God's Authority and Sovereignty
I. The Meaning of God's Sovereignty
A. The meaning of the word - The supremacy of one with undisputed
and unrestricted rights to act autonomously because of his position and
rank.
B. The sovereign Lord - (despotes) - Acts 4:24; 2 Tim. 2:21; Jude
4; Rev. 6:10
II. God's Sovereignty and Christ - Romans 9:1-5
- A. God's goal is Christ - Rom. 8:29
- B. God's sovereignty over Israel to usher in Christ - Rom. 9:1-5
- 1. The burden for Israel - Rom. 9:1-3
- 2. Israel as the custodians of the truth - Rom. 9:4-5
III. God's Sovereignty in Operation - Romans 9:6-29
- A. To fulfill God's Word - Rom. 9:6, 28
- B. To accomplish God's purpose of selection - Rom. 9:11
- C. To demonstrate His Word and purpose through a remnant
- 1. Not all Israel are the true Israel - Rom. 9:6; 11:1-5
- a) Abraham - Isaac, not Ishmael - Rom. 9:7-9
- b) Isaac - Jacob, not Esau - Rom. 9:10-13
- 2. The principle of the remnant
- a) God's purpose to have vessels of honor and mercy - Rom. 9:21-23
- b) God's calling from among the Jews and nations - Rom.
9:24
- c) God's calling to secure a people for Himself - Rom. 9:25-26
- d) The majority and the minority in God's economy - Rom. 9:27
- (1) The remnant - Rom. 9:27
- (2) The remnant as a manifestation of the execution of God's
Word
- Rom. 9:28
- (3) A seed preserved, not totally wasting humanity - Rom. 9:29
IV. God's Character Revealed in HIs Sovereignty
- A. God's prerogatives and rights (what if?) - Rom. 9:14-23
- B. The Lord's reasons for His actions are found in Himself - Rom.
9:14-23
- 1. He wills to have mercy and compassion - Rom. 9:15-18
- 2. He wills to show His power and spread His name - Rom. 9:17
- 3. He is the Creator and not the creature - Rom. 9:19-20
- 4. He desires to make known the riches of His glory - Rom. 9:21-23
- C. In God's sovereignty man learns God's authority - Rom. 9:19-23
- 1. Not criticizing God - Rom. 9:14
- 2. Not contradictorily answering back to God - Rom. 9:19-20