All right, thank you, Jeanette. Everyone open
to Romans, Chapter 9. Romans, Chapter 9. I'm going to use a few verses
here of the springboard. This is what led into this message. I was reading this, Romans 9,
look at verses 14 through 16. What shall we say then? That
is, after all that's been said, what shall we say? Is there unrighteousness
with God? Is God unfair? God forbid. But he saith to Moses, I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then, it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Mercy. Three times he mentions
mercy. And those two verses, mercy,
mercy, mercy. And as I read that, it made me
begin to think, what is mercy? He says, I will have mercy. What is mercy? On whom I will
have mercy. Sovereign mercy. That is, I'll
decide who gets it. So that made me start thinking,
well, what is mercy and why do we need it? Why is it sovereign? And so on. Well, you've got to
go back to Romans 1. You've got to go back where God
starts in this book to tell us about ourselves. Back to chapter
1, okay? Romans 1. Now, mercy, very simply,
mercy means Not getting what you deserve. Not getting what you deserve. There's a verse in Romans chapter
6 which says the wages of sin is death. That's what we've earned. Death. Separation from God. But the
gift The grace of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. So what we deserve is condemnation, wrath. That's what man deserves. Man is guilty. Man is guilty. And mercy is God sparing. God sparing. God not giving us
what we deserve. You want a good definition of
grace? Mercy is not getting what we
deserve. Take a death row fellow, a woman,
mercy would be to keep that person from being killed. Grace, now,
is getting what you don't deserve. Grace is getting what you don't
deserve. Give that death row inmate a
complete, unconditional pardon and take him home with you. And
give him, make him a member of your family. Now that's grace. That's abundant grace. All right. Mercy is not getting what we
deserve. I recently spoke on the phone
with a man, and I know what you're thinking. You better hurry if
you're going to go mount Jacob. I said, hold on, we might not get past
the curtain. I recently spoke on the phone with a fella who'd
been listening on the radio, and I listened to the radio,
and he said that my wife and I are struggling with what you're
preaching because, he said, there's so many good people out there,
so many good people in the world, and so many sincere, sincere
people who don't believe like you say. Well, granted, I think that sometimes. I see
some, humanly speaking, good people, kind people, nice people,
moral people, kind people, sweet people, people I think better
than me. Sincere people. There's no religious person more
sincere than the Muslims, the Buddhists. The Hindus, they get their bodies
literally to be burned. Well, here's the problem. Man's
thoughts of God are too low, and man's thoughts of man are
too high. But there's a problem. Man doesn't think God is absolutely
holy, just, and solemn. And man doesn't think that man
is absolutely sinful, depraved in that God's help, and helpless. Right? That's the problem. That's man's thoughts of God
and man's thoughts of man. They're all wrong. Well, we're
going to browse through here. Let's browse through Romans.
That's the title of this message, Browsing Romans. Browsing Romans. Let's see what God says. And Brother John and I were talking
that the problem is, is nobody cares. Nobody cares what this book says
anymore. Isn't that right, John? They don't care. They don't care. Isn't that right, Henry? This
is what... Who cares? Well, this is what God's Word
says, all right? About Him, about us. Okay? Romans 1, look at verse 7. To
all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints,
grace to you, and peace from God and the Lord, Jesus Christ. All right? This is written to
beloved. That means four loves. Jeremiah
31, for I have loved thee with an everlasting love before the
world began. This is written to those who
got poor love before the world began, who were called, chosen
and called by God to be saints, to believe this. And the grace
and peace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ is upon these
people. Now, who's going to believe the
rest of what is written but God's people? The beloved of God, called saints,
grace and peace to those people. They're going to believe everything
that's written. The world is not. The world is
not. So that's who this is written
to. Verse 20, down to Romans 1, verse 20. Now he says, invisible
things of God from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
understood by the things that are made. And I've got to read
quickly and paraphrase to get through 9th chapter. Do you understand?
