The Mystery Spot

The Mystery Spot

Romans 9:14-29

I grew outside in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. After I graduated high school, I went to college in Philadelphia and my parents moved to Pacific Grove, California so my summers were no longer spent in the familiarity of my hometown, but in the mysterious central coast of California visiting my family. Over the next several summers, I worked as a Camp Counselor for the Park District. Every week we would take the kids on a different trip to explore the area. The first year I looked at the calendar and the fifth week simply said, “Mystery Spot.” I thought, “Well that’s fun. I love a good surprise.” We got to the beginning of the fifth week and I asked my boss, “So, what’s the mystery spot? Where are we taking the kids this week?” She laughed and didn’t answer it. I thought that was odd but maybe she likes surprises too so I figured I would just roll with it. 

The day came and we got on the bus. We were on the road for about 30 minutes and we got to the Mystery Spot. And the Mystery Spot was…actually called the Mystery Spot. It was not a surprise, but simply a place called the Mystery Spot. Since I was new to the area, I had never heard of this place. The Mystery Spot is a gravitational anomaly outside of Santa Cruz, CA where gravity is a little different. One could lean forward without falling and sizes appear different because of the gravitational forces in this particular spot. Why is it like this? No one really knows. Some say aliens crash landed and buried their spaceship under the earth while others think there is a hole in the ozone layer above or a magma vortex below. 

Romans 9 is like the Mystery Spot for many people. It feels like a theological anomaly of God’s sovereign election and human responsibility. Two concepts that do not appear to fit together and yet they do. How? How does it all work together? We may never really know all the details of the how, but we know we can trust the Who that has placed them together. 

Spoiler alert, I am probably not going to answer every one of your questions when it comes to God’s sovereign election and man’s free will and human responsibility. I will take you to the mystery spot and tell what is happening, and leave you to make your own conclusions. When you study God, you will not have all your questions answered. God does not fit neatly into a box. We can know God, but we will never be able to completely understand him. As Paul has spent 8 chapters unpacking the glories of salvation and the power of the gospel for all who believe, he knows you will have questions about God, so like a good teacher, Paul asks the questions for you. 

Paul has already begun to ask and answer questions based on the end of Romans 8. He speaks about the irrevocable love of God in Christ. If nothing can separate one from the love of God in Christ Jesus, what happened to Israel? Has the word of God failed? No the word of God has not failed, because, as Scripture teaches, not all Israel belongs to Israel. True Israel is not Israel by birth but because through faith in the promise of God. Paul has given two examples in Scriptures, Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob and Esau. He quotes the prophet Malachi in Romans 9:13,

[13] As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 

Before Jacob or Esau did anything good or bad, God set his love on Jacob and not on Esau. Verse 13 is going to raise a very serious question about God, but before we get to the question, notice those four little words that begin verse 13, “As it is written.” Everything Paul teaches, everything I will try to teach today, will be grounded in those four little words, “As it is written.” We must bind ourselves to the Word of God. We do not worship a God of our own making, but as revealed in Scripture. Paul will raise two serious questions, but then he will answer those questions with, “As it is written.” 

Questioning God’s Righteousness

Paul asks the question that he believes people will be asking or should be asking when they hear about God’s sovereign election, “Is God righteous?” “Is God unjust?” Some translations may say, “Is God fair?” but the concept Paul is addressing is God’s character. Is he just, as in righteous, rather than is he acting fairly? Romans 9:14,

[14] What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? 

As you wrestle with the mystery of Romans 9, you may be asking the same question. If God’s sovereign election is true, if God chose Jacob over Esau before either one of them did anything good or bad, doesn’t that make God unrighteous? How could he do that if Esau didn’t do anything wrong?

Beloved, God can handle your questions. God has given answers to your questions in his word. He may not answer every one of your questions exhaustively, (like who are nephilim? As many of our youth are studying) but he will answer them sufficiently. 2 Peter 1:3–4,

[3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

The Word of God has given us all that we need for life and godliness. Take your questions to God and look for answers in the Word. If you need help, come to one of the elders, we will happily go to the Scriptures together. There will be questions we will be seeking until glory. Keep searching. 

Paul raises the question, on the basis of God’s sovereign election, “Is God unrighteous?” He raises the question, and then he gives the answers. By no means!! This is the strongest No possible. Is God unrighteous? A thousand times no. Absolutely not! God is not unrighteous, he is merciful.

