrines of grace, 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:54.180 or what we would call Calvinism or Reformed theology. 00:01:54.300 --> 00:01:56.400 That's not really the goal of this morning. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:01.320 But the goal is to just go through the text and let it fall where it is. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:07.280 But as a really young college student, probably like 19, 20 years old, 00:02:07.580 --> 00:02:13.340 I was introduced to this by my youth pastor, a youth pastor that actually taught the Bible. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:19.700 And he was throwing these things out there to me really humbly, really carefully, 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:24.780 and I just couldn't stand him because it's like I had never read this chapter in the Bible before. 00:02:25.459 --> 00:02:31.039 And I was very much adamantly opposed to what I thought he was saying. 00:02:31.339 --> 00:02:34.099 And he never felt threatened by it. 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:36.439 He would just say, okay, well, what about this? 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:38.079 And what about that? 00:02:38.299 --> 00:02:40.159 And look at God's Word here. 00:02:40.979 --> 00:02:46.919 And eventually settled into the fact that I felt like I was just kicking against what God's Word was saying. 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:55.879 And using my own emotions, my own reason, my own worldly logic to say something that clearly God's Word was not saying. 00:02:57.119 --> 00:03:04.219 And so the goal, I've kind of struggled with how to do this, how to unpack it. 00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:11.879 But I think it might be helpful to just read through the text first. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:13.879 Because what I want you to do is see it there first. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:17.680 I don't want to give you lenses to look at the text. 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:18.400 Does that make sense? 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:22.519 Like I want you to see it and go, ah, I see that there. 00:03:22.799 --> 00:03:29.579 Versus let me give you all these different lenses to read the text itself. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:34.699 But I can tell you that the doctrine of election is particularly highlighted here. 00:03:35.460 --> 00:03:37.719 And that's not a made-up word by theologians. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:41.180 It's in our text today and it's elsewhere in the Scripture. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:46.939 And it's really going to test a lot of people's belief in the whole Bible. 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:49.879 A lot of people will say, hey, yeah, I'm a Christian. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:50.700 I believe the Bible. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:55.480 And there's hard passages that make you step back and say, man, that is difficult. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:58.000 Do I actually believe that? 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:02.480 But just to sort of put your mind at ease. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:03.980 This helped me, okay? 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:06.000 So maybe it will help you. 00:04:07.739 --> 00:04:12.219 I felt like when I first heard this, this was like a new doctrine. 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:14.959 Like it was a new thing that people had made up. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:32.199 And as I began to look at church history and things like that, I saw that it was a doctrine treasured by the orthodox, historical, gospel-believing, Bible-preaching churches throughout the centuries of the church. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:35.180 And that was a comfort to me. 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:36.259 Like, okay, this is not new. 00:04:36.259 --> 00:04:43.420 Like men that I really respect believed these things and taught these things from God's Word. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:48.639 So the goal is not like to dogpile and say, hey, all these guys believed it, so you should. 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:51.060 It's more of like, be at ease. 00:04:51.159 --> 00:04:51.759 Take it easy. 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:52.199 All right? 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:55.300 And they believed these things from the Scripture. 00:04:55.300 --> 00:05:04.579 But just to name some, St. Augustine, who, following the Apostle Paul, has probably the greatest impact on what we would say in the Western church. 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:23.579 St. Augustine, Martin Luther, the Reformer, John Calvin, William Tyndale, who translated the Bible to English in the Reformation time, John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton. 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:25.099 Okay? 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:28.819 So if you don't know who John Newton is, he wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:31.240 And that's what the song is about. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:37.379 So those of us who love the hymn but hate the doctrine, then you have a problem. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:38.860 Like, that's what he's singing. 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:42.740 That's my personal favorite name for all of this is the doctrine of Amazing Grace. 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:49.600 William Wilberforce also believed these things, who ended the slave trade in the British Empire. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:53.920 Charles Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:06:04.540 Then some modern-day pastors that we respect, R.C. Spurrell, John Piper, John MacArthur, Albert Moeller, David Platt, Mark Dever. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:12.540 Some musicians that we respect, the Gettys, Keith and Kristen Gettys, and even Christian rappers like Shia Linn and Trip Lee. 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:16.960 I'm just saying all this to make you say, okay, this is not a new thing. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:18.700 I can take it easy. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.640 This is not, I need to actually just look at this. 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:30.379 And then historically, the denominations of Presbyterians, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Baptists alike held on to these things. 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:32.200 We just read that from our statement of faith. 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:36.099 And Spurgeon wrote this, and then we're going to dive into the text. 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:45.539 He said, whatever may be said about the doctrine of election, it is written in the Word of God as with an iron pen, and there's no getting rid of it. 00:06:46.339 --> 00:06:52.219 To me, it is one of the sweetest and most blessed truths in the whole of God's revelation. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:58.779 And those who are afraid of it simply are because they do not understand it. 00:06:58.779 --> 00:07:05.699 If they could but know that the Lord has chosen them, it would make their hearts dance for joy. 00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:07.479 All right? 00:07:07.799 --> 00:07:10.059 So let's look at the text. 00:07:11.119 --> 00:07:13.019 So we begin in Romans 9. 