Just follow with me. Verse 20. God's eternal power
and Godhead are clearly seen through what he's made and all
are without excuse. That is that there's a sovereign
person. You look around you, this didn't
just happen. Only an absolute fool would think
it just happened. But there's an absolute creator.
You see a beautiful, like you know the story of the watch.
The man looked at the fellas watch and said, do you believe
somebody created that? Well of course they did. Whoever did that really knew
what they were doing. It was a wise and skillful craftsman.
Look at the workmanship. Well can you believe that this
world just happened? Well, whoever made it must be
infinitely higher than man, huh? Well, that's the basic thing
that Paul's saying. This world is clear to see that
somebody made this thing, and if somebody made this thing,
he's infinitely higher than we are. He's God. All right? Verse
21 says, well, when they knew God, or that is, they're without
excuse that there's a Creator, they didn't glorify Him as God.
See that? Neither were thankful. What does
God require of man? But to thank Him and acknowledge
Him. You parents, what do you require
of your children? But to be obedient and acknowledge
Him, your authority, and thank Him. That's all I want of my
child. Just thanks, thanks, thanks. And that's all God requires of
them. It sure is. Verse 21, but they weren't thankful.
They weren't thankful. And it says in the Psalms that
God is not in all their thoughts. They have a lot of thoughts,
Roy, but God's not in them. Verse 28 says that. They didn't
like to retain God in their knowledge. Verse 22 is a conclusion of man. Verse 22, professing themselves
to be wise. They became utter fools. Why? Because of what they think of
God. See, mankind is not, mankind
is, man is a brilliant creature. And I'm not talking about our
century, our generation. You go back as far as you can
go, you find some brilliant civilizations, right? I mean, in some respects,
they're more advanced than we are. If our TVs and cars went
out, we'd die. We'd all die. Back then, honestly, in some
respects, they were much more brilliant than we are. Some of
these ancient civilizations, some of their complex things that they invented and
so forth. Man's a brilliant creature. He's
created in the image of God, that's why. Brilliant. Always has been. Matter of fact,
the very first man to walk this earth is the most brilliant man
to ever walk this earth. Man's digressing.
He's not getting better. I don't care if you've got more inventions,
more technology, but he's not getting smarter. He's becoming more and more foolish.
Why? Because God's not in all of it.
But this is the way it's been, apparently. Made up all sorts
of... God's not been without a witness
throughout all these generations. He's added prophets to every
generation, professing himself to be wise.
became food. Why? Because of what they thought
of God. Look at verse 23. They changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an animal. The first thing it says, man. You see that? Changed the glory
of God, first thing, to man. Made God to be like a man. They made God to be like a man. Well, so since man refuses to
acknowledge his creator, man is unthankful. Man doesn't call on his God.
Therefore, God gave him up, it says. Verse 24, God gave them
up to uncleanness, to the lust of their own hearts. Verse 25,
change the truth of God into a lie. Worship and serve the
creature more than the creator. Mother nature and all that, more
than the creator. And so it says they're without
good sense. Our society, in spite of all
of its technological advances, in spite of all of its education
on that, is full of absolute Brother Donald said, idiots don't
have good sense. Call good evil and evil good.
Don't have the sense enough to see the shape of the thing you're in. And then verses 26
through 26 to the end of the chapter talks about the results
of forgetting God. It starts with homosexuality.
That's the first thing. And then it goes on to talk about
other things. Down in verse 29, filled with
all unrighteousness. That's the first thing, fornication.
Sex, filled with it. Is this like reading Commentary
on two thousand. Is it not wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness, full of envy, so forth, proud, verse thirty,
haters of God, despite haters of the sovereign God, and so
on and so forth, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful, Verse 32, the judgment of God,
knowing the judgment of God, they sinned. I mentioned that
World Series, remember, the earthquake? And many, many, many things.
