Introduction

(Read Text) One of the biggest theological mistakes peopleoften make is that they put human boundaries on what God can and cannot do. God has boundaries. He can’t violate his own righteousness or do something illogical. God can’t make a stoneso large that he can’t pick it up because the very idea is nonsensical.

But God is not bound by our logic or what makes sense to us. But that doesn’t stop people from trying. For example, Muslimsoften claim that the Trinity is impossible. “There’s no way that one God can consist of 3 persons. I can’t understand it, so it must not be true.” I can’t comprehend the Trinity either, but I don’t have the authority to say it can’t be. I must accept it by faith.

Another theological complexity that we struggle to reconcile is the relationship of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. How can God be in absolute control of everything that takes place? How can the future be so certain that God knows it perfectly? Yet we are free creatures who make our own choices? That’s hard to understand.

Therefore, some deny divine sovereignty. They say that Godcan’t control what we do, and we sometimes surprise him. We are in charge, and God reacts to us. Others say that people don’t make genuine choices. People are mere puppets, God is pulling the strings, and we mindlessly follow.

Either extreme is comfortable because each makes sense to us, but both deny Scripture. For example, the last few passages we have studied in Romans 9 teach that God is sovereign. And today’s passage continues that theme. But that doesn’t mean we are mere puppets in God’s hand. No, 9:30–10:21 also teach that our choices are very important and bear eternal consequence. Today, we are going to cross the bridge from divine sovereignty to human responsibility. We can’t quite understand it, but we must embrace it. So, our passage includes two distinct sections. First, vv. 24–29 teach…

I. God will accomplish his redemptive purpose (vv. 24–29).

Remember that the main concern of Romans 9 is to prove the assertion in v. 6 that the word of God has not failed. Specifically, the Jews assumed their relationship to Abraham all but guaranteed their salvation. However, by the time Paul wrote Romans, it was becoming clear that most Jews were not going to accept Jesus as the Messiah. So, had God’s promise failed, or was Paul’s gospel unfaithful to OT theology?

Paul responds by using the OT to prove that God was never obligated to save every descendant of Abraham. No one has a right to demand God’s mercy. Instead, God has the right to either extend or withhold mercy based on his sovereign will. Therefore, we saw last Sunday in vv. 19–23 that God makes some vessels for destruction and others for mercy.

But why have so many Jews rejected Christ, and why have so many Gentiles received him? Today’s passageanswers this question. Why, as v. 24 says, is God not just calling people from among the Jews but “also from among Gentiles”? Paul answers with both a divine reason and a human reason. Verses 25–29 give the divine reason by citing two of the prophets, Hoseaand Isaiah. First, Hosea demonstrates…

God’s Freedom to Save Gentiles (vv. 25–26): This quotation is tricky because it’s obvious from Hosea that this quotation was originally about the 10Northern tribes of Israel. They had rebelled against God, and God was about to abandon them to judgment through the Assyrian invasion.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of the story. Hosea 2:23 promised them, “I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, and I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they will say, ‘You are my God’” (Hos 2:23)!

It’s a wonderful promise, but Paul seems to ignorethe fact that it was about Israel and wrongly apply it tothe Gentiles. What’s going on here? Many interpreters say that Paul is transferring God’s promise to the Gentiles. Instead of restoring Israel, God is calling Gentiles.

But that makes God’s promise to Israel disingenuous. It hardly would have comforted Hosea or any of his contemporary Jews to know that God was going to save Gentiles in the church someday. The promise must be for Israel. It was, and God will keep his promise someday.

But Paul recognized an underlying principle that is significant for his purpose. It’s the same principle that he saw in the examples of Isaac, Jacob, and Israel in the wilderness. The principle is that God’s saving purpose is not based on human worth. No one deserves God’s mercy, and no one can demand it. In Hosea’s day, the 10 Northern tribes rebelled against God, and he abandoned them. He was not obligatedto restore them. But mercifully God “will call those who were not My people, ‘My people.’”

Similarly, throughout the OT the Gentile nationsrebelled against God and deserved judgment. But God isn’t bound to judge. He is free to call the Gentiles to himself. He is free to call us “sons of the living God.”

That’s exactly what God has been doing for the past2,000 years. He has been calling Gentiles out of darkness and into a glorious relationship with himself. Most of us are direct beneficiaries of that call. Yes, some of us come from families with a long legacy of gospel faith. Others of us were saved out of the darkest night. But none of us had a natural right to be included in the family of God. No, you were once farfrom God, and walking in sin. But he called you to himself. He chose mercy. Be humbled. Give thanks. Worship the Lord for the mercy you have received.

Then get busy participating in God’s mission of drawing the nations to himself. God has people in every corner of the earth. We just need to bring the gospel to them. Be zealous for world evangelism and discipleship.

