WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.019 Hi, everyone. I'm reading from Romans chapter 9 from verse 14 through to verse 29. 00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:17.620 ! 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:27.500 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means. For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:36.480 and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:44.439 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, for this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:53.960 and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 00:00:53.960 --> 00:01:03.799 You will say to me then, why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:11.980 Will what is moulded say to its moulder, why have you made me like this? Has the potter no right over the clay 00:01:11.980 --> 00:01:18.620 to make out of the same lump one vessel for honourable use and another for dishonourable use? 00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:28.920 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:37.740 In order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory, 00:01:38.460 --> 00:01:43.439 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:46.179 As indeed he says in Hosea, 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:53.920 Those who were not my people I will call my people, and her who was not beloved I will call beloved. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:02.319 And in the very place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there they will be called the sons of the living God. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:06.439 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:13.759 Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:18.579 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay. 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:24.719 And as Isaiah predicted, if the Lord of hosts has not left us offspring, 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:28.680 we would have become like Sodom and become like Gomorrah. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:31.439 Morning everyone. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:35.780 My name is Martin. I'm one of the pastors here. 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:40.900 And it's my privilege to speak on God's word this morning. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:44.199 We'll be looking at Romans chapter 9. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:46.800 The Bible reading we just heard. 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:48.379 Excuse me while I get myself organised. 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:53.300 Special welcome to anyone who's visiting or new here. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:58.960 I noticed Sam and Bo Jasmine from Foundry Church in Walls End. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:00.379 So great to have you visiting. 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:02.340 Must be a Sunday off for you. 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:05.219 So if you get to catch up with them, please encourage them. 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:09.560 And ask about our brothers and sisters at Foundry and how things are going there. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:15.099 Also, David and Alison Caldwood are back with us this morning. 00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:19.900 So please make sure you catch up with them and encourage them before they head off to Bogglebri. 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:21.240 Is this your last Sunday before? 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:23.560 Or one more Sunday? 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:23.900 Okay. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:24.240 Yep. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:28.800 So make sure you take that opportunity this Sunday or next Sunday to encourage them. 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:35.939 Now, I've got to admit, I'm nervous about preaching this morning. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.600 I don't generally typically get nervous about preaching or about speaking in public generally. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:44.400 But I am feeling a bit nervous this morning. 00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:53.900 I was speaking to Dave this week and I said to Dave, I don't think there's any way we'll get through a series on Romans chapters 9 to 11 without offending someone. 00:03:53.900 --> 00:04:03.860 Because I'm thinking, right, in Romans chapters 9 to 11, these chapters address three of the most contentious areas of Christian doctrine. 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:12.439 The doctrine of predestination or election, eschatology, and the place of Israel in God's plans. 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:17.899 And if you put ten Christians in a room together, there are going to be like five different opinions on those questions. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:24.639 And so with a group like this, there's no doubt we have differences of opinions on each of those issues. 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:36.180 But what we need to keep doing is coming back to the Word of God, wrestling with it, being ready to have God's Word correct and challenge our thinking. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:47.699 And really, I'd love you to engage with the sermon this morning, engage with God's Word, not just sort of listening to think, is Martin, you know, do I agree with what Martin's saying? 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:49.639 Is Martin saying what I think? 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:50.840 Or something like that. 00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:52.139 And evaluating. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:57.280 I actually want you to be hearing the Word of God, like all of us, to be going into the Word of God, wrestling with it. 00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:58.160 What does it say? 00:04:58.840 --> 00:05:02.100 And seeking to apply what we find there to our hearts. 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:05.960 So please listen in that spirit and engage with God's Word. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:08.220 Have your Bibles open so you can read it. 00:05:08.640 --> 00:05:12.379 I'm also nervous, though, because this passage takes us into some deep waters. 00:05:13.080 --> 00:05:17.040 You know Deuteronomy 29, verse 29, where God says, 00:05:17.140 --> 00:05:27.780 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. 00:05:27.779 --> 00:05:37.759 So there are things that God has revealed to us, things we need to know, and there are also things that God has hidden from us, things we cannot find out. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:42.819 And Paul was an inspired apostle. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:48.219 Paul's letters, Paul's words are the Word of God, the Scriptures. 00:05:48.220 --> 00:05:58.160 But even he was aware that as he wrote Romans chapters 9 to 11, he was skirting the boundary between the secret things and the revealed things. 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:03.320 So that's how he concludes in Romans chapter 11, verse 33. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:03.720 He says, 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:22.560 Paul knew he was sort of mapping out the boundary between what we know and what we don't know about God's will. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:32.939 And there are times reading Romans 9 to 11 when we need to take hold of the revealed things and believe them wholeheartedly. 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:38.939 And there are also times reading these chapters when we need to hold our peace and say, 00:06:39.340 --> 00:06:41.860 The secret things belong to the Lord our God. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.980 It takes faith to believe what God has revealed. 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:50.680 It takes faith to hold our peace and trust God in what he hasn't revealed. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:54.000 Lord, give us that faith. 00:06:55.420 --> 00:06:57.879 So I think I'd like us to begin by praying. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.399 So will you join with me in prayer? 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:06.180 Heavenly Father, as we come to this deep part of your Word, 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:09.319 we pray that you would help us to think rightly, 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.819 prepare all of our hearts to hear your Word. 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:16.100 May we draw encouragement from it. 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:20.100 Please may our meditation on this passage this morning 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:23.120 be for the strengthening of the faith of each one of us 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:25.939 for your praise and your glory. 00:07:26.340 --> 00:07:27.220 In Jesus' name. 00:07:27.580 --> 00:07:27.900 Amen. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:36.180 Well, the talk today is from Romans chapter 4, verses 9, verses 14 to 29. 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:41.439 I've given it the title, Unconditional Election and the Mercy of God, 00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:43.860 because it is about those two things. 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:47.639 It's about unconditional election, or to use another term, predestination. 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:49.660 It's also about who God is. 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:53.180 It's about God's righteousness, his justice, and his mercy. 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:58.300 Now, to sketch out some context, because we are returning to Romans after a significant break, 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:08.460 chapters 1 to 8 of Romans gave us the gospel of how we are saved through Jesus' death for our sins, 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.879 as our propitiation, turning aside God's wrath, 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:16.180 so that we might be justified and have peace with God. 