We read Isaiah 1, where God said, why should you be smitten anymore,
stricken anymore? You just keep revolting. Remember? Knowing the judgment of God,
read on. They that commit such things are what? Worthy? Death. Worthy of death. Judgment. Death. Judgment. Death. Judgment. Death. Oh, come on,
preacher. That's old-fashioned. That's Bible. That's God's Word. I mean, that's fundamental. We
need mercy. You see that? We need mercy.
All right? You say that that's them. Well,
that's what the... I mean, you don't say that. But
religious people do. Chapter 2 now, Romans chapter
2, this is what religious people say. Well, we don't do that sort
of thing. We don't do those things. Well, we're moral people and
so on and so forth. Verse 2, we're sure that the
judgment of God is according to truth against them that have
committed such a thing. We're sure of that. Yes, they
deserve that. But Paul says in verses 3, you
think Old man that judges them that do such things, you're going
to escape the judgment of God? You see what Paul's saying there?
You think, you think because you don't do these things that
you're going to escape the judgment of God? Verse four, you despise
the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long suffering.
Forbearance and long suffering of who? The religious. Not those homosexuals. You, man. And don't you know that the goodness
of God leads thee to repentant? You need to repent. I need to
repent. But you and your hardness and
impenitent heart, this is self-righteousness. Treasures up wrath against the
day of wrath. Righteous judgment of God. Wrath.
Judgment. Wrath. Wrath. Judgment. On who?
Religious. See Romans 2 is talking about
the religion. Look down at verse Verse 11, God's no respect of
persons. There's no respect of persons
with God. What does that mean? That means God is not looking
at any person's person. Look, well, he's a good boy.
I respect him. No. God respects one person that's
ever lived on this planet. And we're going to see that in Romans
3. We're going to get to it. I'm going to get that far. All
right? No respecter of person. Verse
16. In a day, God's going to judge
the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. Secrets! Yeah, but this person's
morally... Boy, God knows everything about
them. You know what? They're so good and sincere.
Maybe it is they are. And, you know, Jeanette, here's
where you really find out a person's true character is when you start
telling the truth about God and about man. And then that moral,
that sweet, kind woman you think is so, the venom starts coming
out. Now, that's so. It's about like getting behind
the wheel of a car. Magical and high, Jeanette. That's what happens. Just a little
truth will bring out the hag. Bring out the monster in people.
Bring out the God-hater. Is that right, Barbara? Just
a little truth will bring out the God-hater, and that's we,
dear, whatever, whoever. God's going to judge secretly.
All right, verse 21 and 22. So he says to this person, do
you steal? You preach that you should not
steal, do you steal? Verse 22, he says, the man, you
say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? Oh, not
me, I'm not. And you're calling Christ a liar.
Christ said, just to look at the thought of it, you've done
it. So see that God judges, seek the thought. All right, chapter
3. Chapter 3 now. Verse 4. Now look
at this. Verse 4. Let God be true. Now here's where you've got to
start. This is where you've got to start, Juanita, when you're
looking at God's Word. Verse 4. Let God be true and
every man a liar. You've got to renounce everything
that any man has to say. Including your own thoughts.
This is the only way. Charles, this is the way every
human being has to approach God's Word. This is so, I'm wrong. Let God be true. And every man,
every man that's ever lived, never said anything contrary
to this, is a liar. That's where you got to start.
And Darnell, God's not going to reveal this to anybody who
doesn't start that. He's not going to prove himself.