God also has people in some unexpected places here in Apple Valley. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. So, talk to them about Christ. Give them a tract. Invite them to church. God can claim anyone he wants. Go after them and see what God might do. So, God has freedom to save Gentiles. But that doesn’t mean he has abandoned Israel. Verses 27–29 declare…

God’s Freedom to Preserve a Jewish Remnant (vv. 27–29): These verses quote two passages from the book of Isaiah. First, vv. 27–28 cite Isaiah 10:22, 23. Like Hosea, Isaiah also discussed God’s judgment of the Northern tribes by the Assyrians. The Assyrian destruction was devasting. By the time the Assyrians were done, it would be hard to imagine how any sort of Israelite renewal could ever be possible.

And it’s important to emphasize that Israel didn’t deserve one. They had grossly rebelled against God for generations. Now, God didn’t promise to bring every Israelite home. But he did promise to preserve a remnant.

That’s exactly what he did some 200 years later. Tens of thousands of Jews came home and reestablished their nation and their identity. It was an incredible testimony to God’s faithfulness and mercy. It didn’t seem possible, but then it happened. God kept his promise.

But while it was an incredible demonstration of mercy, v. 27 notes that only a remnant returned. The returnees were only a fraction of what Israel had once been. God only preserved a remnant.

That’s very significant because it once again demonstrates that God was not obligated to save every Israelite, whether physically (in the case of the Return) or spiritually (in Paul’s day). Therefore, no one should have been shocked that every Israelite had not accepted Jesus as Savior because God had a long a track record of only preserving a remnant.

But he DID preserve a remnant. And rather than viewing this as a disappointment, we should see it as a wonderful display of mercy. Paul drives this home with a second quotation from Isaiah in v. 29.

This one comes from Isaiah 1:9. It had to be a hard one for Israel to stomach. Afterall, how do you think that the Israelites viewed Sodom and Gomorrah? They were the worst example of perversion, violence, and evil. They’re the bottom of the barrel, the last people you’d want to be like.

But what does God say? Israel deserved the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah. Ouch! By Isaiah’s time, there sin was so great for so long, that they deserved complete destruction.

So, why didn’t they? Was it because God found some seed of value in them that compelled him to forgive? Did Israel make a great show of repentance? Did they choose God and forsake their sin with such a flair that they changed God’s mind? No, the only reason they received mercy was because God freely extended it. Verse 29 says that God’s purpose alone saved Israel from complete destruction.

So, vv. 24–29 demonstrate that what was happening in Paul’s day fit the pattern of God’s work throughout Israel’s history. God has never been indebted to any people. When he shows mercy, it’s not because we deserve it or because we talk him into it. It’s free mercy based on God’s purpose. God is truly free. So, if he is more glorified by only preserving a Jewish remnant and extending mercy to the Gentile nations, he is free to do so.  

Again, some of that is hard to stomach. We want to be in control, and we want to take just a little credit for our Christian standing. But God says we can’t. We are entirely indebted to the mercy of God.

That’s one reason why every Christian should rehearse the gospel daily. We all tend to get too big for our britches. Without even trying, we grow entitled and proud. It produces legalism, bitterness, and many other sins. We need the daily corrective of the gospel. So, that I never stray too far from the fact that he is the potter, and I am the clay.

I also want to emphasize again that vv. 24–29 provide strong encouragement to go share the gospel. God has the power and every right to “call those who were not My people, My people.” He can save anyone. And he loves to show mercy. He is not an unwilling Savior. So, share the gospel with confidence that God is going to save sinners. Start a conversation this week. Give someone a tract. Invite them to church. ExpectGod to work.

So, God is sovereign over the salvation of sinners, and he will accomplish his sovereign will. But does that mean we are mere puppets in God’s hand? Should we sit back and just wait for God to save whom he will save? If you are not saved, should you sit on your hands and wait for God to zap you with faith? Does God’s sovereignty eliminate human responsibility? The rest of the chapter says, “Absolutely not!” Instead…

II. We must believe the gospel (vv. 30–33).

These verses contrast the Jews and the Gentiles. What is striking about them is that they suddenly shift from emphasizing God’s sovereignty to emphasizing the different responses of Gentiles and Jews to the gospel. First, v. 30 says…

The Gentiles believed (v. 30). Of course, there has never been a time when most Gentiles believed the gospel. Genuine disciples have always been a small minority. But by Paul’s time, the church was already majority Gentile, and that has only grown with time.

Why is that? The simple difference is faith. Far more Gentiles are believing the gospel than Jews. We’re used to this, but it was shocking to Jewish Christians. That’s because, v. 31 says, the Jews were “pursuing a law of righteousness.” But, as v. 30 says, in the centuries before Christ, Gentiles were not pursuingrighteousness.

Paul doesn’t mean that unbelieving Gentiles never tryto be righteous. Shintoism in Japan and Confucianism in China are two obvious examples of Gentiles trying to be righteous. Rather, in the ages before Christ very few Gentiles ever cared to achieve righteousness before the true God. They didn’t acknowledge him, they weren’t trying to worship him, and they made no effort to gain his favor. They weren’t searching for God.