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:22.319 Chapters 1 to 8 sketched out the gospel and the security of salvation in Christ, 00:08:22.400 --> 00:08:24.000 the security of the love of God. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:28.899 In chapters 12 to 15, Paul will go on to talk about the implications of the gospel 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:32.720 for how we live our lives individually, our life collectively together. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:37.279 And that's the kind of structure we find in quite a few of Paul's epistles, 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:40.059 the gospel and then the implications of the gospel. 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:43.539 But in between those two in Romans, we have these chapters 9 to 11, 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:48.600 which interrupts the kind of normal flow with this particular question. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:52.259 And the particular question these chapters are addressing is, 00:08:52.779 --> 00:08:58.040 why are there so few Jews who believe in Jesus? 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:02.700 And this is a question Paul is asking in the mid-50s AD. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:11.500 Even by that time, it was evident that few Jews had responded to the gospel. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:16.740 Now, that question had pastoral relevance for the Roman believers, 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:20.679 because some of the Christians in Rome were Jews, 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:23.700 some of the Christians in Rome were Gentiles, 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:26.340 and it seems from chapters 14 and 15, 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:29.320 that there was some friction between believers, 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:35.440 and that some of that friction was around Jewish practices 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.679 like Sabbath observance and food laws. 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:43.659 And so by addressing the place of Israel in God's plan of salvation, 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:47.379 Paul is laying some theological groundwork 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:53.459 for a later appeal to unity between believers, 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:54.939 which is going to come later in the book. 00:09:56.319 --> 00:09:58.659 So these chapters, chapters 9 to 11, 00:09:58.839 --> 00:10:01.319 aren't, they're not a mere digression, 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:04.359 they're actually integral to Paul's overall argument 00:10:04.359 --> 00:10:05.439 and purpose in writing. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.200 We saw last week, Paul begins chapter 9 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.140 by expressing his grief that so few of his fellow Israelites 00:10:12.140 --> 00:10:13.120 believed in Jesus, 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.180 but the main point in chapter 9 from verse 6 00:10:16.180 --> 00:10:18.880 is that God's word has not failed. 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:22.440 To refresh our memories, verse 6, 00:10:22.520 --> 00:10:24.380 it's not as though the word of God has failed, 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:28.300 for not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:34.419 In other words, belonging to a spiritually privileged community, 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:35.859 the nation of Israel, 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:40.339 did not guarantee personal salvation 00:10:40.339 --> 00:10:44.859 for any individual, each individual and every individual 00:10:44.859 --> 00:10:46.099 who was part of that community. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.559 They were separate questions. 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:52.639 Not all who are descended from Israel, 00:10:52.859 --> 00:10:54.899 part of the community, the nation, 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:57.879 belong to spiritual Israel. 00:10:58.299 --> 00:11:02.539 Paul backed this up by showing that God's pattern 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:04.039 in dealing with humanity 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:06.959 is to choose some and not others. 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:09.099 Isaac, not Ishmael. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.939 Jacob, not Esau. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.219 And that it doesn't depend, 00:11:13.459 --> 00:11:15.359 God's choice of people doesn't depend 00:11:15.359 --> 00:11:17.379 on anything about the people themselves. 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.439 Look at verse 11. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:23.920 Speaking of Jacob and Esau. 00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:25.360 Though they were not yet born 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.940 and had done nothing either good or bad 00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:30.980 in order that God's purpose of election 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:32.300 might continue, 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:34.920 not because of works, 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.400 but because of him who calls. 00:11:38.400 --> 00:11:40.080 She was told the older will serve the younger. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:44.060 That pattern, 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:47.400 choosing some and not others, 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:49.440 that applied, 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.100 Paul's point is, 00:11:52.160 --> 00:11:54.720 that applied not only to God's choice of Israel 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:58.080 as a nation to have a special place in his plan, 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:01.139 but also to his choice of individuals 00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:02.080 within Israel 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:05.740 who would enjoy personal salvation, 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:06.900 who would be individually, 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:07.980 personally saved. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.559 And that doesn't only apply to Israel. 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:17.100 God chooses who will be saved. 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:19.919 In fact, God has already chosen 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.360 who will be saved. 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:25.259 It is his purpose of election, 00:12:26.199 --> 00:12:26.759 verse 11. 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:29.699 And God doesn't choose people 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:30.539 because they're good 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.679 and he doesn't choose people 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:33.199 because they have more potential. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.639 He didn't choose people 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:36.659 because they had begun to respond 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:37.000 to him. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:39.039 He doesn't look ahead through time, 00:12:39.339 --> 00:12:40.899 see who will believe in him 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:43.339 and then reactively choose the people 00:12:43.339 --> 00:12:44.779 who are going to choose him anyway. 00:12:46.339 --> 00:12:47.779 Rather, God's choice 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:49.039 of whom he will save 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.860 is prior 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:51.079 and it's definitive 00:12:51.079 --> 00:12:52.299 and it's not dependent 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:53.839 on anything about us. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:58.939 In doctrinal terms, 00:12:59.059 --> 00:12:59.839 this is the doctrine 00:12:59.839 --> 00:13:02.139 of unconditional election. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.740 Election, 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.259 God chooses people. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.259 unconditional, 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:07.100 unconditional, 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.480 because God's choice 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.379 doesn't depend on any merit, 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:11.019 faith, 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:11.639 godliness 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.620 or good works 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:13.419 on our part. 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.159 God's election 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:16.399 is a completely 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.379 free, 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.200 uncompelled, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:21.080 gratuitous act 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.100 of God's mercy. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.360 But unconditional election, 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:27.220 which is there, 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.799 I've suggested in Romans 9, 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.439 verse 11, 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:31.039 does not always sit 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.080 easily with us. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.840 It didn't sit easily 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.340 with Christians 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.639 in the first century either. 