| Home Page | Grace Baptist Church View related sermons Click here |
TEXT: Romans 9:18
SUBJECT: The Sovereignty of God #5: Salvation
Today, with the Lord’s blessing, we’ll proceed in the study we began a few weeks ago. It’s called The Sovereignty of God. The word "sovereignty" rings foreign to many ears, so let me remind you of what it means: It means authority and power. Or, to put it more simply: rule. When we speak of "the sovereignty of God" we mean that He is in charge of everything at all times.
This is not easy to understand, but it’s true. The Bible says so,
"He works all things after the
counsel of His will".
So far, we’ve looked at God’s sovereignty over nature, angels (good and bad) and the nations. Although some would quibble with a minor point here and there, I think most Christians would agree with what I’ve said on these topics. But on today’s subject there is less agreement. And the disagreement often becomes bitter and divisive. And this is equally true of people on both sides.
The topic is God’s Sovereignty and Salvation. What I’ve said about His control of nature, angels, and nations, applies equally to salvation. Namely, that God controls it. That some people are saved and others are not because God has made the decision.
This is what the Bible teaches. I can’t imagine how you can be honest with our text and say otherwise. We’ll look at these things in a few minutes, but before we do, I want to tell you a story…
THE STORY
Once upon a time there were twin brothers named Paul and Randy. The boys looked so much alike that even their parents couldn’t tell them apart. And not only did they look alike, but they also acted alike, spoke alike, thought alike, and even felt alike. If any twins ever deserved the word, "Identical", they were Paul and Randy.
In the fall of their 18th year, the boys moved away from home and went to college on the other side of the country. There they pursued their passion with a vigor and discipline few students have known. Their passion, of course, was girls, and they chased nearly every one they saw—and caught quite a few as well.
After three years of skirt-chasing, the boys met the girl of their dreams. Her name was Donna and she was a vision of beauty, charm, intelligence.
Although she was stunning to look at, smart, and fun to be around, there was something about her that was different than the other girls they knew. They didn’t have a name for it, but it transfixed Paul, Randy, and everyone else who knew her.
After knowing her for a month or two, they found out what the X Factor was—and they didn’t like it. Donna was a Christian and what they found so attractive about her was her Grace.
One Saturday night, they asked her to breakfast on Sunday morning. Donna was always generous with her time, but she couldn’t make it on Sunday, she said, because she went to church. If they wanted to spend some time with her, she said, they could come to church with her.
The boys weren’t very happy, but Donna was worth it! On Sunday morning, they staggered out of bed, took something for their hangovers, put on their best clothes, and went to Donna’s church.
The pastor was an old man and not very interesting, but that day he preached on Repentance, and told the people that unless they repented they would all likewise perish.
When he finished the sermon, a hymn was sung, a blessing was pronounced, and the congregation filed out.
Paul said to Randy, `That was even worse than I expected! I knew it would be long, boring, and pointless, but man…"
Randy, though had a funny look on his face. He told his brother, `I know this sounds weird and stuff, but I believed the old man and repented of my sins’".
Paul thought he was joking, of course. But he wasn’t. Randy was a new man in Jesus Christ. Over the years, the brothers drifted farther and farther apart. Randy married Donna and became a devout Christian, a good family man, and a deacon in the church.
As for Paul? He continued his skirt-chasing ways until he became a dirty old man.
Then they died. Randy went to heaven. Paul went to hell.
QUESTION
The story brings me to a question: Why did Randy repent and Paul not? It seems to be it can only be explained in one of two ways: It was either something in Paul and Randy or it was something in God.
Was it in boys? If it was, I can’t think of what it might have been. Their heredity was the same, their background was the same, their desires were the same. They heard the same sermon. Yet Randy was saved that day and Paul never was.
Or, was it something in God? It was. You see, Paul and Randy are made-up names, but the twins are real men. They’re named Jacob and Esau. And, speaking of their salvation, the Apostle says,
"For the children, not yet being born, nor having
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God
according to election might stand, not of works,
but of Him who calls, it was said to her, `The older
shall serve the younger’. As it is written, `Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated’".
Later in the same chapter, Paul sums it up,
"Therefore, He has mercy on whomever He wills,
and whom He wills, He hardens".
This is what the Bible teaches. When it comes to salvation, it says,
"It is not of him who runs, nor of him
who wills, but of God who shows mercy".
DOCTRINE
Like it or not, the Lord is sovereign over salvation. This is not easy to understand and it’s hard to reconcile it with His justice and equity, but the fact remains, sinners are saved—or not—by God’s choice. This is not the doctrine of John Calvin, but of Jesus Christ, Luke 10:21,
"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that You have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent, and revealed them to babes. Even
so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight".
PROBLEMS
The doctrine of God’s sovereignty over salvation creates real problems. We have to face them honestly. If we can’t answer them, we have to say, "I don’t know but it’s still what the Bible teaches". By trying to explain things for which there is no explanation, some have gone into heresy and made the sovereignty of God into a ugly and repulsive thing—even to other Christians.
Where God speaks, we’ll speak (to the best of our lights). But where He is silent, we will not speculate!