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:16.339 We'll go back over Romans 1 through 5 briefly. 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:26.799 But remember, where we've been last week, Paul moves from this apex of joy in Romans 8 to a solemn lamentation in 9, 1 through 5. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:33.280 He's brokenhearted and great anguish over his fellow Jews who haven't believed yet. 00:07:33.400 --> 00:07:36.240 They've rejected Jesus as the Messiah by and large. 00:07:37.280 --> 00:07:38.040 Verse 1. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:40.420 I am speaking the truth in Christ. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:42.180 I am not lying. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:49.379 My conscience bears witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:59.300 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen, according to the flesh. 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:08.060 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:11.220 To them belong the patriarchs. 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:17.480 And from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all. 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:19.280 Bless forever. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:20.199 Amen. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:25.479 And so, a question arises, we look at these few verses. 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:38.879 If God has not kept his word to Israel, if the promises of God have failed in God keeping his word to Israel, then what hope do we have as New Testament believers? 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:44.980 What makes Romans 8 true if God has not kept his word, if it's fallen short? 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:52.460 And if the promises of God to Israel have failed, then how can we trust the promises that he's made to us in Christ? 00:08:53.379 --> 00:09:00.180 Alright, so as we look at the next few verses, let's read on in verse 6. 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:02.759 Paul answers the question. 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:03.000 He goes, 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:07.460 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:12.480 For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:17.960 And not all the children of Abraham, not all the children of Abraham because of his offspring. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:21.960 But through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:30.740 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 00:09:31.920 --> 00:09:34.240 For this is what the promise said. 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:39.500 About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:46.860 And not only so, but also when Rebecca had received children by one man, our father Isaac. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:54.240 Through they, though they were not yet born and not done anything either good or bad, 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:59.240 in order that God's promise of election might continue. 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:03.360 Not because of works, but because of him who calls. 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:07.299 She was told the older will serve the younger. 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:12.379 As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:14.199 Let me pray. 00:10:14.319 --> 00:10:19.259 Lord, I ask that you would help us to see things in your word. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:22.759 That we would come to it humbly and submissive. 00:10:23.359 --> 00:10:27.559 Be willing to let your words fall on our hearts and our souls. 00:10:28.339 --> 00:10:30.639 And to have your desired effect. 00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:33.620 In Jesus' name, Amen. 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:33.740 Amen. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:40.899 Okay, so the way that we're going to unpack this is by asking two questions. 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:51.240 And then we're going to give some illustrations for those questions of how Paul is reasoning and how he's arguing here. 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:56.060 Or another way to look at it is a verification of his answer. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.060 He's saying this is what the answer is. 00:10:58.059 --> 00:11:00.679 A clarification of that answer. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:04.519 And then an affirmation of that answer from the scripture. 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:10.319 But question number one is, has the promises of God failed? 00:11:11.339 --> 00:11:13.299 This is answered in verse six. 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:14.599 He says it. 00:11:15.199 --> 00:11:17.899 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:24.099 For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:27.240 So first he verifies his answer. 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:31.159 He says, no, God's promises have not failed. 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:35.540 And it's not like my personal experience or what I see changes that. 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:38.300 God's word has not failed. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:41.420 His promises to the Israelites have not failed. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:44.580 And that word fail means to fall over. 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:45.879 No longer stand. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.620 And he's saying, no, God's word has not done that. 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:54.980 If you think about your early Christian life, what was one of those verses you heard people in the church just throw around all the time? 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.860 God's word does not return to him void. 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:00.279 Right? 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:02.179 That's one I grew up hearing a lot. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.720 I'm like, I'm sure it's in the Bible somewhere. 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:05.480 And how about that? 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:05.940 It is. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:07.820 Isaiah 55 verse 11. 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:15.760 Where God says, my word, so shall it be with my word that goes forth from my mouth. 00:12:15.900 --> 00:12:25.240 It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 00:12:25.400 --> 00:12:30.040 So it should be a comfort to our soul that when God speaks, it doesn't just fail. 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:34.420 It doesn't fall flat like his word is always accomplished. 00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:36.940 And that should be an encouragement to our souls. 00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:37.680 It doesn't fail. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.860 Nothing can stop it. 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:42.680 Nothing can stop God from bringing forth what he desires. 00:12:43.260 --> 00:12:44.420 So he answers the question. 00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:45.140 He verifies. 00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:46.720 No, God's word hasn't failed. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:51.320 And secondly, he clarifies his answer in the second part of verse six. 00:12:51.400 --> 00:12:57.180 He says, for not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. 