00:13:37.660 --> 00:13:39.660 And so in verses 14 to 29, 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:40.820 Paul addresses 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:42.560 two objections 00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.980 to election. 00:13:45.420 --> 00:13:47.080 Two potential objections 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:48.100 to the assertion 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:49.440 that God chooses people. 00:13:50.900 --> 00:13:51.740 Verse 14, 00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:53.560 is it unjust of God 00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:54.660 to act this way? 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:55.980 Verse 19, 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:57.080 how can God 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:57.899 find fault 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.500 with us 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.820 when our salvation 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.440 depends on His choice 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:02.879 rather than our works? 00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:04.399 Let's think about 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.180 each of those objections. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.180 First objection, 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:06.960 is God unjust? 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:07.639 Verse 14, 00:14:07.800 --> 00:14:08.779 what shall we say then? 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.980 Is there injustice 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.379 on God's part? 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.300 Now I'm sure you can feel 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:15.420 the weight of this objection. 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.420 Think about justice. 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.200 It's almost a definition 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.100 of justice, 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.680 that justice 00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:22.879 is concerned 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.720 with works. 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:26.580 Justice punishes 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:27.340 what is evil 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:28.980 and rewards 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:29.679 what is good. 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.820 So if God 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:33.700 chooses to save people 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:35.580 not because of works, 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:37.460 isn't that unjust? 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:38.919 I mean, 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.080 imagine a governor 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:40.840 or a judge 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:42.139 acting that way today, 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:42.399 right? 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:44.580 In Australia, 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:44.860 right, 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:46.299 if acquittals 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:47.899 and Australia Day 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.319 honours 00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:50.139 and knighthoods 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:50.959 if they could still be given, 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.379 if they're kind of bestowed 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.299 without any regard 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:53.759 for work 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.599 and on the other hand, 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.099 fines and imprisonments 00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:57.179 and executions, 00:14:58.219 --> 00:14:58.379 you know, 00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.179 all administered 00:14:59.179 --> 00:15:00.379 without any regard 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:01.559 to people's behaviour 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:02.359 or deeds 00:15:02.359 --> 00:15:03.240 or performance, 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.519 awards and punishments 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.339 by the governor, 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.699 by the prime minister, 00:15:08.839 --> 00:15:09.099 just 00:15:09.099 --> 00:15:11.240 meted out 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:13.000 arbitrarily 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.440 for no reason 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.539 than an official's 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.500 seemingly random 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.740 personal choice. 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:19.519 I mean, 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:20.019 wouldn't we say 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.799 that's injustice? 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.899 If God chooses 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.840 to save some 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.539 and not others, 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.460 is there injustice 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.399 on God's part? 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:28.480 Well, 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.799 the answer in verse 14 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:30.899 is emphatic, 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.259 by no means. 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.559 And Paul backs up 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.039 this answer 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.019 with two quotes 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.600 from the book 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.320 of Exodus. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.919 In verses 6 to 13 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.679 of Romans 9, 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.839 we've had some examples 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:44.559 from Genesis, 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.279 from the patriarchs, 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:47.139 now we move forward 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.939 to the book of Exodus, 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:49.099 the time of Moses. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.679 And he gives two quotes, 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.779 verse 15, 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.979 what God says to Moses, 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.839 verse 17, 00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:57.120 what God says to Pharaoh. 00:15:58.319 --> 00:15:58.899 I'm going to read 00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.639 through the whole section 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.239 and then we'll step 00:16:00.239 --> 00:16:00.679 through it. 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.799 So verse 15, 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.359 for he says, 00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:04.399 God says to Moses, 00:16:04.599 --> 00:16:05.459 I will have mercy 00:16:05.459 --> 00:16:06.579 on whom I have mercy 00:16:06.579 --> 00:16:07.659 and I will have compassion 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.859 on whom I have compassion. 00:16:09.859 --> 00:16:11.059 So then it depends 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.219 not on human will 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.019 or exertion, 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.460 but on God 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.320 who has mercy. 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.120 For the scripture 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.920 says to Pharaoh, 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.920 for this very purpose 00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.899 I raised you up 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.639 that I might show 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:23.080 my power in you 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:24.259 and that my name 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.000 might be proclaimed 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.779 in all the earth. 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.879 So then he has mercy 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.080 on whomever he wills 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.500 and he hardens 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.519 whomever he wills. 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.160 Now, 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:36.000 I think this might strike us 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.200 as a strange kind of answer. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:39.320 Because notice 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:40.520 what Paul doesn't do. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.400 Paul doesn't 00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:45.540 evaluate God's actions 00:16:45.540 --> 00:16:47.480 by according to some 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.520 external standard 00:16:48.520 --> 00:16:49.180 of justice. 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.320 Here's our definition 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.840 of justice, 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.800 let's see how God 00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:53.840 stacks up against it. 