Justice and Mercy

In Romans, Paul is giving a brilliant exposition of the gospel of God concerning his son, our Lord Jesus Christ and at the end of Romans eight as we saw last week Paul has completed the major section he's dealt with the hope of the gospel and before that he dealt with the very heart of the gospel as he explained the gospel first and then dealt with the results on the effects of the gospel.

This morning I we come to Romans chapter 9. If you have your Bible invite you to turn there with me. We come to Romans nine of which Paul begins his defense of the gospel is given us the heart of the gospel is described, the hope of the gospel and now he's going to deal with the heart of the gospel that this is not the easiest chapter as we will see. So ask that you stay focused.

Can you do that, no checking your social media is all about you.

Anyhow, so don't do that focus on the Scripture.

I think focus in life is very very important and that I could do something with some of you will think is rather foolish, rather ambitious relic of the first 29 versus sometimes in our study of Romans would look at two or three verses, but I thought we'd look at the big picture here so we going to cover things very very quickly so I want you, particularly to pay attention and if possible even to think. Can we do that because we think God gives us his word and it is to be understood. The Holy Spirit gives is that understanding and the application to our hearts.

Now Paul is a begins with the defense of the gospel is doing with a very real question you may recall that at the beginning of Romans chapter 1 Paul is explained why he's not ashamed of the gospel. He says I'm not ashamed of the gospel because it's the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, and then he adds this to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. But if it comes to the Jew first, as indeed it did in this Paul says and that's true historically.

Why has the Jew generally speaking, what, why has the nation of Israel rejected the gospel. After all, it's concerning the Messiah and as Israel appears to have rejected the gospel.

What about God's promises in the Old Testament to the Jewish nation and his purposes for Israel has God brought back on his word, have the promises of God failed to Israel and if it is the case of the promises of God to Israel didn't did not materialize as he said they would in the Old Testament doesn't does this mean that we who follow Jesus cannot report cannot rely on the premises of God we saw last week that God tells us through his Spirit that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Is that really true. Can we really depend on the word of God. If the word of God failed in the Old Testament, to the Jew could not fail to us in the New Testament of the promises of God to Israel been canceled because of Israel's unbelief order of the promises of God to Israel in the Old Testament now find their fulfillment in the church that is has the church comprising Jew and Gentile on an equal basis as Paul establishes the New Testament has a church now replaced Israel.

These are some of the questions about them, but important questions.

I would say in Romans 910 11 we will see from these chapters. Romans 910 11 that the church has not superseded that the church has not replaced Israel and that the Old Testament nation of Israel is not to be spiritualized as the church in the New Testament. In these chapters, Paul is going to make it very clear that while Israel is an unbelief that is true, there is still a remnants, and furthermore, in spite of the majority of Jews in spite of the nation of Israel, presently rejecting the Messiah, which continues to this day. God has a glorious future Israel has a glorious future for Israel ball is going to say in Romans chapter 11 that this future for Israel is very, very real. And one day all Israel will be saved in the magnificent and then the plan of God as prophesied in the Old Testament there is a national and territorial future for Israel.

We must understand I hope you do understand this is you come to cover church that one of the important keys to the understanding of biblical prophecy is Israel that the nation of Israel and the land of Israel are sensual to our understanding of the Bible.

So let's open our Bibles. Romans chapter 9 as we begin to deal with Paul's defense of the gospel. First of all in the first five verses we see that Israel's present rejection of the Messiah brings great sorrow to Paul.

Israel's present rejection of the Messiah brings great sorrow to Paul Romans nine verse one. I'm speaking the truth in Christ. I'm not lying, my conscience bears may witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart for I could wish that I myself would accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.

My kinsman according to the flesh their Israelites and to them belong the adoption, the glory of the covenant is the giving of the law the worship and the promises to them belong the patriarchs, and from the race. According to the flash is the Christ, who is God over all blessed forever. Amen. Paul here in Romans nine is great sorrow and anguish having regard to the mountaintop of Romans eight the preceding chapter where he said there is no condemnation and there is no separation, these words now in Romans nine a shocking thing from the prefiling joy of Romans eight. Paul seems to descend to the Valley of deep, deep sorrow, why is he sorrowful, why does he have this deep deep anguish. Paul has a tremendous love for Israel is a tremendous love for his own brothers is all nationalities at work and he's concerned about the salvation of Israel, so he is great greatly grieved. Yes, the gospel came to the Jew first, but the Jews are an unbelief and Paul feels this pain so deeply that he makes a remarkable statement in these opening verses of Romans nine he says I would be willing to forfeit my own salvation if that would save Israel is willing verse three to be accursed.