00:12:58.160 --> 00:12:59.340 He clarifies. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:03.980 This is, I think, the first time that we see the mention of two types of Israel. 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:07.080 That should make us scratch our heads. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:09.700 But what he's saying is there's two types. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:14.659 There's one that's physical, national, ethnic, and there's another one that's spiritual. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:24.360 So he's going to prove that within the chosen nation of Israel, there is a smaller remnant chosen for salvation. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:27.560 And the point he's making is it's always been that way. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:30.740 And he goes back to the beginning to prove it. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.440 So God's word hasn't failed. 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:44.600 He brings to bear that reality that not everyone who is a part of physical, ethnic Israel is actually a true part of the spiritual, believing Israel. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:54.600 And that the promises that God made of salvation and promise and blessing in the Old Testament were not made to all physical Israel. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:57.100 They were made to the spiritual Israel. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.820 Just not all. 00:13:58.920 --> 00:14:00.920 I mean, just a really simple connection. 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:01.440 Right. 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:07.960 Not everyone that we see visibly in a church building are all truly saved. 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:08.759 Right. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:14.899 Just because our name is on a church role doesn't mean that it's written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:16.399 It's not. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.080 There's two different things. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:25.960 And so he verifies his answer saying, like, not all who are descended from Israel actually belong to Israel. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.220 And that's always been the case. 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:31.500 So as a big statement. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:33.080 Right. 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.819 Back it up. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.639 Right. 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:44.759 So question number two is what evidence does Paul give for his answer? 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.360 All right. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:51.919 So we've had the verification, the clarification, and now let's look for the affirmation. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:55.000 And I want you to notice something really important. 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:56.519 Very. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:01.120 Paul uses scripture itself to prove his answer. 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:02.799 All right. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.759 He's not telling you his opinion. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:10.120 He's simply saying that this is what God's word has always said. 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:17.419 He, I mean, believe it or not, he cites 15 Old Testament passages in this scripture. 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:20.819 And I'll go through them really quickly. 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.719 Don't write them down. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:23.219 I'm just like, I'm trying to make a point. 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:26.039 Verse 7, Genesis 21, 12. 00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:29.819 Verse 9, Genesis 18, 10 and 14. 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:33.339 Verse 12, Genesis 25, verse 23. 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:38.459 Verse 13, Malachi 1, 2 through 3. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:42.080 Verse 15, Exodus 33, 19. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:45.440 Verse 17, Exodus 9, 16. 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:49.080 Verse 25, Hosea 2, 23. 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:52.100 Verse 26, Hosea 1, 10. 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:55.440 In verse 27, Isaiah 10, 22. 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:58.100 And Genesis 22, 17. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:01.120 Verse 28, Isaiah 10, 23. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:03.920 Verse 29, Isaiah 1, 9. 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:10.500 Verse 33, Isaiah 26, 28, 16 and 8, 14. 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.560 Why am I doing that? 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:19.960 When it comes to answering really hard questions about life, about spiritual life, about the world, 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.500 what do you go to? 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.960 Do you go to your own reason? 00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:24.820 Your own logic? 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:27.759 Do you look at Christian culture? 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:32.620 Do you look at just culture in general? 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:42.680 Or do you have the Berean spirit that we see in Acts 19 where they say they examined these things to see, 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:49.139 and they searched the Scriptures to see if these things were true, to see if these things were so. 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:54.180 The New Testament writers leaned completely into what the Scripture said. 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:57.580 They didn't just say, hey, we're the new guys and just listen to us. 00:16:57.580 --> 00:17:01.400 They stood on the authority of the Bible. 00:17:01.520 --> 00:17:07.980 So as we're asking hard questions, lean into the authority of Scripture to prove what you think. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.799 And so it's very important. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:11.880 So Paul is doing that. 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.000 Like, I'm not just making this up. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.240 It's always been this way, guys. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.960 Always has been. 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:26.980 So next, he gives you two illustrations from the Old Testament to prove or demonstrate the validity of what he is saying. 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:29.740 It has always been this way from the beginning. 00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:30.980 He begins in verse 7. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.160 If you look at verse 7, he first starts with Abraham and his sons, 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:38.900 and then he gives you the picture of Isaac and his sons. 00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:41.360 So, verse 7. 00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:51.320 Not all are children of Abraham, because this means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:54.660 but the children of the promise that are counted as offspring. 