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.000 He doesn't do that. 00:16:56.140 --> 00:16:56.400 Instead, 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.140 he takes us back 00:16:57.140 --> 00:16:57.780 to the scriptures. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:58.759 He takes us back 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.660 to the character 00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:01.340 of God 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.080 as revealed 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.900 in the scriptures 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:04.519 and argues 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.720 God is not unjust 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.220 because 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:08.119 his choice 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.900 to show mercy 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.660 to some, 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.000 not all, 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.720 is consistent 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.559 with how he has 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:14.200 revealed himself 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.379 to be in the scriptures. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.019 It's consistent 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.660 to what he's shown 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.440 of his own character. 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:20.579 So in verse 15 to 16 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.920 we have a positive example 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.200 and the key word 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.400 in verses 15 and 16 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.400 is the word mercy. 00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.180 This example, 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.900 he says to Moses, 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.619 I'll have mercy 00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:30.639 on whom I have mercy, 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.460 I'll have compassion 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.500 on whom I have compassion. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.720 This example comes 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.299 from Exodus chapter 33. 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.940 It follows closely 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.099 on from Israel's sin 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.259 with the golden calf 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.880 after they've been 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.660 brought out of Egypt. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.059 You remember 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.000 that occasion? 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.400 They've committed 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.900 atrocious, 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.880 appalling idolatry 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:47.099 with the golden calf 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.160 and God proposes 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:48.839 to wipe out 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.420 all of Israel 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.299 and start again 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:52.579 and Moses interceded 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.299 for Israel 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:55.460 and in response 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.700 to Moses' intercession 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.640 God has declared 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:59.119 that he will forgive Israel, 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.220 he will bring them 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.099 into the promised land 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:01.500 after all, 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.599 he will go with them 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:03.299 and be their God 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.059 and their protector 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.480 and in his relief 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.839 and in his exuberance, 00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:09.640 Moses prays to God, 00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.839 please let me see 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.519 your glory 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:14.480 and the Lord replied, 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.860 I will make all my goodness 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.039 pass before you 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.039 and I will proclaim 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.819 before you 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.819 my name, 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.700 the Lord 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:23.960 and I will be gracious 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.400 to whom I will be gracious 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:27.360 and I will show mercy 00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.980 on whom I will show mercy. 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.000 I mean, 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:30.400 this is, 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.140 this in Exodus 33, 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.960 it's setting up 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.960 what is one of the foundational texts 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.799 in the Old Testament, 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.660 the revelation 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:38.259 of God's glory to Moses, 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.019 God's name, 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:39.720 God's character 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:41.000 and notice how those things, 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.640 they're all connected, 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.360 God's glory, 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:42.900 his goodness, 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.460 his name, 00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:44.160 his character, 00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:46.960 these are all connected 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.920 and at the heart 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.060 of God's glory 00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:49.800 and goodness 00:18:49.800 --> 00:18:50.700 and his name 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.560 and his character 00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:52.240 is what? 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.100 Mercy, 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:54.860 compassion, 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.720 grace. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:56.839 grace. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.839 But it's also 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.940 a sovereign mercy. 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.259 It is mercy shown 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.740 on whomever 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.720 God wills. 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.759 Paul's conclusion 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.680 in Romans 9, 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.559 verse 16 is, 00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.480 so then it depends 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.740 not on human will 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.480 or exertion. 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.039 Notice 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.400 how human will 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.000 and exertion 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.019 encompass both 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.460 our inner resolve 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.779 and our 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.900 outward execution. 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:21.980 salvation, 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.780 but it depends 00:19:24.780 --> 00:19:25.780 on neither of those 00:19:25.780 --> 00:19:27.060 but on God 00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:27.780 who has mercy. 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.560 What's the it 00:19:28.560 --> 00:19:29.200 that depends 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.100 only on God 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:30.740 who has mercy? 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.200 Well, 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.700 in the context, 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:33.160 the it must be salvation. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.440 The salvation 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.060 of each 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:37.040 and every individual 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.920 who is saved 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.660 depends not 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:39.420 on human will 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.340 or exertion 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:41.120 but on God 00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:42.120 who has mercy. 