Answering by God’s Mercy

Remember, “as it is written.” Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. He was tempted three times and each time, he replied, “It is written.” Paul follows Jesus' example by answering the temptations of Satan, which I believe is happening with this question, with “As it is written.” Romans 9:15,

[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.” 

Paul quotes Exodus 33:19. Moses asks the Lord, “Please show me your glory.” And the Lord replied, Exodus 33:19,

[19] And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 

Paul’s readers would have been very familiar with this passage. But notice the preamble to the quote, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.” God’s sovereign election is good and it highlights his name, “I AM.” The teaching, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion,” is in the context of God’s covenantal love towards his people. It is in the context of God promising to be with his people. God’s presence does not ultimately depend on man but on God who has mercy. 

Paul quotes a well known section in Exodus then he provides the interpretation. Romans 9:16, 

[16] So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 

Salvation is not driven by man’s effort or will or striving, but on God, who has mercy. People need mercy. The problem with humanity is that we are sinners. We are stiff-necked people meaning we are stubborn and unwilling to follow the Lord on our own. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone has chosen their own way. Everyone has followed the evil one and listened to that voice, “Did God actually say? Take of the fruit and eat. God is withholding something from you. He can’t be good. He is not righteous. For if he was, he would give you the fruit of the tree.” 

And all of us, with our stiff-necks, rejected God’s rule over us and followed our way. And because of our sin, no matter how hard we strive, no matter how much we do good, we cannot erase our sin. We have missed the mark of God’s perfection.We can’t get to God because of our sin so we need mercy. And guess who has it? Verse 16, “God, who has mercy.” Friend, this is good news. We need mercy, God has mercy. And God will freely give you mercy in Jesus Christ if you repent of your sins and believe. If you turn from your way, and trust God’s way, you will receive mercy. Titus 3:3–7,

[3] For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. [4] But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Mercy is offered in Jesus Christ through faith. We are saved not by our works done in righteousness but according to his mercy. 

Friend, do not lose sight of the mercy of Romans 9. God will give mercy on whom he gives mercy. We may not like the, “on whom I have mercy,” but for all of us who need mercy, how powerful are those words, “I will have mercy.” God has offered mercy in Jesus Christ. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. Every one of us deserves eternal punishment and hell for our stiff-necked rebellion against God. But God did not treat us as our sin deserves, he sent Jesus Christ, to be with us, so that we would have mercy. He died on the Cross taking what he didn’t deserve, wrath, so we could get what we don’t deserve, mercy. After Jesus died and was buried, God raised him from the dead. The resurrection is proof that God is true to his word. He will have mercy on all who repent of their sins and trust in Christ. 

Now, if Paul stopped there, most people would be content, but Paul presses on to get to the real objection. Again Paul quotes Scripture and then interprets it, Romans 9:17–18,

[17] For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” [18] So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 

Pharaoh is given as another illustration. Pharaoh was raised up so that God might show his power and have his name proclaimed in all the earth. Remember, God’s people were in slavery in Egypt. God sent Moses to Pharaoh telling him to let his people go, but Pharaoh refused. Paul quotes Exodus 9:16 after God has already unleashed 6 plagues upon the Egyptian people. God will use the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart to proclaim his power and might over all the earth. 

God, remaining true to his covenantal love, hears the prayers of his people, and responds by hardening Pharaoh, setting his wrath on Egypt so that his people could receive mercy. In the Bible, salvation always comes through judgment. One is judged, another saved. Egypt was judged, Israel was saved. And in the story of the Exodus, the lamb was judged, Israel was saved. This is the gospel. Jesus was judged, true Israel, Jew and Gentile, are saved. What does it mean for God to have mercy on whom he wills and to harden whomever he wills? 

We are entering into the mystery spot. Christians do not believe that God saves everyone. God predestines some for salvation and some for condemnation. Theologians have called this double predestination. We have already seen predestination in Romans. Romans 8:28–30,

[28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Paul begins this section with the word, “we know.” God is not hiding the concept of predestination. God’s sovereign election is not a doctrine to be avoided, but to be celebrated. God chooses some undeserving sinners for his mercy for his glory. God allows other deserving sinners for his wrath. 