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:57.880 For this is what the promise said. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:03.720 About this time next year, I will return, and Sarah shall have a son. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:11.799 So, if you're arguing anything to the Jewish people, Abraham is always a good place to start. 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.480 Paul's done that throughout Romans. 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:16.059 The father of the nation. 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.860 The patriarch of patriarchs. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:24.299 And he shows within the larger circle of Abraham's children, physical children, 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:27.600 there was a smaller circle of spiritual children. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:33.299 In the Old Testament account, remember, Abraham had, well, he had eight sons all together, 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:38.859 but the first two, he had Isaac through Sarah, and Ishmael through Hagar. 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.139 Right? 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.200 If you remember the story. 00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:44.059 We actually just read over that in my discipleship group. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.759 And it says in verse 7, you see that? 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.899 Not all are children. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.419 And he's referring to spiritual of Abraham, because. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.720 And in the vernacular, we would just say, just simply because. 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:57.960 Because. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:06.600 Not all of Abraham, but just simply because they are his offspring, meaning his physical descendants. 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:15.259 But, rather, through Isaac shall your offspring or your spiritual descendants be named. 00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:18.079 And then he cites Genesis 21, 12. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:25.599 He clarifies it was Isaac who God chose to save while passing over Ishmael. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:30.159 God blessed Ishmael in a physical way. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:36.519 He gave him many, many temporal blessings, but he did not give him eternal salvation. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.879 And how can I say that? 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:43.240 You see the word named in the text? 00:19:43.800 --> 00:19:44.620 The Greek? 00:19:45.300 --> 00:19:46.680 That's the word called. 00:19:48.520 --> 00:19:50.080 Named means called. 00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:53.580 And it means the effectual call of God. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:57.980 This irresistible call of God that goes out by the Holy Spirit. 00:19:58.560 --> 00:20:01.480 It's used two other places, at least in Romans. 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:31.460 It's used two other places, at least in Romans. 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:35.380 Ishmael that was named, called, or saved. 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:36.940 Right? 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:39.440 Then he goes on in verse 8. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:40.799 Right? 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:44.539 He clarifies, like any good teacher, he goes, this means, what we're saying is, 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:49.460 this means that not all the children of the flesh, meaning physical children, 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:52.660 who are children of God, spiritual, 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:56.559 but the children of the promise that are accounted as his offspring. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:02.059 Again, the true Israel, the true spiritual Israel, 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:06.679 is not through physical ancestry, but through God's promise. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:12.059 And remember that both were physical descendants, 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:16.859 but significantly Isaac was promised to Sarah. 00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:18.259 Right? 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.179 And Abraham. 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:19.340 Abraham. 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:23.440 They were, in their old age, unable to bear children. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:30.400 And God miraculously gave them a son by his promise and by his word. 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:35.960 So his birth was a result of God's promise to miraculously give them a son. 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.120 That's Genesis 18. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:46.119 So Paul points out that promises that are given to Abraham's children only apply to promised children. 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.419 The children of God. 00:21:49.219 --> 00:21:53.039 That's the same word that's used in chapter 8, verse 16. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:58.220 So because of that, we know he's not just thinking about physical blessings. 00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:05.480 He's talking about spiritual blessing that comes through the promise that God gave through Isaac, 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.539 to continue on through Isaac. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.559 Alright? 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.859 So then, in verse 9, we see the actual words of that promise. 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:16.039 For this is what the promise said. 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:20.759 About this time next year, I will return, and Sarah shall have a son. 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:29.079 So by his grace, God took initiative and made a promise to Sarah, not to Hagar. 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.599 Right? 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:34.660 And despite her old age, God's word came to pass. 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:40.319 And Isaac was born a son that came miraculously only through God's promise. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:46.779 And that's the foreshadowing that all the children of the promise will have a miraculous birth. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:48.740 God's promise to have us. 00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:53.099 Us being born again miraculously. 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:56.480 We belong to God's promised people. 00:22:57.859 --> 00:23:04.899 So I know, okay, right now, many of us are thinking, hold on one minute. 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:11.240 There's got to be an obvious reason why God chose Isaac. 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.039 There's got to be. 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:16.700 There's got to be some sort of condition that he chose Isaac over Ishmael. 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:21.900 Could it be that Ishmael's mother was a slave? 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:24.880 Could it be that his mother was an Egyptian? 