He's not going to prove himself to any son of Adam. I just don't believe that. Show
me. He's not going to do that. You're going to have to say,
I'm wrong. And you're right. And then God
says, OK, I'll show you. That's right. Let God be true
to every man alive. Everything this book says is
self. And no matter what anybody says, it's different. It's a
lie. All right, look at verses 9 through 12. Now, this is what
God says about every name. Verses 9 through 12. He says,
now, are we better than they? He's talking about, now he's
talking about believers. Are we better than the unbelievers
in chapter 1? Are we better than the self-righteous
Pharisees in chapter 2? Are we better than that? No,
in no wise. We've before proved both Jew
and Gentile at all in the same. Verses 10 and following, there's
none righteous, no, not one. It's written. Who wrote it? It's
Isaiah. God wrote it. There's none righteous,
no, not one. There's none that understand
it. Understand what? Who God is. There's none that
speak after God. Verse 12, they're all going out
of the way, that together, put them all together. You remember
where Isaiah wrote where he said they're all weighed into balances,
and it's like dust. He put all the nations, he said,
together, and it's like dust on the bottom. Don't even tip
a scale. The inhabitants of the earth
are as reputed as grasshoppers. Well, read on. He says, verse
12, they're all gone out of the way. There's none that doeth
good, no, not one. Well, he's a good man. Let God
be true in every man of iron. No, not one. Now, we've all heard all
this before. But I'm enjoying it. I am. And this is a very plain
message. This is a message that you need
to consider. This is a message you could give
to somebody. You give this tape to somebody
and say, will you listen to this? It's a plain truth. Okay. Verse 19 says, There's no fear
of God before their eyes. No fear. No fear. And therefore, we have verse
19. We know that saying things to
whoever the law, the word of God saith, that saith to them
that are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped. What
does God's word say in that? What does God's Word basically
say to man? Let me tell you. Shut up. Shut up. God is in heaven, the scripture
says, and thou upon the earth let your words be Be not hasty
to utter anything before God. Swift to hear, slow to speak. What does God's word say to man?
What does the law, what does it say? Shut up. Guilty. And never respond. Is that what you read there?
Guilty. And every charge of every charge. Guilty. May God be true in every
man's life. Guilty. Guilty. Now to verse
20. Now, he says this. And, you know, if anybody asks me
where to start reading in the Bible, and no one does, but if
anyone were, If anyone were to really ask me about the truth, I'd tell them, start reading
the book of Romans. Start reading prayerfully, carefully. Because
Paul, all the way through here, just makes absolute statements.
Dogmatic, undeniable, irrefutable, conclusive. We conclude, he said. Conclusive statements. If this
is it, there's no other way. Dogmatic statements. He says,
therefore, verse 20, this is one of those, by the deeds of
the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his time. By the deeds of the law, by us
doing anything, being moral, no flesh justified. No flesh
declared holy. None. No. No flesh. Pretty plain, isn't it? No flesh. No flesh. Verse 21. But now, wait a minute. Now,
the righteousness of God, the holiness, the acceptance
of God, to be able to be with this holy and righteous God someday.
This righteousness of God without the law, that is, without us
keeping the law, is manifest. It's made clear. It's been revealed. The righteousness of God, how
we may live with God before God, be accepted by God, has been
made perfectly clear. How's that? Well, look at it. Verse 21, witnessed by the law
and the prophets, it's the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ. That's not a misprint. That's
not an English typo. Of. You know it says that one,
two, three, four, five, six times? Faith of Christ. Underscore those
two letters, because all the salvation hinges upon it. It doesn't say faith in Christ.
If you want to jot it down, Galatians 2, 16, 20, Galatians 3, 22, Ephesians
3, 12, Philippians 3, 9. Faith of Christ being accepted,
justified by God, is by faith of Christ. Read on. Unto all,
imputed unto, and upon all, put upon all them that believe. Why do they believe? Chapter
4. Why do they believe? Well, let's
look at Abraham. Let's look at Abraham. He uses
Abraham. All of Chapter 4 uses Abraham
as an example of a believer. All right? What about Abraham?
He was a 75-year-old dyed-in-the-wool idolater. 75 years old. You can't teach a 45-year-old
anything, let alone a 75-year-old idolater. Well, man, he's safe
and sure for heaven as if he's already there. But, one day, came to Abraham and
said, Abraham, who's speaking? God. And revealed himself to
him, called him by his grace, set things in order before his
eyes, didn't he? Revealed the gospel to him, Abraham
believed. Before Abraham ever took the
state, and this is the whole of chapter 4, tells us that simply
by believing God, He was justified from all things. He was declared
a son of God. He was declared holy, righteous,
unblameable, and unapprovable in God's sight. Abraham believed
God that was counted unto him for righteousness. And he said
the same thing will be for us if we believe God. But why did
Abraham believe God? According to the working of God's
mighty power. Because God chose him. God revealed
His Son to him. God called him. God delivered
him. God had mercy on him. And God
imputed this righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ to him.
