Week 41 - Free Weekend Program For Street & Vulnerable kids

Text : Romans 9:21-27

Theme : God’ Mercy and Justice Revealed.

Last week, we learned that it is foolish and useless to argue against God. God is God, we are less than nothing! We know God acts righteously, but we are not His judges. while we may not fully comprehend or understand His sovereign will in salvation, we can see His two divine attributes (nature) in action: mercy and justice, both, we must bow to, knowing that His choices are not based on our actions, whether good or evil.

Today, we continue from verse 21

21 “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonour?

God, like a potter, has the authority to shape us, His creation, for different purposes according to His will. Just as a potter creates vessels - sculptures for different uses, some for display, others for storage etc, God chooses some for honour and others for dishonour. He has both the sovereign and unlimited power to mould us into whatever He wants as He sees fit.

We are like clay in His hands, powerless, void of any objection or resistance. When we obey Him, He made us do it, when we disobey Him, He allowed it. God is glorified in showing mercy to some and in administering justice on others, His two attributes are revealed. He has authority to determine the destiny of His creation. Just as a person can choose how to use the chickens they have bought, some for barbecues - chicken suya, others for breeding - some eggs for eating, some for hatching.

God chooses how to deal with His creation - some for eternal life with Him in paradise, displaying his Love, Grace and Mercy, some for eternal separation, displaying His Power as judge, His hatred over sin and ultimately making known His Justice and Holiness ; we cannot question God’s sovereign and irresistible will. He orchestrates all things in alignment with His will and purpose. Nothing can happen outside His preordained plan and purpose. As Christians, this should give us peace, comfort and confidence; like the Apostle said in 2 Timothy 1:12 “I know in whom I have believe…” . Nothing has or will go outside his ordained will and purpose. Our sufferings, trials, difficulties, pains, successes, joy, friends, family, hobbies - everything are all in His plan. God is in control, the least atom (smallest particle) is under his absolute control.

22 “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,”

Men are called externally by God, to forsake unrighteousness and to come to Christ, God extends outward grace to them, His goodness should lead to repentance but no! Carnal Men despise it, they find “comfort” in the pleasures of life, the pleasure of sin (disobedience) they love the praise of men rather than the praise of God. Like Esau, they despise and reject eternal glory. God in His sovereignty, allows them to persist in their disobedience, and to face the consequences of their actions in the long run - eternal damnation in hell, through their punishment, God displays his intense anger and hatred towards sin as well as His power of justice and nature of holiness. Habakkuk 1:13

It’s important to recognize that continuing in sin, even if seemingly successful outwardly, is perilous. God’s goodness, His patience. Long suffering should lead us to repentance. Don’t be like a frog in a gradually heating pot of water, feeling comfortable and cozy with the warmness in the pot, not realising the danger until it's too late, persisting in sin leads to eternal destruction. Proverbs 29:1

So, don’t remain in sin! Run to Christ for the salvation of your soul . Don’t justify wrongdoing or find comfort in it. Instead, confront and expose it for what it is. Stealing is not a clever tactics, it’s sin! Seek repentance and reconciliation with God through the shed blood of Christ, tomorrow is the devil’s day, today is the day of salvation (1 John 1:9).

Hardness of heart is a curse from God, but conviction of sin and true repentance are a blessing, they are God’s love, grace and mercy towards us. Sometimes, we tend to weep earnestly for our mistakes -sins only because we see difficulties but as soon as the “cloud clears”, we are back to the same rebellion through endless maneuvering because we want glory for our flesh - self exaltation, the praise of men to the detriment of our eternal soul. Pharoah pleaded with Moses severally to take away one plague after another, but once he got a relief, he went back to rebellion; God patiently endured his wickedness till his own sin destroyed him; satan, through sin destroys the souls of his servants.

Verse 23 “and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, “

God is glorified in the forgiveness of sins in the lives of those He has predestined. Apart from mercy, we will be worst than Sodom, all of us! A good example is the conversion of the Apostle Paul, he was formerly Saul. In Acts 9, we learn about Saul’s encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus.

Despite Saul’s past persecution of Christians - he was killing people who put their faith in Christ, for instance, he was there when deacon Stephen was stoned to death Acts 7:58, as well as his strong adherence to the Jewish law, God showed him mercy and chose him for a special eternal purpose; a glorious purpose. This encounter led to an amazing transformation in Saul’s life. He went from being a persecutor of the church to becoming one of the most dedicated Apostle of Christ. Through Saul, God’s mercy and grace were evident as he preached the gospel with great passion and zeal, spreading the message of salvation to non-Jewish people. Desiring to be cut off from Christ if it will lead to the salvation of his own people.

God, in His sovereignty, chooses some to be vessels of His mercy, but for mercy, we will all be doomed for eternity. Through the forgiveness of sin, God displays His glory; His nature of love, love unconditional. if God has called you to Christ, He will transform your heart, give you power over sin, like John the Baptist, you will live for the glory of God not yours. Your life and deeds will speak of God’s Love, Mercy and Grace.

24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

This is true for us as well, true for everyone He has called to Himself, not only those from Isreal but all who put faith in Christ. He called us out from a life of sin- disobedience, rebellion and stubbornness. Some of us from the love of money, some from prostitution like Rahab the harlot, some from the idol of self worship, some from false religion (ignorance, lies and deceit) etc.

He provided the atoning sacrifice for our sins through the death of Christ, transformed us, gave us new desires, new natures, so His name is glorified as He deals kindly with us as vessels of mercy prepared before time. Our sins are not all gone, the flesh is still alive, but the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is evident in our lives. Like Samson, our passionate zeal for God and lust for flesh does exist; like Paul we bemoan our wretched selves but have found peace in Christ. By the power of the Spirit, we must put to death the misdeeds of the body, so we can live. Romans 8:13. Believers will not die eternally, but sin (self or vain glory) can put us out of usefulness, like Samson whose eyes were eventually plugged out. Let God be glorified in and through your life, labour to seek the praise of God, not the praise of men.

25 -26 As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

We were not God’s children from the beginning, we were originally from Adam, born into a sinful lineage, inherently corrupt but God came and adopted us into His own family. He bought us with His own blood. We, who were not part of Him have now become His children; sin made us God’s enemies, but now, through Christ, we have been recognized to God.

1. Abraham was an idol worshiper, but God made him a man of faith.

2. Rahab was a harlot, God made her a saint and a great (16) grand mom of Jesus.

3. Paul persecuted Christians to death, God made him a fervent Apostle of Jesus Christ.

4. Jabez was cursed from birth with shame (sin), God changed and honoured him with His presence - answered prayer.

5. The thief on the Cross went from there into eternal bliss - paradise with Christ.

These are some of the amazing graces of God; same for us, He saved a wretch like me. God is glorified through the redemption of His people; He makes a saint out of a wicked sinner. This is our story, the story of every Christian.

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.

God’s Grace is available to all sinners, but not many have the power to receive it. Many are called but few are chosen. This is a scary thing. Conviction of sin, faith in Christ are gifts He gives to those He has chosen. Do you have that in your heart? Cry out to God.

Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,

Hear my humble cry,

While on others you are calling,

Do not pass me by.

Refrain:

Saviour, Saviour, saviour

Hear my humble cry;

While on others you are calling,

Do not pass me by.