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:28.839 Could it be that his birth was illegitimate? 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:35.380 Could it be that Ishmael mocked Isaac and that's why God did it? 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:38.880 That's not a really want to go down, is it? 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.720 Think about that. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:50.060 Are we going to put our works on the scale in hoping that God will respond to us in a favorable manner? 00:23:51.540 --> 00:23:52.380 Be careful. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:24:00.400 Does God exclude anyone from his purposes based on what their mother did? 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:01.900 No. 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:04.960 Or what they have done or not done? 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.300 No. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:10.560 Are God's purposes limited to those who are only legitimately born? 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:14.500 We know that the whole scripture says otherwise, right? 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:16.020 Thank goodness, right? 00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:17.340 Or else we would all be in trouble. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:22.860 So don't apply that same thinking to Isaac and Ishmael. 00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:27.860 And also it says this brings about a universal truth found in the scripture 00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:33.500 that not everyone that is born to this world is automatically a child of God. 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:36.200 That's John 1, 12 and 13, right? 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:38.680 We must be born again by the spirit. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:44.380 Just because we have parents or grandparents that are true believers doesn't make us true believers. 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.720 Right? 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:55.020 So the point here, summing up this part of it, is it was never the case that all of the physical children of Abraham 00:24:55.020 --> 00:24:57.860 were truly a part of the people of God. 00:24:57.859 --> 00:25:09.159 Genesis 21, 12 teaches that the spiritual line of covenant, God's saving promise to the nations is traced through Isaac and not Ishmael. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:12.420 God sovereignly chose Isaac. 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:20.540 And that saving, remember the blessing that Abraham, that through you and through your seed, all the nations of the world will be blessed. 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:23.759 This is continuing through Isaac. 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.799 And it is because God chose it to be so. 00:25:27.899 --> 00:25:31.879 And then in case we don't go along with it, he gives us another example. 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:34.000 Well, how about the next generation down? 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.519 Isaac and his sons. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:39.160 Verse 10 through 13. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:46.460 It says, not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our father Isaac, 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:51.619 though they were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:58.819 in order that God's purpose of election might stand, not because of works, but because of him who calls, 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:02.599 she was told the older will serve the younger. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:07.759 As it is written, Jacob, I loved, Esau, I hated. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:12.399 So I'll confess to you, this is a hard passage. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:18.059 I never wanted to look at it, you know, back when I was in my early 20s. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:21.939 But do we believe what God's word says here? 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:26.579 Remember, Abraham had a total of eight sons put together, 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:31.839 but only Isaac was specifically promised by God, right? 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:40.259 And even then, all Isaac's descendants belong to the spiritual promise, the blessing of salvation. 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.879 Look at verse 10. 00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:47.079 It said, when Rebecca also had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac. 00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:49.279 So we know the story. 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:53.500 There's a story of two twins from Isaac and Rebecca. 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:58.180 And you would think they would just be equal heirs, right? 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:02.440 Both twins, both brothers, they'd be equal heirs of Isaac. 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:06.700 But the Lord did not choose it to be so. 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.559 Again, we'll stop and say, wait a minute. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:13.400 That doesn't seem fair. 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:21.040 There's got to be some reason, some condition that he was chosen over the other. 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:24.960 What is the purpose of God's election here? 00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:32.400 Could it be that overall this guy was a better person and that guy messed up more? 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:35.780 He sinned less than the other guy? 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:40.940 That God could somehow look down into the future and be like, hey, you know what? 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:52.539 He's going to have a rough life at first, but then he's going to pull it together and put his bootstraps on and become a better person and put faith in me. 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:54.879 So therefore, I choose him. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:56.879 No. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:56.960 No. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:03.900 That's where I just wanted to nail that round peg into the square hole for years. 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.420 Just no. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:12.580 We see that there was no foreseen condition that God responded to. 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.700 You see that? 00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:16.540 Because of what it says in verse 11. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.260 Right? 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:23.700 Esau and Jacob were as equal as they could be. 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:26.240 They were on the same playing field. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:33.860 Like, unlike Abraham, or excuse me, Ishmael and Isaac had different mothers. 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:37.700 These two twins had the same mother and the same father. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:44.800 Very, and then to even put it closer, they were twins together in the womb. 00:28:45.760 --> 00:28:49.980 And they were, hadn't done anything good or bad. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.700 See that? 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.200 That's astounding to me. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:59.840 Even before either of them had the opportunity to do anything good or bad, right or wrong, holy or unholy. 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:04.120 They were morally on the same playing field at that time. 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:07.519 Yet, God chose Jacob over Esau. 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:13.299 Observe also that the law of the firstborn didn't apply to God. 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:17.119 Because by the law of the firstborn, Esau would be first. 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:22.019 And God chose the younger over the older. 00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:25.480 It had no bearing on what God decided to do. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:29.059 He even revealed his choice, according to verse 12. 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:34.399 He revealed that choice to their mother before they were even born. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:38.280 Rebekah was told the older will serve the younger. 00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:40.160 So why all this? 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.700 Like, why is Paul pressing this point? 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:46.480 What is he trying to show us? 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.759 Alright. 00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:49.740 Answer. 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.759 He gives us the answer. 00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:53.680 It's in the next part of verse 11. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.180 He says, 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.120 In order. 00:29:55.860 --> 00:30:03.580 Are so that God's eternal purpose of election might continue. 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.920 Not because of works. 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.720 Because of him who calls. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:13.920 Without any regard for human good work or merit or foreseen faith, 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:20.200 God chose, back to our original thing, some for salvation and others not to. 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:22.900 His purpose of election. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:28.759 And you tie purpose into the verse about the word of God failing. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:30.100 God's word has not failed. 00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:34.700 His eternal purpose continues to stand. 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:38.200 And it is unconditional. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:44.340 So when we speak doctrinally about this, we say this is unconditional election. 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:47.720 Meaning that there was nothing that was in us. 00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:51.600 Something that we, God saw or foresaw in us. 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:54.259 That had any bearing on his choosing. 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:57.279 God overturned all of that. 00:30:57.939 --> 00:31:04.299 Just to make the point that he pursues his own sovereign purpose in election. 00:31:05.699 --> 00:31:11.279 And this is why Paul wrote in Ephesians 1, 11 through 12. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:16.539 In him we have been predestined according to the purpose. 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.160 There's the purpose. 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:24.079 The purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:29.759 So that we who are the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.319 All right? 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:37.700 So in case we're still scratching our heads, he pushes it one more time in verse 11. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:46.519 I want you to, just a little aside, like Paul is not doing this from a, as an ivory tower theologian. 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:51.700 He's not trying to like condescend, you know, be condescending to us. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:56.779 According to the first five verses, he's telling us this with tears in his eyes. 00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:58.460 Understand that? 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:04.259 Like, and he understands that this doesn't do anything to quench evangelistic zeal. 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:17.759 He's, he's approaching us in a very humble way and just saying like, my heart's in anguish over my fellow Jews, but God's behind us. 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:20.299 It's consistent with his plan. 00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:23.420 It's consistent with his person. 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:26.140 It's consistent with his promises. 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.799 Right? 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:30.660 So he, again, doesn't give us his opinion. 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:33.359 He cites the scripture, again, in case you've missed the point. 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:44.400 Verse 11, the last scripture, Malachi 1, 2 through 3, saying, as it is written, Jacob, I love, but Esau, I hated. 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:50.180 So many people want to stop and talk back at Paul now and say, wait a minute, Paul. 00:32:51.099 --> 00:33:00.740 Doesn't that just mean that he loved Jacob very, very much and a whole lot and he just loved Esau a little less? 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.740 No. 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.740 No. 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:06.779 And I can say that because I've actually read Malachi chapter one. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:18.279 And in that, God is saying to the nations of Judah who were descended from Isaac and Edom who are the descendants of Esau. 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:21.139 Both nations had sinned and been unfaithful. 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.740 So you get that? 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:24.660 Both deserved judgment. 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:28.039 Both equal in that regard. 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:36.539 But out of God's love for Jacob and the promise he gave to Jacob, he saved Judah and not Edom. 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:43.920 God is setting his saving love on Jacob and rejecting or hating Esau. 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:45.319 That's startling, right? 00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:48.579 Must grasp it. 00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:51.960 We can't just turn our heads away. 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:57.039 I want you to just let this, okay, I'm going to get into it more next week, but like, 00:33:57.039 --> 00:34:04.599 has it really hit you that no one, including yourself, deserves salvation? 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:10.000 There's something in us that just says, yeah, I'm sinful. 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.800 I'm pretty sinful. 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.480 I've done some bad things in my life. 