Notice that in verse three and cut off from Christ for the sake of his Jewish brothers. He explains that Israel their Israelites are greatly privileged and this increases the sorrow and notice what the says in verse four he says to them belong the adoption, the glory, think of the Shekinah in the tabernacle and the temple and the covenants we great covenant such as Abraham Lincoln, the Davidic in the Mosaic covenants, the giving of the law the worship and the promises he says think of all of the promises of the covenants we are we prepared little booklets on Romans 910 and 11 part three of our study guide and then that little booklet you can pick it up free didn't get the last week I wrote an article on the importance of the Abraham a covenant. Think of all policy. Think of all of the promises of the covenant such as the Abraham a covenant over the land and the blessing coming to Israel and think of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah.

I know the Messiah has come in Israel has rejected the Messiah and also to Israel belong to patriarchs. Think of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and laymen like David Samuel.

Think of all of the privileges of Israel and most of all, says Paul, but the Messiah himself, or Lord Jesus Christ comes from the race.

Verse five according to the flesh, that is our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah is the perfect Israelites. He comes from the race. He is Jewish he comes, is a descendent of Abraham is the son of David, and Israel is now rejecting the Messiah, who is this would be a very good translation. I think it is me who is God over all strong statement as to the deity of the Messiah, the Christ, the Messiah is truly mine and truly God and therefore to reject the Messiah is not only to reject the gospel. It is to reject God himself and so Paul is weeping with the salvation of people, when did we last in the in the prayer meeting of people who were weeping over the lost nation of Israel, your family, your friends sometimes are our prayer meetings are prayer times. Perhaps an allied group. When we get together and they deal with people's medical problems are present. We should be praying for that but did you personally last week for the salvation of someone we were going over the country and think of the violence of it.

Think of all of the division. Think of the hatred that animosity that exists and all of the shootings in all of the violence and that the fires on the downward trend morally but that impact us that Paul, Paul is weeping for the salvation of Israel in verses six through 13. Paul doesn't Paul argue beautifully God's present rejection of Israel is not inconsistent with God's promises God's present rejection of Israel is not inconsistent with God's promises. First of all, verse six God's Word still stands. A true generally speaking, Israel is an unbelief. But God's Word still stands. The covenants the Old Testament prophecies stand true, as Paul is going to argue verse six, but it is not as though the word of God has failed.

The problem is not God's. God promised Abraham that he would make of Abraham a great nation Israel was chosen by God. Deuteronomy 7 the Lord's sake to the nation of the Lord is chosen, you not because you think nation affected a rather small nation. I would have chosen you, because I've loved you chosen your because I'm faithful to the promises I made to your forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob special treasure to God, so has the word of God failed because Israel has rejected the gospel know the first word in the original text in verse six is not know God's promises never fail God's word never fails. Scripture is never broken.

Numbers 23 verse 19 God is not mine, that he should lie, or the Son of Man that he should change his mind as he said, will he not do it or has he spoken, and will he not do it, but if that is the case of God's word doesn't fail.

Why is Israel not saved.

God made these wonderful promises to Israel in the Old Testament and the covenants of the prophecies but Israel has rejected the Messiah but is what Paul is going to say verse six.

It is not as though the word of God is failed is a point for not all who are descendent from Israel belong to Israel not only belong to Israel in the physical sense belong to Israel in the spiritual sense is really saying Junior your Bibles you would understand this, God's promise of salvation has never been to someone simply because they are out of physical descendent from Abraham is what many of the Jews thought they thought they were safe they were finding a good relationship with God. Why because they were under the Abraham a covenant they were circumcised look back in Romans two, in case you've forgotten how Paul demolishes that Eric that argument the end of Romans two, verse 28.

He says no one is a Jew who is merely one outward lay notice circumcision outward and physical by the Jew is one inwardly and circumcision as a matter of the heart by the Spirit, not by the letter. One thing just because your forefather was Abraham that you have a special standing with God. Absolutely not.