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.460 And in verse 17, 00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:46.519 Paul doubles down 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:46.860 on this 00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:47.940 with a negative example, 00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:48.820 this time the example 00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:49.480 of Pharaoh 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:50.460 from a bit earlier 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.240 in the book of Exodus, 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.680 Pharaoh who stubbornly 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.579 and defiantly 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.559 opposed God 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.779 and opposed God's people. 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.920 This is the Pharaoh, 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.519 the ruler of Egypt 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.759 against whom God 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.640 sent plague 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.779 after plague 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.940 but he continually 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.980 refused to let 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.200 God's people go. 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.900 And multiple times 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:08.819 we read in Exodus 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.920 that Pharaoh, 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.860 not only that Pharaoh 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:11.900 hardened his own heart 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.720 but that God 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.000 hardened Pharaoh's heart. 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.140 So Pharaoh's resistance 00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:17.319 wasn't just the result 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.799 of his own 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:19.259 willful stubbornness, 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:19.859 it was also 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.379 the result 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.539 of God's choice 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.960 to harden him, 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.940 to render him 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.039 unresponsive 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.059 to God's word, 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.500 to harden him 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.240 in his rebellion. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.539 In verse 17, 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.259 Paul quotes 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.220 God's words 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.720 to Pharaoh 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.680 from Exodus chapter 9 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.819 to declare 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.680 both the fact 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.180 of Pharaoh's 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.799 hardening 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.259 but also 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.940 the reason God gave. 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.779 I think it's worth 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:44.019 seeing some context here 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:45.220 so perhaps 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.779 keep a finger 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.619 in Romans 9 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.199 and flick back 00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:48.559 with me 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.399 quickly to 00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.500 Exodus chapter 9 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.779 verse 12 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.679 Exodus chapter 9 00:20:52.679 --> 00:20:53.059 verse 12 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.639 because what I want us 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.319 to see here is 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.359 an interplay 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.399 of two ideas 00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:57.759 in these verses 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.419 and I think 00:20:59.419 --> 00:21:00.259 we need to see them 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.659 both side by side, 00:21:01.739 --> 00:21:02.279 we need to see them 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.559 together. 00:21:02.699 --> 00:21:03.899 So Exodus chapter 9 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.419 verse 12 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.079 to 17 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:12.159 Exodus chapter 9 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:12.719 verse 12 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:22.200 verse 13 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.019 Then the Lord said 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.460 to Moses 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.279 Rise up early 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.740 in the morning 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.759 and present yourself 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.559 before Pharaoh 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.339 and say to him 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:28.500 Thus says the Lord 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.660 the God of the Hebrews 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:31.680 Let my people go 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.480 that they may serve me 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:35.019 for this time 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:36.319 I'll send all my plagues 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.279 on you yourself 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.140 and on your servants 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.759 and your people 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.819 so that you may know 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.819 that there's none like me 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.579 in all the earth 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:49.039 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence and you would have been cut off from the earth. 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:56.480 But for this purpose I've raised you up to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 00:21:57.339 --> 00:22:01.960 You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:07.399 Now just consider the extraordinary complex of ideas in that verse, in that section. 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:09.919 Verse 12, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:15.900 Verse 13, the Lord said to Pharaoh, the commanded Pharaoh, let my people go. 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:21.259 So we've got those two side by side, without embarrassment or contradiction. 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:30.240 God's sovereignty, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, but Pharaoh's responsibility, this command, let my people go, that he is called to obey. 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:36.580 In verse 15 and 16 we have God's sovereignty again. 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:43.099 He says, I've raised you up, verse 16, for this purpose I've raised you up. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.759 In what sense had God raised Pharaoh up? 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:49.720 Well he'd at least done these two things, he'd appointed Pharaoh as ruler of Egypt, he'd given him power and authority. 00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:55.500 But in light of verse 15 where he says, I could have put out my hand and struck you and cut you off from the earth. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:23:04.759 He's also allowed Pharaoh to continue in that position, even as Pharaoh resisted God's commands and oppressed God's people. 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:09.740 Rather than simply wiping him out straight away, he left him there as Pharaoh, as ruler. 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:12.119 God's sovereignty, verse 17. 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.859 But then there's human responsibility again. 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:18.579 Verse 17, you are still exalting yourself against my people. 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:22.379 You will not let them go. 00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:35.619 See, in the case of Pharaoh, God asserts both his own sovereignty in raising Pharaoh up and in hardening his heart and in bearing with Pharaoh and ultimately in punishing Pharaoh, 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:43.139 but also Pharaoh's individual responsibility in exalting himself, in hardening his own heart and in refusing to obey God's command. 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:50.440 Now what was God's ultimate goal in raising Pharaoh up, in permitting him to continue as long as he did? 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:55.420 It was so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 00:23:56.560 --> 00:24:05.540 Pharaoh's prolonged ability to resist and oppose God was ultimately to serve a greater purpose that God might be made known. 00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:12.720 Wasn't it the same with the chief priests in Jesus' day? 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:15.000 With Pontius Pilate? 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:17.520 With Judas Iscariot? 00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:20.040 With the soldiers who crucified Jesus? 00:24:21.020 --> 00:24:25.360 Those who committed the most appalling and treacherous evil? 