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:18.659 But deep down, we think that there's still, I'm not that bad. 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:24.480 There's still some reason, maybe, why God chose to put his love on me. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:31.940 It's kind of like when you have weeds growing in your garden and you try different things to kill them 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:37.320 and they keep coming back and then finally you find that one little whatever that just annihilates them, 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.519 like takes them all out. 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:40.119 This is sort of like that. 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:44.360 This passage, if you have any of that left in you that says, there's a reason why. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.500 There's got to be something. 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:50.679 Why God did this and why he saved me, this nukes it. 00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:52.579 It goes, nope, nothing. 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:58.960 There's nothing in you or me that inclined God to save us. 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:03.900 We're all in an equal playing field, undeserving of salvation. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.659 And you know what? 00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:10.259 God would have remained just if he chose not to save any of us. 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:15.420 We're going to look more again next week. 00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:18.219 Some of you still may not be satisfied. 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:25.279 And there's something Jacob or about him that made God choose them over Esau. 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:31.199 And we don't want to go there. 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:34.179 We don't want to disgrace grace. 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:43.539 Grace, by our definition, if we think that way, means God's grace plus any good qualities whatsoever that we bring. 00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:46.239 And that leads to God's purpose. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:55.559 Paul is actually saying that the entire matter comes from his own sovereign election, his own sovereign choice. 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:59.920 There's nothing that we can do to qualify us to be recipients of that. 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.340 Nothing. 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:07.659 And we'll talk about it again more next week. 00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:10.679 But this just leaves us scratching our head and go, why? 00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:11.539 Why me then? 00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:13.440 That's what it should do. 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.579 And that's the effect. 00:36:15.299 --> 00:36:18.739 But Paul, he anticipates the questions. 00:36:19.359 --> 00:36:20.359 He knows they're coming. 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.779 He knows that you're going to say, wait a minute. 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:30.960 And to where we're going next week, I mean, just sort of in conclusion here, remember, God's promises have not failed to the Jewish people. 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:36.119 Because there was never a promise given by God that he would save every single Jew. 00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.039 He never said that. 00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:42.539 His promise only applied to the chosen remnant of Israel. 00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:45.119 So he's been faithful to that promise. 00:36:45.240 --> 00:36:48.900 So therefore, we can trust him to be faithful to us. 00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:57.300 And then, nextly, looking ahead, for those of you who are saying, that's not fair. 00:36:57.300 --> 00:37:00.440 That seems unjust. 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:13.400 It seems not fair and almost unloving for God to arbitrarily, for no reason, just to save some over others without any consideration of merit. 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:17.440 Well, the apostle is aware of you. 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:20.120 And I think that Paul wrestled with this himself. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:20.500 Okay? 00:37:20.640 --> 00:37:23.180 So, you're in good company if you're thinking that. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:25.840 Like, Paul himself wrestled with this. 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:30.300 And he anticipates the questions in verses 14 through 18. 00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:32.320 He answers that question. 00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:34.660 Well, does this make God unjust? 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.620 He answers that. 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:40.900 And in verses 19 through 20, he answers another question. 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:49.640 If this is true, then how can God personally hold us responsible for our sin? 00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:51.780 How can he hold us to account? 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.920 Paul addresses that. 00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:56.159 You'll be shocked at his answer. 00:37:57.599 --> 00:38:04.539 So, really quickly, I just want to encourage us to stay humble. 00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:11.059 Be very careful when we're tempted to call God unjust. 00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:19.099 Remember, it says about him that righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:21.219 In Psalm 97. 00:38:22.259 --> 00:38:31.619 So, fallen sinful men like me and people like you, we can try to explain away all this with our own logic and reason. 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:38.500 But, by definition, whatever God does always is loving. 00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:39.900 Always is just. 00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:41.039 Always is right. 00:38:41.139 --> 00:38:42.659 It's consistent with his character. 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:46.859 God needs no justification for anything he does. 00:38:46.860 --> 00:38:52.320 And I just finished reading Job with the men in my group. 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.559 And that's God's answer to him. 00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:55.120 Who are you, basically? 00:38:56.019 --> 00:38:58.820 You worship me and say I'm great and raise your hands. 00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:00.860 And then something happens. 00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:05.059 You want to put me across the table and say, hey, you owe me an explanation. 00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:08.539 He is God. 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.799 He owes us nothing. 00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:13.500 And to put us in our place. 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:18.500 And so, I don't want you to be afraid of this. 00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:20.099 Spurgeon was right. 