But Abraham hadn't taken a step yet. The whole of chapter four
tells us, before Abraham took one step out of where he was, he was justified. Just like saying, I have a linkage. Before the law, Paul went to
great lengths to tell us the law wasn't even written yet.
He couldn't keep the Ten Commandments. There were none. Abraham couldn't say, I can't
pretend. There was no Ten Commandments. That's 400 years before they
were written. But God said, justify it. by grace. Look, chapter 5, verse
1, justified by faith. We have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ The chastisement, the
whipping that we deserve, Jesus Christ took it. You see, God
spared us, God had mercy on us, but had no mercy on His Son. This is how God can be just and
punish our sin and yet justify us, let us go free. Because our
sins have been paid for by a mother, by Christ. justified freely by his grace.
Chapter 4, and where am I? Justified. Justified by faith. What is faith? It's not doing
anything. Faith is not doing anything.
Faith is not a work. Faith is not an act of the human
will. We just read that in Romans 9. Faith is not an act of the human
will. Faith is not a human decision. We just read that in Romans 4.
Abraham didn't decide it for God. God decided it for Abraham. Faith is not an act of the human
will. Faith is not a human decision.
Faith is not a work. Faith is a gift. Ephesians 2.8. By grace you say, through faith.
That's not what you're saying. It's the gift of God. Abraham believed because God
gave him the faith to believe. Try what he's faith in. Look
into Christ. Faith says, Christ is all. Faith says, Christ is all my
righteousness. Faith says, Christ is all my
sin payment. Faith says, Christ is all my
safekeeping. Faith says, Christ is all my
salvation. Faith says if I get to heaven,
it'll be by that man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith says it's
not my prayer, it's his prayer, because he ever lived to make
intercession for me. That's what faith is. Faith is just acknowledging that
Christ is all I am. All right, I think justified
by faith. Then Paul goes back to Adam in
chapter 5. Chapter 5, verse 12, he goes
back to Adam to show just how this whole thing started. Verse
12 says, by one man, sin entered the world, death by sin. And
he talks about headship here. He talks about two heads. You're going to hear, you have
heard these words and will hear it here. Federal heads. Representatives. Head being a figure of head,
a representative. Alright, two heads. That all
human beings are found under the first, Adam. They all come
from Adam. That's what that says. By one
man sin entered the world, and death by sin. So death has upon
all men. All of sin has proof. That's
proof that we're coming from Adam, because we're all sinners.
And death is a result of it. Even babies die. If they were
innocent, they wouldn't die. Understand that? That's what
verse 14 said. Death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over them that had not sinned. Who's that? Babies. So this shows the utter guilt,
he said. of all mankind that comes from
Adam, all right? But there's another head. There's
another head. Look down at verse 19. By one man's disobedience, many
were made sinners. Even so, by the obedience of
one, shall many be made righteous. Here's another one. Some, not
all, but some. Many, he said, many, but not
all. Are we going to be made righteous?
Who's that? Well, our head. Christ our head. Christ. Chapter 6. We might make it. Chapter 6. Paul says to believers
throughout this whole chapter now, don't think that it doesn't
matter how you live. That's basically what he's saying
in chapter six. Don't think for a minute it doesn't
matter how you live. That's antinomianism. That's
lawlessness. That's lasciviousness. That's not right. That's not
the attitude of God's people. How shall we that are dead to
sin live any longer therein? Whatever you, whoever you yield
to, that's your, your, your, your God. But now he said, but
sin shall not have dominion over you. You're not under the law,
under grace. So he said, don't yield yourself.
