God's promises and sovereign will, seen in our lives (Romans 9:1-19)

Romans 9:1-29

AIM: Understand your choice within God's sovereign wrath and mercy

1) Speak truth in Christ, conscience confirmed by Holy Spirit
2-3) sorrow in heart, wishing self-cursed rather than kinsman Israel

• 4-5) adoption to sonship, divine glory, covenants (law, temple, promises), 
• patriarchs to Messiah (Matthew, Luke trace lineage)
• Messiah is God (John 1:1, Colossians 2:9)

6-9) God's word didn't fail, Abraham/Sarah, Israel's descendants are reckoned (Gen 21:12), not from birth but from promise (Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:16)
10-13) Rebekah/Isaac, twins, God's purpose, election (not works but him who calls) Jacob loved Esau hated (Mal 1:2,3)
14-15) Is God unjust? No, he says to Moses: mercy and compassion is God's sovereign choice (Ex 33:19)

• Yet our lives and decisions are part of this "choice". Jer 18:7-10, God announces people will be destruction or blessing but then if those people change for either good or bad - the Lord will not do as he said. Jonah 3:10 and Jeremiah 26:3 are also helpful to think about how God's sovereign choice interacts with our choice. 

16) No human desire or effort but God's mercy

• Remember Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, truth is same on the flip side of the Sovereignty coin

17) Pharaoh displayed God's power, God's name proclaimed in all the earth (Exodus 9:16,17, 14:4)

• Judgement, salvation to all humble, yet a remnant of wrath (Psalm 76:9-10)
• Think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Adeb-nego. By Nebuchadnezzar's wrath, God's glory was shown and proclaimed throughout the land (Daniel 3:15-27,28,29-30)

18) God mercy whom he wants, hardens whom he wants

• Who does God have mercy on? Think Beatitudes, The parable of the sower and faith comes by hearing (Seven blessings in Revelation explain faith, eternal life and sanctification)
• Who does God harden? Those who ignore, refuse or mock his call for salvation. (Lamb's seventh seal brings prayer and six trumpets for repentance)

19) Why does God still blame us? Who is able to resist his will?

• 20-24) Who are humans to talk back to the Creator, we are his work, for His purpose and glory
• Search scriptures like Paul to let the Holy Spirit reveal the mystery for you 
•  - mouthing off to God: Job 1:22,9:12,40:2 linked to clay/potter Isaiah 45:9
•  - clay and potter: Isaiah 29:16, 64:8, Jer 18:6 links to movement/ability Isaiah 10:15
•  Recurring theme in Paul's life: 2 Tim 2:20, gold/silver, wood/clay - common verses special use
• See God's kindness and forbearance/patients (Romans 2;4), The Lord works out everything to its proper end - even the wicked for a day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4)

25-29) Principle: Scripture interprets scripture. Application: How can you know how to live as God's loved, adopted children? Ho does obeying what you know, fulfill your God-given purpose? Where are you resisting God's will in your seeing, hearing, and understanding - when will you repent of this resistence?

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Heavenly trinity, DNA of eternal life and humanity's only hope (Dali painting)

This painting by Dali "Galacidalacideoxiribunucleiacid (Homage to Crick and Watson)" shows God reaching down from heaven, resurrecting his deceased Son Jesus whose death is humanities only hope for life. The painting is huge the figure at the bottom looking on is life scale picture of Gala. 

'..the “life” spiral contrasts with the “death” cube. God’s resurrection of His Son in the center of the painting is the key to hope..'

Dalí boasted of the work’s title and importance, “It is the longest title in one word. But the theme is even longer: “long as the genetical persistence of human memory.”

Prophecy points to Jesus atonement for sins, to life with God restored

Father God reaching down, holding Jesus

Top 40 Most Helpful Messianic Prophecies
Jesus said to his disciples after his resurrection;

“How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!  Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets…. They said to each other, “Wasn’t it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:25-27 NIV, Luke 24:32 NIV)

Messiah would be human (Gen 3:15), fulfilled in Jesus (Romans 16:20; Gal 4:4; Rev 12:9;12:17)
Messiah from Abraham, all nations blessed (Gen 12:3), fulfilled in Jesus (Acts 3:24-26)
Messiah would be willing sacrifice (Gen 22:1-18), fulfilled in Jesus (John 3:16)
Messiah from Judah, scepter belongs (Gen 49:10), fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 2:1-7; 3:33; Gal 4:4)
Messiah would be Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-51), fulfilled in Jesus (John 1:29,36;19:33,36;1 Cor 5:7-8;1 Peter 1:19)
Messiah would be lifted up (Numbers 21:6-9), fulfilled in Jesus (John 3:14-18)
Messiah a star from Jacob (Numbers 24:17), fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 2:2, Rev 22:16)
Messiah a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 7:29;Mark 1:22;13:57;21:46; Luke 24:19; John 1:21,25;6:14;Acts 3:22; 28:28)
Messiah Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 4:4-9), fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 1:50,58,68,72,78; 1 Peter 1:18;Heb 2:11)
Messiah descendant of David (2 Sam 7:12-16), fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:32-33; Acts 15:15-16; Heb 1:5)
Messiah called God's Son (Psalm 2:1-12), fulfilled in Jesus (Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; Acts 4:25-28; 13:33; Heb 1:5;5:5)
Messiah resurrected (Psalm 16:8-11), fulfilled in Jesus (Acts 2:22-32; 13:23-37)
Messiah forsaken and pieced but vindicated (Psalm 22:1-31; Daniel 9:24-26), fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 27:39; 27:43-44,46;Mark 15:34;John 19;24; Heb 2:12)

The life, death and resurrection of Jesus for your salvation into eternal life foretold so long ago and the end is happening now;
Daniel 12:1-7
...Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. 3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. 4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. 6 One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, “How long will it be until these shocking events are over?”

7 The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, “It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened.”

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