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:33.000 Guilty of terrible crimes against God? 00:24:34.560 --> 00:24:38.780 And yet at the same time, raised up by God? 00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:42.360 Appointed by God? 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:46.460 So that Jesus' name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 00:24:49.280 --> 00:24:54.140 Brothers and sisters, we don't need to fear when evildoers seem to have the upper hand. 00:24:57.080 --> 00:24:59.520 But let's take us back to the conclusion in Romans 9. 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:00.620 Flick back to Romans 9. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.320 Romans 9 verse 18. 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:12.599 So then, he has mercy on whomever he wills and he hardens whomever he wills. 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:17.099 Here is an emphatic declaration of God's sovereignty in election. 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:20.500 Sovereignty over both mercy and judgment. 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:25.460 Now that leads to another potential objection. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.940 We'll get there soon, verse 19. 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:31.779 But just before we get there, there's one thing we need to notice about verses 15 to 18. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:38.579 These two actions of God, which are described here, showing mercy and hardening. 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:46.599 Do you notice that they both assume that the people God is acting towards are sinners? 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:54.659 The perspective here is not of a perfect, unfallen humanity and God deciding, 00:25:55.339 --> 00:26:00.919 oh, I'd like to save some and I'd like to punish others, so I better make this lot really bad so that I can punish them. 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:08.259 The perspective, rather, is of sinful, rebellious, fallen humanity, humanity at enmity with God, 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:13.240 and God sovereignly choosing to show mercy to some, but not all, 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:16.880 and to confirm others in their rebellion against him. 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:18.460 Now, this isn't just splitting hairs. 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:20.000 I think this is an important distinction. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:27.600 It's not the case that we all deserve mercy, but God in his cruelty punishes some. 00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:30.120 Rather, it's the case that we all deserve punishment. 00:26:31.820 --> 00:26:33.900 And God in his mercy forgives some. 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:39.840 Well, let's get to that second objection, verse 19. 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:42.000 Why does God still find fault? 00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:46.539 Verse 19, you will say to me then, why does he still find fault? 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:49.019 For who can resist his will? 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:53.039 Now, on the one hand, we can get this objection, right? 00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:58.420 If God hardens me in sin, how could I resist that? 00:26:58.420 --> 00:27:05.539 And so, how could God blame me for sin if he has hardened me in sin? 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:14.519 Now, there's a couple of things we should probably have in mind as we read these words that Paul's going to say in response. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.840 A couple of things we should probably have in mind. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:25.740 First, remember back in Romans chapter 1, well, you may remember, Paul had already spoken in Romans chapter 1 about God giving people up to their sin. 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:31.620 Giving people up to their own lusts and passions and debased mind. 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:40.179 No one who is hardened by God is trying to resist his will. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:44.239 In a sense, as in trying to stop being hardened by God. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.899 You know, trying to resist the hardening. 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.000 No one's doing that, right? 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:54.980 When God hardens sinners, he is handing sinners over to the wickedness of their own hearts. 00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:07.339 Second thing to keep in mind is that ever since Genesis chapter 3, humans have been coming up with excuses to try and evade the responsibility for our sin. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:09.279 Remember Adam? 00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:16.199 The woman you put here with me, she gave me the fruit. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.619 Remember Eve? 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.599 It was the serpent. 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.619 He deceived me. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.699 Remember Cain? 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:26.079 Am I my brother's keeper? 00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:32.939 Here's just another attempt to avoid responsibility for sin. 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:36.659 If I'm hardened, God, that's your fault. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:46.759 But the word of God will not permit us to set God's sovereignty against our responsibility. 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.980 It doesn't allow us to do that. 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:56.199 In fact, Romans chapter 9, verse 30 to 33, just after the passage, they will be speaking on this next week. 00:28:56.759 --> 00:29:06.339 Romans 9, 30 to 33 lays the responsibility for stumbling, their stumbling, squarely in the lap of Israel and their unbelief. 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:11.519 Or as Paul says here in verse 20, 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:16.019 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:19.139 Will what is moulded say to its moulder? 00:29:19.459 --> 00:29:21.019 Why have you made me like this? 00:29:21.939 --> 00:29:28.839 Has the potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honourable use and another for dishonourable use? 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:29.839 God is God. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.839 God is God. 00:29:30.839 --> 00:29:31.720 God is God. 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:34.159 And you are not. 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.819 And I am not. 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:38.879 God is under no obligation to save everyone. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:46.179 As the potter with the clay, God is free to do with sinful humanity, with rebellious Israel, whatever he will. 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:54.060 And in verse 22 to 24, Paul lays out what God is doing, God's plan. 00:29:55.560 --> 00:29:56.580 Verse 22. 00:29:56.579 --> 00:30:02.720 And here, the potter and clay image is still in the background. 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:05.599 You can see that from the use of the word vessels in these verses. 00:30:06.439 --> 00:30:07.039 Verse 22. 00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:10.079 Verse speaks of vessels of wrath. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:19.919 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:27.819 Now, why in this verse does God desire to show his wrath and make his power known? 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.899 Why does he desire to show wrath? 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:32.779 Is it because God desires wrath in and of itself? 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:36.319 Is it because God enjoys destruction? 00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:38.399 No. 00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:38.519 No. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:44.019 That suggestion would contradict the scriptures or contradict what God himself had said. 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:45.619 Ezekiel 33 verse 11. 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:51.619 God says, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.819 Turn back. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:56.899 Turn back from your evil ways. 00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:03.159 The only sense in which God desires to show wrath is because wrath is deserved. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.919 Because God cannot tolerate sin. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:10.759 Because he allows the weeds to grow among the wheat. 00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:17.380 He cannot let the guilty, but ultimately he cannot let the guilty unpunished. 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:19.039 Leave the guilty unpunished. 00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:31.400 But as God did with Pharaoh in a more general sense, God at present, the present time, endures with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:33.400 He allows sin and sinners to continue. 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:35.860 He allows the weeds to grow among the wheat. 00:31:35.860 --> 00:31:36.380 Why? 00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.340 Verse 23. 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:51.199 In order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:32:07.559 Similar to in Pharaoh's day, God's purpose in restraining wrath in the present time, in holding back the final judgment, is in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy. 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:09.860 Verse 24. 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:14.360 Even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles. 