Speaking to responsible living. See, we weren't dead in sin.
Now we're alive under God, but we're still subject to sin. And
as children, you instruct them and tell them, don't do that.
Don't do that. See, that's what Romans says. Don't do that. All right. Now, chapter seven,
but he says, but that's what we do. You know, chapter seven,
he says. It's hard. Because we're. We're sinners. through and through. He says what I don't want to
do, verses 15 and following. What I would, I do not. What
I hate, that's what I do. See, we've got this principle
to contend with called sin. He calls it the body of sin. And Paul mourns, really, over
our sad and sinful condition. You see, we're still guilty sinners. Even though we're justified. Even though we're justified,
we're still guilty. So explain that. I don't know.
I don't have to explain that. Do it. Do I have to explain that
to you? You know exactly what I'm saying.
We're justified in God's sight, but we're guilty sinners. Right? Well, in chapter 8, he
says, but wait a minute. Verse 1. There's no condemnation
to them that are in Christ. There's chastening. There's rebuke,
reproof, exhort, exhortation, admonition, but no condemnation. There's chastening, but no punishment.
Don't ever think for a minute God punishes you by doing this
or doing that to you. No. We correct our children. We don't punish. There's no condemnation
to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk after the Spirit. Now,
chapter 8 deals with being led by the Spirit. Verse 14. As many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they're the sons of God. What's
that mean, led by the Spirit? As many as are led by the Spirit
of God. There's no condemnation to them
that are in Christ, have faith in Christ, who are led by the
Spirit of God. Those who truly believe and look to Christ are
led by the Spirit of God. What's that mean? Well, it sure
doesn't mean talk like a blooming idiot. It sure doesn't mean waddle
on the floor. It sure doesn't mean talk about
this and that and the other. Act a fool. Let me just, in a concise way,
say, well, our Lord said, when the Comforter is come, the Holy
Spirit, this is what He's going to do. This is how He's going
to lead His people, lead and guide His people. He's going
to take the things of mine and show them to you and bring to
remembrance all the things that I've said. So, in a nutshell,
are in a pearl chair. Those that are led by the Spirit
of God are those who talk of no one and nothing but Christ. When it comes to salvation, their
talk, their speech is seasoned with grace, the grace of God
in Christ. Do you understand what I just
said? Being led by the Spirit is being led to talk of Christ.
being led to seek Christ, being led to worship Christ, being
led to believe Christ, and to walk like Christ, to prove the
Spirit. Chapter 9. We're there. We're
there. Chapter 9. All right, who did
God do this for? Who does God do all this for? Well, And chapter nine, he starts
talking about Abraham. He uses Abraham as example. And,
you know, you won't hear anybody in our generation argue about
God choosing Abraham and not who were some of those pagan
kings he dealt with. Can't think of one right now,
but you know how many millions of people are on planet Earth? God chose You don't hear anybody argue
about that, do you? No, Abraham was a Jew. No, he wasn't. He will be. He was an uncircumcised
Gentile, Darnell. God made him into a Jew. Nobody argues about that. Well,
Paul gets down to brass tacks here in chapter 9. He said, alright
Abraham, I chose Abraham. Alright now, Abraham had two
sons. Isaac and Ishmael. Okay? God told Abraham to kick Ishmael
out. Kick him out. Galatians chapter 4 is what it's
all about. God telling Abraham. Get rid
of that son. It's a little hard, isn't it? Still, I don't hear anybody arguing
too much. Do you? Huh? Isaac, he said, Isaac is
my choice. And Isaac shall my seed be called.
My people. Isaac's my choice. Ishmael, I
reject. Well, he's a good Jew. Isaac's
a good Jew. I know him. Isaac, his wife, Rebecca, And
in her womb were two sons, all right? And before they were born,
I'm just paraphrasing what Romans 9 tells us. Before they were
born, we'll look at it, verse 11. The children being not yet
born, neither having done any good or evil, before they had
sinned, before they'd done any good, so to speak, that the purpose
of God, according to election, might stand. It's not of works.
