God’s Purpose of Election, Part 2 (Rom. 9:14-29)

Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

[Sung Psalm: 92]This is a hard passage. It is not especially difficult to understand what Paul is saying. He is pretty straightforward.The difficulty is not that Paul's message is so complicated. The difficulty is that we don't like to hear it.We like to think that we are in charge – that we get to define what is fair, just, and right.But Paul's answer to us is "who are you, O man, to answer back to God?" Sometimes, when we quote Paul, we can have an edge to our tone: "who do you think you are?! O man…" What is Paul's tone? When Paul is asking "who are you, O man, to answer back to God" – he is certainly reminding us that God is God – and we are not! Sort of like how God answered Job.But remember that when God answered Job, all that Job endured was designed to conform Job to the likeness of Christ! Job became a picture of the innocent suffering servant! And the LORD honored and rewarded Job at the end!And that is Paul's point here! He humbles us – by asking us "just who do you think you are?" But also do you remember who God is?! Because God's purpose is our conformity to the likeness of Christ. When we don't understand what God is doing in this particular moment – that's okay! He is God – and we are not!