Salvation comes to Israel. Salvation comes the Gentiles always by faith.

Without faith it is impossible to please God present not been what Paul is been arguing in the alley of chapters in in Romans he gives the example of Abraham. He gives the example of David great man, but they were acceptable to God, not because of their deeds.

But because there were men of faith and hope all takes to biblical illustrations to show that what matters with God is not race grace is not a matter of race as a matter of race as a matter of the mercy of God. Verse seven befalling this some of your so far good will of the to go. Not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that it is not the children of the flash or the children of God but the children of the promise are counted as offspring for this is what the promise said about this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son. I was the first illustration Isaac and Ishmael both Isaac and Ishmael had Abraham as the father but one was a child of promise and one was a child of the flesh. There is a difference policy. Remember if you know your biblical history is a difference between children of the flash and children of the promise, Isaac as a child of the promise Ishmael is a child of the flesh. Both have Abraham as the father but God chose Isaac as a child of promise rather than Ishmael usually did that mean Ishmael wasn't blessed Ishmael was also blessed. You may remember from Ishmael is going to come a great nation, yes. But here's the point. Isaac is the child of promise rather than Ishmael you want another illustrations is Paul here it is that instead. And not only so illustration number two, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man of forefather Isaac though they were not yet born, notices, and had done nothing either good or bad in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call.

She was told the older shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. He went I don't know if I like this was going to do with your objection in a minute was understandable for you object to it. Jacob and Esau had this not only had the same father.

They had the same mother were twins. They came from the one conception so Isaac and Ishmael little little different same father. Different mothers.

Not so with these twins, Jacob and and that is so same father. Same mother. But God in his sovereign purposes, chose Jacob for his purposes rather than Esau was a point God's sovereign election and mercy are not based on the birth are not based on our family ordered good deeds, but on what verse 11 in the verse 11 but because of his thoughts called all of mercy utilize goodwill. Why did God choose Jacob rather than Esau. I don't know don't know ask a different question.

Why did God choose someone like me. I deserve God's your pastor deserves God's mercy didn't is because I'm better than other people out of the thousands of little Scottish vines running around metal here. You think I was because of such a good little boy he is. Because my parents know I don't know. I don't know. It's all of the mercy of God.

Notice what is said is a little difficult for us. But notice the text are sorted, Isaac and Jacob were chosen by God before they had done before. They had done anything either good or bad and then we have this quotation Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated twitter that come from it comes from the book of Malachi invite Malachi opens his prophecy on the kind the last book of the Old Testament written hundreds of years after the birth and life of Jacob and Esau. He writes Jacob I loved, but Esau I heated you say but doesn't God love everyone remember preaching a few years ago and as I preached I quoted the children's little chorus.

Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world red and yellow, black and white. All are precious in his sight below it, and afterwards mine wanted to speak to me wanted to put me right that happens from time to time, and sometimes deservedly so.

But in this case I don't think so. He said you can say that you can say that Jesus loves all the children. Jesus only loves the elect children. Jesus only died for the elect. What Bible are you reading from my Bible says for God so loved the elect not my Bible God so loved the world, my Bible also says that John the Baptist looked at the Savior and said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, so I must must disagree with extreme Calvinist who wants to say that God only loves the elect and the Jesus Christ only paid the price for the elect know he died for the sins of all salvation is provided for all it is of the very essence of God that he is love. The Bible says that God is love.

God is all loving.

What does it mean here then the writer is using handed him the same sort of idiom that are logged used in the Gospels. If you know your Bible and the Gospels remember on one occasion, Jesus asked people to come after him and he said not let you be too quickly to follow but you must understand that if you follow me, you must love me more than father, mother, wife, child agreement that you agree that our talk. Love is to be God. I do in the final passage in Luke chapter 14 Luke records a large saying this, the one who follows me must pay father, mother, wife, married man and I love my mom is 93 is the love my wife doesn't mean the Jesus saying that if I follow Jesus some I got to actually hate my mother.

My wife no it's an expression an idiomatic expression which gets our attention doesn't. This is a radical but when I follow Jesus.

He is to be my top love more than my wife, my children and my parents and notice what the Scripture is not saying don't make the Bible say more than that saying to suit your theological system.