Double predestination understood wrongly is a terrible doctrine, but understood rightly highlights the glory and majesty of God. Many think double predestination means that God is actively creating salvation in some while actively creating sin in others. This would be called Positive/Positive or Active/Active double predestination. This would be a terrible doctrine because it would make God actively doing evil. God does not cause sin in people. This is a serious distortion of God and his character. God does not create sin or tempt anyone. James 1:13–18,

[13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.[16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 

The positive/positive view of double predestination would be a violation of scripture. 

The positive/negative or active/passive view of double predestination would be biblical. God sovereignly chooses to bestow his mercy and grace on undeserving sinners by giving saving faith for them to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And God sovereignly passes over others leaving them in their sin and condemnation. He is not active in putting sin in their hearts, but passes over them leaving them in their sin. As Paul has already stated, “So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” Psalm 135:6

[6] Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps. 

God does whatever, wherever, however, whenever, he pleases. And whatever he pleases, he does. Because he is God and there is no other. 

Human beings are emotional. We usually respond emotionally before we respond intellectually. Our emotions often govern our decisions and how we respond to particular doctrines. These doctrines don’t feel right. The doctrine of God’s sovereign election and double predestination doesn’t feel right to a lot of people. They do not want to give God control over who is saved and who is condemned. Charles Spurgeon notes why the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is so loved by Christians and so hated by others,

There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne.

Then Spurgeon adds,

On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by the world [wordlings], no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth. And we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust. 

Friends, this is the God whom we must preach. People bristle at God’s sovereignty because they do not want to acknowledge him as King and Ruler of all. People want to control their lives and they want to be in charge. They do not like God who is on the throne, because that means they must submit to his authority over their decisions. Human beings want to do what they want when they want. They want to be like God. The world bristles at God’s sovereignty. It offends them. And while the world is offended by God being on his throne, some Christians bristle at God’s sovereignty in salvation. And this is why Paul asks his second question.

Questioning God’s Reasoning

Paul is laying out his biblical case from Exodus on God’s sovereignty in salvation which he knows will only create more questions. Romans 9:19,

[19] You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 

If God is sovereign, how can he judge men who resist his will? If I don’t have a choice, then how can I be held accountable by God who didn’t give me a choice? Paul never says that people do not have a choice, but he is asking the question based on the conclusion of what he believes others will think. 

Answering by God’s Might

Paul answers the objectors in a Job like fashion. He doesn’t directly answer the question but he focused on the question itself. Romans 9:20–21

[20] But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” [21] Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 

This is common imagery in the Old Testament but Paul is most likely alluding to Isaiah 29:16 and Isaiah 45:9. Isaiah 29:16 says,

[16] You turn things upside down!

Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,

that the thing made should say of its maker,

“He did not make me”;

or the thing formed say of him who formed it,

“He has no understanding”? 

And Isaiah 45:9b,

[9] Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’

or ‘Your work has no handles’? 

Like Job, who questioned God’s reasoning in his own suffering, Job 40:1–9

[1] And the LORD said to Job:

[2] “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

[3] Then Job answered the LORD and said:

[4] “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

[5] I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

[6] Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

[7] “Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

[8] Will you even put me in the wrong?

Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?

[9] Have you an arm like God,

and can you thunder with a voice like his? 

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is speaking like the Lord, in Isaiah and Job, God is God, whatever he pleases, does. Who are you to question him? We are clay, He is the potter. We are creatures, He is the Creator. He is the Lord, we are his servants. 

This is the mystery. We will not always know “the why” the Lord does things. And we struggle because we believe we are entitled to know. Friends, this is the mystery spot. God does not have to give us the answer to every one of our questions. We will not understand everything in this life, but whatever the good and wise God pleases, he does. We are not trusting some autocratic evil dictator, we are trusting the all-wise, all good, all powerful, God, who has mercy. 

Paul continues to explain the thesis of the chapter, The Word of God has not failed because not all Israel belongs to Israel. But in God’s sovereign wisdom, his plan was to save all true Israel, calling both Jews and Gentiles to salvation. Romans 9:22–29,

[22] What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, [23] in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—[24] even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? [25] As indeed he says in Hosea,

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’

and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”

[26] “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’

there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

[27] And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, [28] for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” [29] And as Isaiah predicted,

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,

we would have been like Sodom

and become like Gomorrah.” 