But when the gospel began to spread among them, many responded in faith. God found them when they weren’t looking for him. They believed that Jesus was the Christ and the only Savior. They repented of their sins, and they “attained righteousness.”

Now, it’s important that we understand precisely what kind of righteousness this is. Paul cannot be saying the Gentiles earned a righteous standing with Godbecause Romans 1–3 already established that no one can achieve the righteousness of God. His standard is impossibly high.

Rather, the righteousness that saves comes to us “by faith.” This is God’s righteousness which he credits to us as a gift when we believe the gospel. Notice how 10:9–10 describe what it means to believe and what we receive when we do so (read). You don’t earn a right standing with God; you simply receive it by faith. You confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior, andyou trust in his finished work on the cross. If you do that, God promises that you will be saved. You will never face God’s judgment; instead, you are safe in Christ.

If you don’t have that assurance that you are saved in Christ, please do what these verses say. Receive Christ, and you can be saved.

I love the fact that our text assumes that you don’t need any other qualification, The Gentiles didn’t have some great heritage. They weren’t even looking for salvation. But when they heard the gospel, it grabbed their hearts, they responded in faith, and God forever changed them.

The gospel is powerful, and it works in surprising ways sometimes. Some of you are those surprises. 10-20 years ago, no one would have imagined what God has done in your life. Praise God! Then don’t put limits on what God may do. Share the gospel with everyone and urge them to believe. That’s the good news, but unfortunately, everyone doesn’t respond the same way. Paul goes on to say that while the Gentiles believed…

The Jews Stumbled: It was a stunning, crushing development for the Jewish Christians. Paul said in v. 3 that if he could, he would give his soul for the salvation of the Jews. But he couldn’t. Most were headed to destruction. What happened? Paul offers two reasons why the Jews stumbled.

They misused the Law (vv. 31–32a). The rich young ruler is a great example of what Paul is saying. He approached Jesus at one point and asked, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This man wanted to be right with God. He was “pursuing righteousness” as v. 30 says.

And he thought he had achieved it. When Jesus brought up several of the 10 Commandments, he replied, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” I’m sure he understood that he hadn’t kept them perfectly, but he was proud of the progress he had made. He thought he had something he could hang his hat on. He thought he was righteous enough. What more could God expect?

Then Jesus demanded more. He said, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me.” “But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.” He was satisfied with the righteousness he had achieved, and he was offended that Christ demanded more.

As far as he had come, he still fell short. Jesus skillfully revealed that he loved his wealth more than he loved God. So, even this very impressive religious man “did not arrive at that law.” He was still a sinner.

What did the young man miss? Verse 32 answers, “He did not pursue (the law) by faith, but as though it were by works.” In other words, he saw the Law of Moses as a way to earn salvation. He convinced himself that he could do it, and he conveniently ignored all the ways he fell short because, “No one can keep it perfectly, so surely God doesn’t require that.”

But Paul says that he missed the point. God intended that Israel “pursue (the Law) by faith.” In other words, the law was designed to reveal Israel’s sin and drive them to grace. Then it was to be an expression of faith, not a replacement for it. They were not to obey the Law to earn God’s acceptance but because they already had it. Therefore, they loved him, and wanted to serve him. But sadly, their pride drove them to abuse the Law and to become hardened in self-righteousness.

Sadly, Satan has used this strategy time and again to keep many people from the gospel. There are probably millions of people in our country who are sure they are going to heaven because they believe they are righteous. But their confidence keeps them from seeing their sin and their need of grace.

Don’t make the same mistake. No matter how righteous you may be, as Jesus pointed out to the rich young ruler, you will never be righteous enough. You need grace. And grace is available by faith in Jesus. Come to him and be saved. So, the Jews stumbled because they misused the Law. 2nd…

They missed their Messiah (vv. 32b–33): Please notice that the stumbling stone is Jesus. Verse 33 says the stumbling stone is a person, and he is the Savior. That’s surprising, isn’t it? How could Jesus be a stumblingblock? The reason is that Jesus didn’t fit what self-righteous Jews were looking for. They didn’t need a lamb; they already had that covered. They needed a king, not a humble Savior on a Roman cross.

They stumbled over Jesus’ humility and over the fact that he came to give them something they refused to believe they needed.

So, what was to blame for the Jews’ rejection of Jesus? Paul says that it’s not God’s fault; it’s the Jews’ fault. They refused to humble themselves before Christ and believe, and that’s why they will be condemned. Don’t blame God; blame them.

That’s really important to remember when someone rejects the gospel. Satan wants us to be angry at God, but we should be frustrated at the sinner. He’s the one who rejected God’s invitation. He’s the one who refused to humble himself before the Lord. He has earned his condemnation.

So, keep pleading with him or her to receive Christ. There is still time, and God can save anyone. Let them know, as the chapter concludes, “He who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Christ is worth it.

That’s what I would say to anyone here who is on the fence. Humble yourself before Christ. Don’t stumble over Christ; make him the cornerstone of your life. Trust in him to save. Receive him as Lord and Savior. God promises you will not be disappointed.