Scripture is not saying that just Jacob was chosen for heaven and Esau was chosen for hell. Jacob and his descendents, the Israelites rather than Esau and his descendents who were the descendents of Esau, the Edomites of very evil people. They were loved less than Jacob and his descendents. Scripture makes it very very clear that Esau rejected God's grace that Esau rejected God's mercy and the Edomites is Malachi saying the beginning of his prophecy. The Edomites with a very very evil people not listen or miss important point Paul is making the Jews should not be surprised that not all Israel have received Jesus as the Messiah.

Verse six, for not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. The gospel is not concerned with your heritage. Salvation is all of three unmerited grace was redone as Paul continues to defend the gospel. Verses 14 through 29. Paul is saying that God's present rejection of Israel is not inconsistent with God's justice not inconsistent with the promises of God gives illustrations of that but also God's present rejection of Israel is not inconsistent with God's justice. Verses 14 through 18 we see that God is always just exported what shall we say then you likely have just saved you like what is right and so you're asking a question. Paul is a great teachers and he anticipates a question and then gives the answer.

What shall we say that is that injustice and Don's partner is not what you say doesn't just answered by no means fully says to Moses, I will of mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will of compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not human will Oryx or exertion, but on God who is mercy for the Scripture says to Pharaoh for this very purpose I will raise you up that I might show my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the art, so then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whom ever he wills the preceding verses raise the question about the justice of God was God unfair in choosing Isaac rather than Ishmael was God unfair in choosing Jacob rather than Esau is unthinkable. It's unsafe people that God is unjust. Paul is saying. Genesis 18 verse 25.

The judge of the earth does what is right. God is not unjust when he has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. No, God is sovereign God is free to act any way that he chooses and his mercy is not based on human will is not based on human endeavor.

In fact, apart from the mercy of God. I hope you understand this, apart from the mercy of God, not one of us here would be saved if you deserved mercy. If you worked for mercy. It wouldn't be mercy. True mercy must be uncaused outside of God's on free grace to thing that God owes you something you did this Jewish question. Does he really think that God owes them something because he is a descendent of Abraham, absolutely not to understand that we all deserve the judgment of God because of person with her was whether we are a Jew or Gentile, and is not the magnificence of the Christian gospel in a few weeks were going to be celebrating Christmas and this is a wonderful that the gospel records make it clear over and over again that Wingard and his grace and his mercy sends his son into this world.

When the eternal God comes into time and space. He does not come to judge you and he doesn't come to condemn you although you deserve his judgment and you deserve his condemnation because because Paul is arguing that all of us of sin, without exception, all of us are in the condemn cell so don't think the God owes you something no idea of his free, unmerited grace and indescribable Marseilles this God who is rich in mercy, sends his son to rescue us and to redeem us. So if we will judge that would be justice. Nipomo now takes the example of Moses who is greatly respected by the Jews to further his case in these verses. Think of the interaction between Moses and Pharaoh children of Israel are slaves in Egypt, and God raises up this unlikely character Moses, who initially doesn't want to do to be the leader to deliver the people out of Egypt into the promised land. The big problem is that Pharaoh is in charge is very very powerful. And so God says I want you to go to Pharaoh and wanted to say to Pharaoh you got let my people go. Moses and is understandably very reluctant to do that eventually does and Pharaoh basically says get that lost absolutely not.

There's no way he's got very hard heart. Absolutely not. In fact, if you're asking that you put too much time on your hand and we can make your people work even harder plague after plague after plate comes the book of Exodus. What happens after each plague.

Oh Pharaoh then says okay. If you stop the plague your people can go. The plague stops. Pharaoh hardens his heart yet again. Over and over again.

Pharaoh hardened his heart is a little responsible for actions. Yes it is true verse 17, God hardened Pharaoh's heart to show God's power and glory. The reality is, some hearts are open to the revelation of God, while others reject God's revelation and when you reject God's revelation. What happens there is increasing hardness in your heart. So here we are sitting this morning to the preaching of the word of God and some of you as you came into the center this morning you come with humble hearts you come praying that God would speak to your that your faith would be strengthened, that you would be encouraged that the spirit of God would teach you and you come with a humble open heart. Others of you. I trust not money, but I daresay some you, the hard part. Perhaps a regular young man and you're only here because your parents drag you here. Perhaps your life and your husbands as to the come when you don't believe in your heart is very very hardened. What happens why is it in the Old Testament and repeated in the book of Hebrews over and over again. This verse today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart to get that Pharaoh over and over again had the word of God and increasingly hardness I guess is true the garden. That way was heartening.