Salvation belongs to the Lord. Salvation of the Jews belongs to the Lord. Salvation of the Gentiles belongs to the Lord. 

Paul gives us a hint at the reasoning of the Lord in why he has decided to order history this way. Look at Romans 9:22–24,

[22] What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, [23] in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—[24] even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 

Like with Pharaoh, God’s wrath on some has made his power known so that he could make known the riches of his glory to vessels of mercy. God desired to give mercy to all Israel, Jew and Gentile, so he patiently endured with stiff-necked people who would experience his perfect justice. 

We will continue to look at God’s plan of salvation of the Gentiles in the coming weeks. Again I pray as we study the doctrine of God’s sovereign election we will hold those two words we looked at last week together: anguish and assurance. We should have anguish over those who are still in rebellion against God and his purposes, while having an assurance that what God has set out to accomplish for us in Christ will endure to the end. Let me end with several quick applications.

Live by the Word of God - God has revealed himself in his Word. We must be “As it is Written.” Christians. We cannot make God into our image, but trust how the Word reveals who God is and what he is like. One of the best things about this church is our love for the Word of God. We do not avoid hard topics, but live by the whole counsel of God’s Word. 

Praise God for his Mercy - None of us deserve mercy. We have all been stiff-necked in our rebellion against God. We all have lived as if we know what is best for us. We should pause and praise God that he showed us undeserved mercy. Those of us in Christ,  did not receive what we deserve, death and hell, but received what we did not deserve, salvation and eternal life. 

Be Humble - Throughout Romans, Paul continues to teach that justification by faith excludes boasting. The Jews were boasting about their heritage and God says,  “Don't do that. The Gentiles were boasting of their salvation over ethnic Israel and God says, “Don't do that.” If we understand this passage one way, and others understand differently, let us not lift ourselves up over each other. Let’s not let this issue divide our body. 

Embrace our creaturely existence - As a leader, I have to make lots of decisions, but it is really nice when someone else makes them. This is the beauty of Romans 9. We are not in charge. We can joyfully submit and be humble. Romans 9 should help us embrace our creaturely nature. We are frail, God is not. The salvation is not in our effort, but belongs to the Lord. Let’s embrace that.  

Wrestle with your Emotions - When we approach concepts and text like Romans 9, it may create uneasy emotions. Wrestle with them. Ask why they are there. Is it because you were taught something different growing up? Is it because you are not understanding? Is it something you don’t want to believe? Is it the doctrine or the people who hold the doctrine you struggle with? Either way, wrestle with those emotions. We have to be the kind of community that can live in the tension of emotional struggles when it comes to God and his Word. Read the Psalms and see how people struggle with suffering and how God is working, but also see how they reaffirm their trust in who He is and his love for them.

Beloved, Romans 9 is the mystery spot for lots of us. We may never understand the how or the why, but we can understand the what. When I was 19, I was able to lean forward without falling. Why? I don’t know. But it happened. I can’t explain it but that doesn’t make it untrue. God chose Jacob and hated Esau. God showed mercy to Israel and hardened Pharaoh. It happened. Why? For God’s glory to make his name and power known so that he could make known the riches of his glory to objects of mercy. 

Beloved, my prayer is that you would not resist his will, but know the riches of his glory and praise him for his mercy. We can leave Romans 9 with more questions than we have answers, but we can also leave Romans 9 with more mercy than with wrath. Salvation does not depend on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. God has mercy. God has mercy in Christ. Whatever you are dealing with today, whatever sin you are captured by, whatever fears consume you, God has mercy for you. Whatever anxiety, whatever pain, whatever sorrow, God has mercy for you. God will give mercy to those who ask. Whatever he pleases, he does. And he is pleased to save. He was pleased to send his Son to be an object of wrath so that you and I could be objects of mercy. This is the mystery I want to spend the rest of my life on. As the great hymn of the faith 

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm

Deep in unsearchable mines

Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense

But trust Him for His grace

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face

His purposes will ripen fast

Unfolding every hour

The bud may have a bitter taste

But sweet will be the flower

And ye fearful saints, fresh courage take

The clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

And In blessings on your head

The clouds are big with mercy because God who has mercy has given us mercy in Christ. As Richard Sibbes wrote, “There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” And my friends, that is no mystery, but the plain gospel truth. And this is what Romans 9 teaches us. In the God who has mercy, there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.