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Psalms 74:13-23 You divided
the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the
waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as
food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. You broke open the fountain and
the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. The day is Yours, the night also is
Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of
the earth; You have made summer and winter. Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O
LORD, And that a foolish people
has blasphemed Your name. Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the
wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. Have respect to the
covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.
Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your
name. Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man
reproaches You daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of
those who rise up against You increases continually. Father, we give you all the praise and
thanks for all you do in our lives. We ask that you comfort the families that
have lost loved ones in Colorado and Wisconsin shootings. Send the Holy Spirit
to touch our hearts so we can understand your Word and put it into practice.
Open our ears so that we can hear your voice. We give you all the glory and
praise. Amen!
Romans 9:19-33 NKJV
In past lessons we have touched on the
fairness of God. The balance of this chapter deals with Gods fairness and we
cannot argue with God because he is the creator, the supreme being, the one
that sets the standards not humans. Just as children cry out to their parents,
“that’s not fair” we also cry out to God our Father, “that’s not fair”. What
happens when your children complain that isn’t fair? Who has the final say? The
parent is the authority and the child is to submit to the parent. If the child
doesn’t conform to the parents commands they will have to suffer the
consequences. God is our spiritual father and we as his children are to obey
Him and if we don’t then we suffer through some type of punishment. These
punishments are handed down to us in a spiritual manner that we have a very
difficult time recognizing since we are humans. This is where that free will
that God has created us with steps in and takes over. That sin nature rears up
and tells us to do what pleases our flesh. God’s fairness is for all and has
been consistent in the past, present, and future. So let’s see how Paul teaches
this truth to his listeners past and present.
Romans 9:19-33
19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still
find fault? For who has resisted His will?" Paul poses a couple questions again
before the questions are asked. With the Holy Spirit guiding him he is able to
pose questions and answer them before his audience even has a chance to ask
them. The question being in the minds of his audience is who has resisted God.
This is the way our human minds work. We set standards for ourselves according
to other people’s actions and what feels good to our flesh. In doing this we
think we are good and doing His will, but in reality we are abiding by human
standards, and many people fall into this category. This is where God finds
fault with us, things like drunkenness, lying, cheating on spouses, unwed couples
living together and having sexual relations, etc. Romans 1:24-32 NLT So God
abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a
result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. 25 They
traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things
God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!
Amen. 26
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned
against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each
other. 27
And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with
lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of
this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. 28 Since they
thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish
thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their
lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder,
quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are
backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new
ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They
refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no
mercy. 32
They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die,
yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against
God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" This is what this verse is saying. We
as human beings invariably look to something or someone other than ourselves to
blame for our actions and faults. Instead of us examining our lives according
to God’s standards, we say I’m this way because God made me this way or I do
these things because that is the way I am. When mankind does not know what
God’s standards are, which is in His Holy Word, then they blamed God for making
them that way. I have heard this many times and just last night on the news
with this Chick-fil-A issue that is going on right now, a statement was made by
one of the protester, “I’m just being a good person and living how God made
me.” This gay person will have a rude awakening when he stands before Jesus and
he judges him according to His standard, the Bible, and points to the doors of
Hell, unless of course he repents and accepts Jesus as his saviour before he
dies. Here again it is our free will to choose what lifestyle we will live here
on earth which ultimately dictates where we will spend eternity.
21 Does not the potter have power over the clay,
from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Paul
compares God to a potter and it is up to the potter to do as he pleases with a
lump of clay. This verse can confuse a person into thinking God chooses who
goes to Heaven or Hell, but it is far from the truth. Let’s go back to the time
of creation and read a couple verses that will put v21 into perspective. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image;
in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had
made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and
the morning were the sixth day. God created us in His image which was
very good. We are good in relationship to His likeness and only in His
likeness. Our lifestyle is what He doesn’t like. It is the fall of man that has
corrupted us and with God’s hands He attempts to shape us into a being that
will accept Jesus as our Saviour so that we can spend eternity with Him in
Heaven. He calls us to holiness if we will listen, just like a potter forms
something beautiful of clay. If we refuse to accept the call then we are like a
vessel the potter forms to hold garbage.
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power
known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for
destruction. What this verse is saying is that God has every right to
show His anger and His power toward individuals (vessels) that are destined for
Hell, after all he is all knowing and knows what the individuals outcome will
be, but He is very patient with those who are destined for destruction. Our God
is a merciful God and he has compassion for His created beings and doesn’t want
to see anyone spend eternity in darkness. But when one leaves this earth, and
if they have not accepted Jesus as their Saviour, His wrath will be poured out
on them come judgment day.
23 and that He might make known the riches of His
glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, Just as v22
is addressing God’s wrath toward the unsaved, this verse is speaking of riches
a Born Again individual will reap one day. A saved person’s eyes will be opened
to God’s glory; they will have a revelation of a personal relationship with
Jesus. God is like a potter and will form us into a Christ like person if we
will allow the Holy Spirit the latitude to work within us. The last part of
this verse, “which
He had prepared beforehand for glory”, is referring to those that will
accept Jesus as their Saviour by the calling of God our Father. It is that all
knowing power of God that there is a place already prepared in Heaven for those
that will respond to the calling. It does not mean that God picks and chooses
who will go to Heaven. If that were the case then God’s word would contradict
itself. It states plainly that “whoever
believes” will not perish. John
3:16 For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Revelation
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who
hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let
him take the water of life freely.
24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only,
but also of the Gentiles?
25 As He says also in Hosea: "I WILL CALL THEM MY PEOPLE, WHO WERE NOT MY
PEOPLE, AND HER BELOVED, WHO WAS NOT BELOVED."