Now this election in McCulloch, it was set under Rebecca. Now
the oldest boy was going to serve the younger. Verse 13, Jacob
have I loved, but Esau I hate. Oh, now wait a minute. Now you're really tagging the
election, aren't you? Yes, I am. Yes, Paul is. Who did God do this for? His
elect. His elect. Those he chose to
do it for. All right, read on. Well, what
shall we say then, verse 14, is there unrighteousness with
God? Is that unfair? We've already before concluded
that all of us sin, didn't we? Back in chapter 2, didn't we
conclude that the whole human race is not worth saving, whether
they be immoral or moral, irreligious or religious? And even as believers,
we're rotten sinners? Huh? Haven't we concluded that?
Was God unrighteous, unfair to choose Him? Oh, no. He's merciful. See that? He's merciful. Because
He said to Moses, And verse 15, I will have mercy on him. I will
have mercy. Now, here's the good news. God
says, I will have mercy. Well, that's good news. That's
enough to make the whole human race glorify and worship and
praise God. Mercy. Nobody deserves it. There's none good. No, no. There's
none righteous. No, no. altogether unprofitable. That's what we read. But God
said, now I will have mercy. Will you? Yeah, I will. But that's
who I decided to have mercy. Because verse 16 says, it's not
of him that willeth. It's not of him that willeth. Well,
man has a free will. No, he doesn't. He has a will
to sin. Romans 7 tells us that. Not of him that run it, but it's
of God that show us mercy. If there was just one person
in the human race whom God showed mercy to, if God just saved one
human being, first of all, Christ would have had to come down here
and do what he did for that one person. And in heaven right now,
if there's just one person, But that was it. There'd be no more
anything. But if it's just one person,
that one person would be singing, shouting at the top of their
lungs throughout all eternity, mercy. Praise God for his mercy. I've received mercy. But God
says many, many. But it's on whom he will. Now,
you understand? You understand. That mercy is for the guilty.
Nobody deserves it. And since it's mercy, it must
be sought. Nobody deserves it. And nobody
can will it. And nobody can earn it. It's
mercy. Therefore, God must decide who
gets it. And if he just decides one gets
it, it's mercy. But if he decides a bunch of
us get it, it's abundant mercy and grace. Well, some people
argue, well, then we're puppets then. How can you find fault
with me if I give you everything? And what does Paul say to that?
When somebody argues, well, why is he fine? If he's sovereign
and we can't do anything with sin and it's all according to
election and predestination and all that, then how can he hold
me responsible? How does Paul answer that? What
does the Word of God say to man? Shut up. That's what it says. Who are you to reply against
God? He made this thing, and it goes
right back to where he started. He made this thing. He's the
potter, you're the clay, clay has no say. Clay is just dirt. Wet dirt. God will have mercy
on whom he wills. He's God. Well, who believes
that? The beloved of God, the call
of His saints, those who have grace and peace have come to
the Lord Jesus Christ and believe Christ, and believe every bit
of that, and rejoice in Him. What makes the world mad makes
God's people seedy and glad. Who makes it? These are the people. All right, stand with me. If anybody listens to this on
tape, I'm talking to you, Take the time to carefully consider
this. Go and read this Word without
renouncing it. Open the Bible and see if these
things are so. That's all we say is what God says. All right,
let's pray. Our God, we thank you for your
sovereign mercy, sovereign grace. Your mercy and your grace is
in Christ Jesus, our Lord. He is salvation. How we thank you that you've
revealed him to us and in us. We believe, Lord, that the Lord
Jesus Christ is all our salvation. And this is not by our will, by our decisions,
but by your will and your decision. And we praise you for your sovereign
will and purpose Ordered in all things, in your soft and mercy
and grace, that's ordered up in Christ. That's in his name
we pray, let's get together. Amen. you