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:28.479 When God speaks about vessels of mercy in verse 23, he's talking about individual people who are called from among the Jews and called from among the Gentiles, from every nation. 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:40.759 You see, Paul is here, he's applying this teaching of unconditional election, not only to God's choice of Israel as a whole, or to God's choice of the church as a whole. 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:52.859 But more specifically and pointedly, to his choice of individual people, both Jews and Gentiles, out of Israel, out of the nations, to receive his mercy. 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:59.119 The eternal destiny of each and every individual is in the hands of God. 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:03.079 He is completely sovereign in salvation. 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:10.980 But let's make sure we continue to structure our thoughts in line with the word of God. 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:14.579 Consider God's two actions from verse 18. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:17.980 Showing mercy on some, pardoning others. 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:23.319 From one perspective, God's role in each is equivalent. 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:26.480 He has mercy on whomever he wills. 00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.939 He hardens whomever he wills. 00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:29.259 There are vessels of mercy. 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.480 There are vessels of wrath. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:40.259 But from another perspective, we can see in this section of God's word that his mercy is primary. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:43.680 His mercy is primary. 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:45.400 God's dealings with Pharaoh. 00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:48.440 God's dealings with the vessels of wrath. 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:58.940 God's raising up of Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate and the chief priests are all ultimately to serve his purpose of showing mercy to those he will save. 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:09.460 Even the terms used, the Greek terms used in verse 22 and 23 for prepared and prepared beforehand. 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:13.599 While they're near synonyms, they're not identical. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:19.719 And that second, prepared beforehand, may be the stronger of the two. 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:32.139 At the end of the day, God hardening whom he wills and God enduring with great patience vessels of wrath are virtually the same thing. 00:34:32.919 --> 00:34:33.659 Let me say it again. 00:34:33.879 --> 00:34:38.799 God hardening whom he wills and God enduring with patience vessels of wrath are virtually the same thing. 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:41.480 Perhaps this way of thinking about it will help us. 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:44.920 There are people alive today. 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:52.280 There are people living and breathing in our world today who will never put their trust in Jesus Christ. 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:56.639 Who will never willingly bow the knee to him. 00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:01.019 Who will never listen to his voice or follow in his ways. 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:05.340 There are people alive today who will never thank God for his love and mercy. 00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:07.960 Who will never delight in the Lord Jesus. 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:11.880 Who will never join their voice in a chorus of praise. 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:16.960 There are self-made people who love themselves, who love money, who love this world. 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:19.199 Who want creation without the creator. 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:21.099 Who want the kingdom without the king. 00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:25.760 The enemies of the cross whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame. 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:33.760 With each year that passes, is God patiently enduring them? 00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:36.520 Or is he hardening them? 00:35:38.680 --> 00:35:40.120 Well, both. 00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:44.280 And there's little difference between the two. 00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:51.620 Because every day these people are hardening their hearts to the testimony of God. 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:54.200 The testimony of creation. 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.120 Look up at the heavens. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:58.320 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:04.460 The good things of creation which God gives us every day to enjoy. 00:36:04.620 --> 00:36:06.040 Which speak of God's kindness. 00:36:07.640 --> 00:36:10.040 And above all the proclamation of the gospel. 00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:11.160 The name of Jesus. 00:36:11.520 --> 00:36:13.540 Going out to every corner of the world. 00:36:13.820 --> 00:36:15.920 The longer God delays his wrath. 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:22.720 The longer he hands people over to sin and rebellion and idolatry. 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:25.419 But why? 00:36:25.419 --> 00:36:25.459 Why? 00:36:25.459 --> 00:36:28.259 Why is God doing this? 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:35.219 Because God is still in the process of calling and drawing to himself the vessels of his mercy. 00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:38.859 That work is not yet finished. 00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:51.300 In verses 25 to 29 Paul continues to gather scriptural support for this whole plan of salvation that he's just outlined. 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:55.900 He quotes from the prophets Hosea and Isaiah moving through the Old Testament. 00:36:55.900 --> 00:37:00.440 We don't have time to consider these citations in detail. 00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:02.340 Let me just offer a couple of comments. 00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:05.900 The first quote from Hosea is from a couple of verses in Hosea. 00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:07.300 It's a free citation. 00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:09.880 It's rearranged kind of to suit Paul's purposes. 00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:14.880 But let me read it out as Paul quotes it in Romans 9 verse 25 and 26. 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:40.019 Now out of context, at face value, it sounds like Paul is making a point specifically about the salvation of the Gentiles. 00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:46.800 He's just mentioned in verse 24, people being called not from Jews only but also from the Gentiles, the nations. 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:50.199 And these verses, these words seem to fit that. 00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:53.079 Those who are not my people, I'll call my people. 00:37:54.219 --> 00:38:00.460 I think it's usually safe to assume that Paul knows the context of the text he quotes from the Old Testament. 00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:04.860 And in Hosea, these words aren't about the Gentiles, they're actually about Israel. 00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:14.619 They're about Israel who have been so rebellious and so idolatrous and so sinful that effectively they've been cast off as the people of God. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.119 But he says, those who are not my people, I'll call my people. 00:38:20.800 --> 00:38:21.960 Sons of the living God. 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.740 Not my beloved. 00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:23.840 I will call my beloved. 00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:24.860 I will bring them back. 00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:33.000 Now I think in Romans, Paul probably wants us to understand this quote from Hosea as true both of Jews and Gentiles. 00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:35.720 See, this is how God saves people. 00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:46.240 Both Israel, despite their Old Testament calling, and the nations, find themselves in the position of being not my people and not beloved. 00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.880 Cut off from God. 00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.420 Cast off. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.079 Undeserving. 00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:55.840 But what God is on about is redeeming and restoring and bringing back. 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:58.239 Turning enemies into sons. 00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:05.940 The next quote, verse 27 and 28, comes from Isaiah 10. 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:09.639 It makes the point that only a remnant of Israel will ultimately be saved. 00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:11.420 But let me attempt to draw together some threads. 00:39:13.259 --> 00:39:16.920 There are questions that this passage we've looked at this morning doesn't answer. 00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:22.760 It doesn't tell us where evil came from in the first place. 00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:28.340 It doesn't tell us why the serpent was in the garden. 00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:32.860 It doesn't tell us why God permitted the fall. 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:42.660 It doesn't tell us why God chose to save some, but not all. 00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:47.960 It certainly doesn't tell us why God chooses one person rather than another. 