26 "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO
THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING
GOD." Here
again these 3 verses are referring to the calling of God to all. All of mankind
is eligible to become adopted children of God, if only they will respond to His
calling. The capitalized text is taken from Hosea
2:23; 1:9-10. Paul quotes these passages to substantiate what his is
preaching. It isn’t anything new because it is stated in the OT.
27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, THE REMNANT WILL BE SAVED. This verse is
based on Isaiah 10:22. The prophets of
old proclaimed this fact many times but no one would listen. People went on
living their lives as they wanted to. Throughout all of time it has been
mentioned that only a remnant of people will enjoy the happiness of eternal life.
Even direct descendants of Abraham and Sarah were not saved. This is so true
even today. Only God knows who is saved and who isn’t. Many say they are saved,
but they only know Jesus with head knowledge and not that heart relationship.
For the most part our present day religious denominations are leading people
astray. They don’t want to preach the truth, because if they do they are afraid
of offending someone. Isaiah
24:13 Throughout the earth the story
is the same—only a remnant is left, like the stray olives left on the tree or
the few grapes left on the vine after harvest. Romans_11:4-6; Ezra_9:8, Ezra_9:14;
Isaiah_1:9, Isaiah_10:20-21,
Isaiah_11:11, Isaiah_24:13; Jeremiah_5:10;
Ezekiel_6:8; Micah_5:3-8
28 FOR HE WILL FINISH THE WORK AND CUT IT SHORT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE
THE LORD WILL MAKE A SHORT WORK UPON THE EARTH." This verse is based on Isaiah 10:23. This verse is referring to the
second coming of Jesus when he returns and destroys all people that don’t truly
believe in Him. It will be done according to God’s holy righteousness and not
according to mans standards. When Jesus died on the Cross He stated it was
finished and it was finished in the aspect of Jesus defeating Satan. This made
it possible for all who so desire to accept Jesus as their Saviour could, but
at some point in time, which no one knows, Jesus is going to return and cleanse
this earth of all people that aren’t saved and lock them up for eternity in the
pit of Hell along with Satan and his band of evil doers. This will take place 7
years after the Rapture. Jesus will make short work of taking the lives of
those that aren’t His by speaking it into existence just as at the beginning if
time He spoke the earth into existence; Genesis
Chapter 1.
29 And as Isaiah said before: "UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT US A
SEED, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE LIKE
GOMORRAH." This
verse
is based on Isaiah 1:9, but all of Isaiah Chapter 1 is excellent to read slowly and
think about what it is saying. Isaiah was speaking to God’s people and trying
to get them to understand their lifestyle was evil in the Lord’s eyes, but they
wouldn’t listen. Please read the chapter and apply it to your life and the
religion you practice vs. what is required to become one of God’s children,
being simple faith in Jesus and what He did for us on the Cross of Calvary.
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did
not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the
righteousness of faith; With verses 30-33 Paul is pointing out a
simple fact that it is by simply believing and placing faith in Jesus they can
become righteous in God’s eyes just like the Gentiles. Verse 30 he points out
that the Gentiles had no god like the Jews did. All they were was worshippers
of idols. They didn’t pursue righteousness like the Israelites did. They didn’t
have a true God even though they knew about the Israelite’s God. When someone
came along like Paul and explained to them who Jesus was and what he did for
all mankind, they accepted it with simple faith and were saved.
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,
has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it
by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that
stumbling stone. Paul is pointing out here that the Jews were
trying to get right with God, by trying to keep the laws, but never succeeded. All
they had to do was place their trust in Jesus the Messiah, but they were too
stubborn to listen because of their heritage and having the Old Testament
Scriptures. They were trying to work their way to Heaven just like many of
current times. They were stuck on the religion of their forefathers, parents,
and the way they were raised as a child and couldn’t accept the truth to change
their beliefs. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.
33 As it is written: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STUMBLING STONE AND
ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." Paul takes
this verse from Isaiah 8:14. Isaiah is warning the people of his time that they
would reject the Messiah because He would not fit their idea of what they
wanted in a Messiah. The stumbling stone is Jesus Christ and the rock of
offence of course is the Gospel. It’s simple faith and not works to make one
righteous in God’s eyes. Here again our flesh gets in the way of God’s will and
what is best for us. We always think we are smarter than God and do things our
way instead of accepting the truth.
At this point in time and all that we have learned from
Paul in his teaching of the Book of Romans, one must realize they cannot work
their way to Heaven. Placing ones faith in religion and the doctrine of a
religion will not save a person. If you are still bound and determined that
your religion is the one and only true religion and that everything it teaches
is true, then you are deceiving yourself. Now don’t take me the wrong way,
because religion is very important just as the Ten Commandments. We need religion
and the Ten Commandments to point us in the right direction, but invariably we
start trying to do what a religious doctrine dictates in quest of Heaven or
trying to be a good person by trying to keep the Ten Commandments, but in
reality it is us trying to do things of our own capabilities to get to Heaven.
Catechism is defined as an elementary book containing a
summary of the principles of the Christian religion, especially as maintained
by a particular church, in the form of questions and answers. Here is a few synonyms
for the word catechism; background; book learning; brainwashing; drilling;
coaching; culture; training; tutoring. So any religion that teaches from books/booklets
and not the True Word of God, the Bible, then red flags should go up and what
it teaches must be verified by God’s Word
For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ,
for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes,
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
Unless you are Born Again,
you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."
Bill Wiesbrock
Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Abida?
Answer: Abida was the grandson of Abraham
through Keturah. He is only mentioned in the genealogies. Genesis
25:4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah,
and Eldaah. All these were the
children of Keturah.
This week’s Trivia: Who was Abidan?
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