00:39:20.299 --> 00:39:23.500 Like, if you're afraid of it, it's only because you haven't quite seen it yet. 00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:26.440 You haven't quite understood it just yet. 00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:29.460 It is an act of God the Father. 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:32.139 Know that all our salvation was an act of the Trinity. 00:39:32.139 --> 00:39:33.879 The Father did something. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.900 The Son did something. 00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:36.279 And the Spirit did something. 00:39:37.259 --> 00:39:37.440 Right? 00:39:37.839 --> 00:39:53.179 And I want to make us aware, whether you are aware of it or not, that there was a point in eternity past that God brought our salvation to being by decreeing it so. 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:54.739 Right? 00:39:55.739 --> 00:39:57.759 Paul wrote earlier in chapter 8. 00:39:57.859 --> 00:39:59.119 We love chapter 8. 00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:01.420 He wrote in chapter 8, verse 33. 00:40:02.139 --> 00:40:05.599 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:06.940 See that? 00:40:07.799 --> 00:40:09.739 It is God who justifies. 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:17.579 Peter wrote at the beginning of his first letter, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to those who are elect. 00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:18.960 Exiles. 00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:26.599 That Greek word, electos, means to select out of, to choose out of a group. 00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:28.380 There's no way around it. 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:32.940 But simply put, if we were in Christ today, it's because God gave us grace. 00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:35.880 And He gave us salvation. 00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:44.500 And that if you are elect, then you are loved, cared for deeply by the Father. 00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:48.239 And I want to just end with this. 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:55.840 There's a story that I read about a woman who came to her pastor after he preached on this, and she was just distressed. 00:40:56.260 --> 00:41:01.960 And she said, Pastor, look, I'm really confused about the doctrine of election. 00:41:01.960 --> 00:41:04.119 And I'm really nervous about it. 00:41:04.699 --> 00:41:06.260 But I see it in Scripture. 00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:08.539 I just don't understand it. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:13.960 And her pastor said, Mary, are you saved? 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:16.559 And she said, yes, I am. 00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:18.220 I know I'm saved for sure. 00:41:18.340 --> 00:41:20.960 Like, I give it all, right? 00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:22.720 Yes, I am. 00:41:22.740 --> 00:41:23.579 I am saved. 00:41:24.179 --> 00:41:26.880 Then he said, did you save yourself? 00:41:27.159 --> 00:41:28.380 Or did God save you? 00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:32.760 And she goes, without any question, like, Pastor, like the Lord saved me. 00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:33.900 Like, God saved me. 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:36.000 Nothing I contribute at all. 00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:37.300 He alone saved me. 00:41:37.900 --> 00:41:42.199 And then he said, well, did He save you on purpose? 00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:43.480 Or was it an accident? 00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:48.220 And she just stopped and paused and said, well, I reckon it was on purpose. 00:41:49.300 --> 00:41:50.800 And he said, that's election. 00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:52.840 That's it. 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:55.240 It's meant to give us comfort. 00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:58.760 Do you really want to cooperate with God for your salvation? 00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.380 I don't. 00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:02.780 I'll be unsaved this afternoon if that is the case. 00:42:03.699 --> 00:42:09.280 And if you think that your free will played a part in your salvation, well, your free will can also undo your salvation. 00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:19.119 But if it's all of God, if it started with Him and ends with Him, then nothing can take you out of the Father's hand. 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:21.319 That's what Romans 8 is saying. 00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:23.339 Who can bring a charge against God's elect? 00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:25.440 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? 00:42:26.739 --> 00:42:33.319 And for a people in the first century who were about to be persecuted by the Jews and then persecuted by the empire, 00:42:33.320 --> 00:42:41.840 they knew this was a comfort that God, for some reason, just known to Him, gave them grace and saved them. 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:45.039 So if you're struggling with this today, it's all right. 00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:47.380 It's all right. 00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:51.659 But this is something God wants us to see. 00:42:51.800 --> 00:42:52.779 This is in His Word. 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:53.940 We can't get around it. 00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:58.400 And every time I thought I got around it, my youth pastor would just show me another verse. 00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:59.019 I'm like, dang it! 00:42:59.099 --> 00:43:01.980 As soon as I think I've got it figured out, he throws another monkey wrench in my thinking. 00:43:01.980 --> 00:43:04.500 And I'm so glad he did. 00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:09.000 And so if you have questions, please come talk. 00:43:09.139 --> 00:43:12.179 Don't storm out angry and be like, I'm never coming. 00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:14.719 You know, just come talk to us. 00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:19.679 And again, in a couple weeks, we will maybe do a class on this. 00:43:19.759 --> 00:43:21.539 We may have some sign-up for it, possibly. 00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:23.859 Just get it all out. 00:43:24.679 --> 00:43:25.699 Unpack it at length. 00:43:25.819 --> 00:43:27.959 But stand in awe of God. 00:43:28.779 --> 00:43:38.579 We are far from full understanding, but we can confess with Paul that God is faithful by whom you were called into fellowship by His Son. 00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:41.679 And just look at Ephesians 1, and we're going to close it out. 00:43:42.319 --> 00:43:43.480 Ephesians chapter 1. 00:43:44.719 --> 00:43:46.980 Ephesians chapter 1. 00:43:47.879 --> 00:43:51.019 If you look in God's Word and look at verse 3. 00:43:52.139 --> 00:43:52.879 Paul says, 00:43:52.879 --> 00:44:05.779 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, 00:44:06.319 --> 00:44:09.019 that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 00:44:10.739 --> 00:44:11.579 In love. 00:44:12.279 --> 00:44:13.199 Don't miss that part. 00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:14.239 In love. 00:44:14.460 --> 00:44:18.599 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. 00:44:19.359 --> 00:44:27.219 According to the purpose of His will and to the praise of His glorious grace with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. 00:44:28.679 --> 00:44:29.659 Pray with me.