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:55.660 But we must not let the unanswered questions be an excuse for rejecting the answers God has given us. 00:39:55.659 --> 00:40:00.619 Consider the final quote from Isaiah chapter 1 in verse 29. 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:10.819 And as Isaiah predicted, if the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah. 00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:15.119 Salvation depends on God. 00:40:16.819 --> 00:40:19.739 Left to ourselves, we are destined for wrath. 00:40:19.739 --> 00:40:33.639 God's mercy must be free and uncompelled or it is worthless to us. 00:40:36.319 --> 00:40:41.879 God's mercy is bestowed on the undeserving by the gracious choice of God alone. 00:40:42.919 --> 00:40:48.259 If God were not sovereign in salvation, we would not be saved. 00:40:48.260 --> 00:40:55.660 And so God's sovereign mercy is cause for praise, not panic. 00:40:57.720 --> 00:41:03.240 Unconditional election, God's sovereign mercy means that people will be saved. 00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:06.100 The alternative is Sodom. 00:41:07.020 --> 00:41:08.500 The alternative is Gomorrah. 00:41:09.800 --> 00:41:13.920 When God chose to save people, he didn't just choose to save. 00:41:14.740 --> 00:41:16.240 He chose people. 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:21.699 The fact that God chose to save meant that people could be saved. 00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:27.459 The fact that God chose people means that people will be saved. 00:41:30.139 --> 00:41:36.199 Unconditional election means that there are still people who will hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:40.859 Because there are people that God has chosen beforehand for mercy. 00:41:41.659 --> 00:41:55.739 As long as God permits this present age to continue, as long as God endures with great patience vessels of wrath, there are still vessels of mercy who will respond to the gospel, not with scorn, but with wonder and joy and repentance and faith. 00:41:55.739 --> 00:42:07.119 As Paul says elsewhere of his evangelistic labors, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:15.880 But I want to close with a word to any of you who find the doctrine of unconditional election disconcerting. 00:42:17.179 --> 00:42:18.259 I've been there. 00:42:21.619 --> 00:42:27.159 It's possible to trouble ourselves worrying, am I one of the elect? 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:29.679 I've been there too. 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:36.639 You won't help yourself by asking that question. 00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:41.239 You won't help yourself by asking the question, am I one of the elect? 00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:46.959 As I mentioned last Sunday, I took my car to the mechanic this week. 00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:48.419 Actually, I took my car to two mechanics. 00:42:50.719 --> 00:42:53.199 And they both gave the same opinion, sadly. 00:42:53.699 --> 00:43:00.119 But the second mechanic I went to was Jen's cousin's husband, a mechanic called Wes. 00:43:00.759 --> 00:43:04.379 And when I went to pick up the car, the bonnet of the car was up. 00:43:05.459 --> 00:43:06.519 He wanted to show me something. 00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.839 And he said, you know, come and look at this. 00:43:08.319 --> 00:43:10.859 Let me show you the strut top mounts. 00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:14.219 And, you know, he pointed them out. 00:43:14.479 --> 00:43:16.239 And, you know, there's the problem, right? 00:43:16.319 --> 00:43:17.959 See, we need to replace those. 00:43:18.259 --> 00:43:21.959 Now, Larry's stepped out for a moment, has he? 00:43:22.619 --> 00:43:23.319 Larry, we're here. 00:43:23.399 --> 00:43:24.359 He'd be thinking, sorry? 00:43:25.500 --> 00:43:26.539 Sunday school, of course. 00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:29.139 Well, I mean, Larry, he'd be thinking, of course, the strut top mounts. 00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:31.279 I've got a dozen strut top mounts in my shed. 00:43:31.899 --> 00:43:37.079 And I can now dutifully show you, if I were to lift the bonnet of my car, 00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:40.099 I could dutifully show you where the strut top mounts are. 00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:45.900 I'm still not entirely sure what they do, where Wes will find new ones, or how he'll replace them. 00:43:48.179 --> 00:43:53.039 Does it make me a better driver knowing where to find my strut top mounts? 00:43:53.039 --> 00:43:55.480 Of course not. 00:43:57.639 --> 00:44:01.659 Driving a car and repairing a car are two completely different skills. 00:44:02.420 --> 00:44:06.619 When I'm driving a car, I'm not constantly checking under the bonnet while I'm driving. 00:44:06.619 --> 00:44:12.239 I'm not even thinking about what's under the bonnet while I'm driving unless smoke starts pouring out. 00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:19.119 You don't need to know how a car engine works or how a suspension system works to drive a car. 00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:28.759 Of course, you need everything under the bonnet to be functioning properly for the car to go. 00:44:29.420 --> 00:44:31.839 But that's the mechanic's job, not yours. 00:44:33.159 --> 00:44:38.279 You could be a perfectly good driver and never even open the bonnet once in your life. 00:44:38.579 --> 00:44:42.099 I'd just recommend taking out an NRMA Roadside Assistance membership. 00:44:42.099 --> 00:44:47.299 Kids who haven't started driving yet, like you haven't had your... 00:44:47.299 --> 00:44:55.019 When your parents start teaching you to drive, I can guarantee you the first lesson won't involve them popping open the bonnet and saying, 00:44:55.179 --> 00:44:56.779 look, there are the strut top mounts. 00:45:01.099 --> 00:45:04.500 Unconditional election is under the bonnet of salvation. 00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:07.980 We know God does it. 00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.960 We know it works. 00:45:10.659 --> 00:45:13.780 But we don't need to concern ourselves overly much with it. 00:45:14.579 --> 00:45:15.820 God has it covered. 00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:21.480 Nobody becomes a Christian by hearing the doctrine of unconditional election. 00:45:23.179 --> 00:45:28.219 Nobody assures themselves that they're among the elect by asking, am I among the elect? 00:45:29.219 --> 00:45:31.300 When you ask that, what are you doing? 00:45:31.300 --> 00:45:35.180 You're looking at yourself and you'll find no comfort there. 00:45:36.420 --> 00:45:38.200 We must look up, not in. 00:45:38.300 --> 00:45:40.200 To Jesus, not ourselves. 00:45:42.220 --> 00:45:44.340 God doesn't ask us to look under the bonnet. 00:45:45.400 --> 00:45:49.680 If you spend your time looking under the bonnet, you'll never get in the seat and drive the car. 00:45:50.760 --> 00:45:56.660 What we need to do is to attend to the promises and to the call of the gospel. 00:45:58.140 --> 00:46:00.080 Every word of scripture is true. 00:46:00.079 --> 00:46:05.380 The gospel, Paul says in Colossians, has been proclaimed in all of creation. 00:46:06.440 --> 00:46:09.960 Every promise of the gospel is offered to every single individual. 00:46:11.019 --> 00:46:17.259 Every invitation of the gospel is extended to every single person. 00:46:18.319 --> 00:46:21.920 The gospel is not you, you, not you, you, not you. 00:46:22.319 --> 00:46:23.460 That's not the gospel. 00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:31.179 The gospel is, come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:46:32.460 --> 00:46:36.679 The gospel is, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:42.720 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 00:46:42.719 --> 00:46:54.739 The gospel is, repent and be baptized every one of you, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit. 00:46:54.739 --> 00:47:00.319 The gospel is, believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. 00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:04.160 So, hear the word of the gospel. 00:47:05.120 --> 00:47:13.660 Come, drink, repent, believe, and you will find rest and life and forgiveness and fellowship with God. 00:47:13.659 --> 00:47:17.779 Do you think you're too sinful? 00:47:19.199 --> 00:47:21.539 Do you think the promises of God are not for you? 00:47:22.619 --> 00:47:29.099 Well, let me close by reading something from, this is a book I'd commend to you, Spurgeon vs. Hyper-Calvinism by Ian Murray. 00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:32.839 But I'm going to read a quote from a Spurgeon sermon. 00:47:32.840 --> 00:47:38.340 Repent and be baptized every one of you, said Peter. 00:47:39.720 --> 00:47:46.240 As John Bunyan puts it, now that's Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, right? Acts chapter 2. 00:47:46.840 --> 00:47:50.800 As John Bunyan puts it, one man might have stood up in the crowd and said, 00:47:51.800 --> 00:47:54.320 But I helped to hound him to the cross. 00:47:56.600 --> 00:47:58.860 Repent and be baptized every one of you. 00:47:58.860 --> 00:48:04.800 But I drove the nails into his hands, says one. 00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:08.620 Every one of you, says Peter. 00:48:09.620 --> 00:48:11.500 But I pierced his side. 00:48:13.360 --> 00:48:15.519 Every one of you, said Peter. 00:48:16.380 --> 00:48:20.680 And I put my tongue into my cheek and stared at his nakedness and said, 00:48:20.800 --> 00:48:23.680 If he be the Son of God, let him come down from the cross. 00:48:25.840 --> 00:48:28.720 Every one of you, said Peter. 00:48:28.860 --> 00:48:33.700 Repent and be baptized every one of you. 00:48:35.300 --> 00:48:39.420 The promises and the call of the gospel are for you. 00:48:41.120 --> 00:48:44.059 So hear the gospel and come. 00:48:46.559 --> 00:48:47.740 Will you pray with me? 00:48:47.739 --> 00:48:56.879 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy shown to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:48:58.079 --> 00:49:00.859 That you would reach out to redeem sinners. 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:03.619 To make us your people. 00:49:04.899 --> 00:49:08.899 To make us your beloved sons and daughters. 00:49:08.900 --> 00:49:32.280 In Jesus' name. 00:49:32.280 --> 00:49:32.900 Amen. 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:49:33.059 00:49:33.059 --> 00:50:03.039 Thank you.