We attended service online again this morning. Pastor resumed his sermon messages from Romans. This week's meesage is titled "Undisputed" based on
Romans Chapter 9.
Pastor noted how Paul presents an argument and then answers it. If Jesus is who Paul preaches, why aren’t the Jews flocking to Him? Today, why aren’t people flocking to Jesus? Why does God seem angry? Why so unpopular? If God is so good and so loving why does God let bad things happen? We have to be ready to give an answer, a defense. How can He be prepared to allow millions, maybe billions to go to hell?
Wanting things to be fair is the stuff of fairytales. Life’s not fair. Who steps in to make things fair? Suddenly in our society, people must not have been told that life isn’t fair. They are trying to make things fair. But experience has shown that trying to make life fair results in failure. But why is life unfair? God's control is undisputed. Romans 9:1-25.
Why does God blame people for not responding? His authority is undisputed. He can do as He chooses. It may not seem fair to us, but we have limited understanding. Every person has had revealed to them the majesty and beauty of God’s creation. Romans 1:20; Job 12:7-10; Psalm 19:1 and many more references. But, even with the evidence around them, some people reject God's existence. God’s mercy is given by His choice.
Every person has the opportunity to get the mercy they do not deserve. (Many by direct message but also millions by evidence through God’s presence in nature.) All have sinned. Every person has the choice to accept or reject God.
The Point: Our attitude toward God’s fairness changes when we recognize God’s love on full display when He gave His only son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus is the sacrifice for the sins of ALL men (people). But each person must choose to accept the sacrifice, by Faith! God is infinitely patient but at some point, He may stop pursuing although He always stands with open arms. The life of Jesus wasn’t fair and he is our defense. God loves us so much that He gives us the opportunity to receive mercy. We must respond. We must accept and surrender. And He sends messengers, prophets and followers, to take the word to others! We are here to share the Good News with others. Have faith and share God's message.
Pastor noted how Paul presents an argument and then answers it. If Jesus is who Paul preaches, why aren’t the Jews flocking to Him? Today, why aren’t people flocking to Jesus? Why does God seem angry? Why so unpopular? If God is so good and so loving why does God let bad things happen? We have to be ready to give an answer, a defense. How can He be prepared to allow millions, maybe billions to go to hell?
Wanting things to be fair is the stuff of fairytales. Life’s not fair. Who steps in to make things fair? Suddenly in our society, people must not have been told that life isn’t fair. They are trying to make things fair. But experience has shown that trying to make life fair results in failure. But why is life unfair? God's control is undisputed. Romans 9:1-25.
Why does God blame people for not responding? His authority is undisputed. He can do as He chooses. It may not seem fair to us, but we have limited understanding. Every person has had revealed to them the majesty and beauty of God’s creation. Romans 1:20; Job 12:7-10; Psalm 19:1 and many more references. But, even with the evidence around them, some people reject God's existence. God’s mercy is given by His choice.
Every person has the opportunity to get the mercy they do not deserve. (Many by direct message but also millions by evidence through God’s presence in nature.) All have sinned. Every person has the choice to accept or reject God.
The Point: Our attitude toward God’s fairness changes when we recognize God’s love on full display when He gave His only son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus is the sacrifice for the sins of ALL men (people). But each person must choose to accept the sacrifice, by Faith! God is infinitely patient but at some point, He may stop pursuing although He always stands with open arms. The life of Jesus wasn’t fair and he is our defense. God loves us so much that He gives us the opportunity to receive mercy. We must respond. We must accept and surrender. And He sends messengers, prophets and followers, to take the word to others! We are here to share the Good News with others. Have faith and share God's message.
I had a video link for this song, Mercy Said No, that was unavailable.
I found this dramatic version to share instead.
I found this dramatic version to share instead.
Romans 9: 14-15; 19-21; 30-32 (NIV)
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for choosing me, for revealing yoourself to me. Lord Jesus, I thank you for your sacrifice for my sins. Holy Spirit, I thank you for being available at all times to guide me. I need God's love, mercy and guidance every minute of every day of my life!
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