THE FAIRNESS OF GOD
The first problem is the fairness of God.
If the Lord chooses some to be saved—but not all—how can He be fair? Isn’t He discriminating against people, for no fault of their own? That is a legitimate concern.
And it’s one that Paul answers in Romans 9. First, he says the sovereignty of God in no way undercuts His fairness, v.14,
"What shall we say, then, is there unrighteousness
with God? God forbid!"
In other words, the problem is all inside our heads. There is no contradiction between God’s sovereignty and His fairness. The God Who is "No respecter of persons", also, "Has compassion on whomever He wills and hardens whomever He will".
We can’t explain how these two go together, but we don’t have to! The Bible teaches both God’s sovereignty and His fairness. And we affirm them both. Without blushing! They don’t contradict each other, but they fit together in a way past our understanding.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN
The second problem is the responsibility of man. If you’re saved or lost by God’s choice, how can He hold you responsible for your unbelief and impenitence? This is also addressed in Romans 9, though not in a way most people want, v.20,
"Who are you, O man, to reply against God?"
This is more of a rebuke than an answer. Because the question is not honest! Anyone who says "I wanted to believe but God didn’t let me" is lying. He who says, "I didn’t want to sin, but the Lord forced me to" is not telling the truth.
Think about it: Your conscience tells you that you’re a sinner and God tells you what you must do to be rid of your sins: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ". Friends plead with you to believe; they pray for you; the Bible lies open for you to read it any time you want to, but you don’t believe in Christ; you don’t repent of your sins.
How in the world can you blame God for that? By intuition, you know God is not working unbelief in your heart. No, it’s your own stubbornness that keeps you away from Him. Not His unwillingness to save you if you believe.
The concern is phony; the question is crooked. When I studied Debate in college I learned that there are points you can make that have no merit at all, but are wonderfully effective, because they confuse your opponent. That’s what this is: a debating tactic—thoroughly dishonest.
THE FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL
The third problem is the free offer of the Gospel.
If God chooses who will be saved and who won’t be, how can we evangelize the lost and tell them the Lord wants them to believe and be saved?
The hyper-hyper Calvinist has an easy answer: We don’t do it. If God wants a man saved, He’ll do it without our help. All right, but how you can square that with The Great Commission and the examples of our Lord and the Apostles?
The less-hyper Calvinist agrees that we ought to preach the Gospel to the lost, but he limits the message to what Christ has done and leaves out God’s wish for sinners to be saved and His command to believe.
This is a little better than the other option, but only a little. The Bible explicitly says God wants sinners to be saved,
"I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked
but that the wicked turn from their way and live".
"God would have all men to be saved and come
to the knowledge of the truth".
"All day long I have stretched out My hands to
a disobedient and gainsaying nation".
Jesus Christ invited everyone to come with the promise that he would be saved,
"Come unto Me all you who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest…"
The Apostle Paul not only proclaimed the Gospel, but he urged sinners to accept it,
"God commands all men everywhere to repent".
"Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord,
we persuade men".
"I beseech you in Christ’s name, be reconciled
to God".
If God is sovereign why witness to the lost? Why pray for them? Why tell them the Lord wants them to be saved? There are two reasons:
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing
by the word of God…But how shall
they hear without a preacher?"
The sovereignty of God in salvation is perfectly agreeable to every other Bible doctrine. It does not contradict the fairness of God, the responsibility of man, or the command to "preach the Gospel to every creature".
How do you square the doctrines to the satisfaction of lost people? You cannot do that because their problem is not intellectual, but spiritual. It’s not that they’re eager to believe if only you can lay it all out for them. No, they’re using the apparent contradictions to justify their unbelief.
Do you remember when Hercules fought the Hydra? It was a snake with many heads. Every time he cut one off, two more grew to replace it. Unbelievers are like the old snake. For every question you answer, they’ve got ten more. It’s a losing battle. Answer them as best you can, but leave their salvation to God!
One more thing: Don’t be wiser than God. If He has not explained His ways, don’t do it for Him! You’re sure to get Him wrong!
THE USES
The Bible teaches that God determines who will be saved—and who won’t. It not only teaches the doctrine, but what the doctrine is for.
Many people know the doctrine, but don’t know what it’s there for. Some use it the same way a matador uses a red cape—to make someone mad! That’s not what it’s there for! And we shouldn’t use it that way.
Others think it’s part of the Gospel and is the best doctrine you can teach a lost man. Wrong! The doctrine is not there to bring sinners to Christ. In fact, it usually has the opposite effect: it gets them wondering if God has chosen them for salvation or not, and off their duty to believe in Christ.
The doctrine is in the Bible for the benefit of believers, but unbelievers. What it does is explain to us why we’re saved and others aren’t. It’s not that we’re better than others, but because God willed it. This humbles our pride.
It’s also there to make us praise God! At the end of his great argument for God’s sovereignty in the salvation of some and the hardening of others, Paul bursts into praise,
"O the depths, both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God, how unsearchable are
His judgments and His ways past finding out,
For of Him and through Him and to Him are
All things. To Whom be glory forever. Amen"
| Home Page |
Sermons provided by www.GraceBaptist.ws |