His heart, but Pharaoh is responsible for his own actions. So the lustration is, and that you take a pound of butter and a pint of clay and put them under the same son. What happens the butter melts the clay hardens is that is the same son is the same amount of heat, but the substances are different. One melts one hardens Pharaoh's heart hardens, and God in that way, displayed his glory and his public you say is that unfair notice on them for cousin Paul argued earlier in the book of Romans then the knowledge of God is evident to everyone is beautiful day almost perfect temperature rights. My way of thinking by the 95 100° see the beautiful foliage was talking the car yesterday and has us talking with all of this. Could you manufacture another color light through the prism and you see the beauty of the colors of the rainbow. Yes, you can mix these colors and get all kinds of shades and colors but things any was creative. To create another color to create music.

Yes, the evidence of God is all around us.

But Paul is at what's happened man suppress the truth. Their hearts are hardly what does God do then he hardens her hearts. He gives them over to their sin we see in our society. Don't wait. The people who pursue immorality. The people who reject the word of God.

The people say no.

No one's going to tell me what to do there heart becomes harder and harder and harder wonderful news is this that God can break hard hearts. Paul is a good example himself as a man who oppose the church opposed Christ and God broke his heart heart verses 19 through 21, Paul is saying that God as Creator has the right to deal with these creatures, as he pleases. Verse 19. You will say to me then why does he still find fault you still question God, you still don't get it under gladly have these questions so the publican can help us to understand for who can resist his will.

Verse 20 but who are you or mine to answer back to God will what is mold and say to them, older, why have you made me like this has the Potter note right over the clay to make out of the same on one vessel for on their juice and another for dishonorable use. Can God hold hold people responsible when God hardens her hearts. You still question God, you still think that some people desire God's grace is not unjust for God to harden the hearts of those who harden themselves and you you all man who question God used standards of justice harder than God. Do you really think you know better than God. Who are you to question the fairness of God Almighty God, who is infinite in his wisdom, your standards of justice harder than God's see this question I think is rebelling against God. There's a difference between the questioning of faith and we have many questions on this passage that would either was a difference between the questioning of faith and the questioning of unbelief and rebellion preface questionnaire is a Jew who thinks he deserves God's salvation on the day but I'm a company time. I'm circumcised III obey the law like these Gentiles do you think you can tell God how God is doing good for you to question God's fairness, whom I used using God those you because of your heritage when I speak to people about their faith. Many start by saying well you know I grew up in the church in an my parents took me to church and I was baptized in had confirmation. The news that you feel excited and so what do you think your black client to I think that because I was born into a Christian home with godly parents that I was taken to church all my life. Do you think that somehow impresses dogs and the dog looks in the aliens is okay now. I will except Monroe is a good little boy in actual fact, I was a bad little in public is the illustration of the clay. Remember as arm is to be about 14 nights at school and we had our class special class of we would go to over normal class get away from physics and Latin in chemistry and Shakespeare and all of that and we would try after this class and for us it was great to know act as a bowl of fruits. The front of the class or some flowers and the art teacher expected us to paint this could never quite understand why. And that was any good at it.

You that if my success in life depended on painting fruits or apples and oranges are flowers. I was going to die very very poor and I think the art teacher must've got the impression because remember one day in frustration as saying a Monroe in rough, rough was another by Malcolm, rough, and he was well named Malcolm Ruff and Malcolm Ruff and John Monroe were taken away and in frustration. The art teacher said that go over there and and and and the do something with the clay rate will join us to do sir or however you wants even better right so there is the potter's wheel or someone other than this clay and we start molding this redundant some amazing programming to get the scum of clay in just to little plates with your hand and it changes the shape it's very easy to mold isn't, and we've make a little part of it asymmetrical that could be used but that was a parts and we would fool around and make other things, who was in charge, the clay, the clay, say, a minute I want you to make a little cute little face out. I will make what I want with this clay is the point. Do you think Paul is saying, do you think the part can say to the father. You can do this with me is unthinkable in the know the pot doesn't criticize the Potter, and God extends his grace to some others have no grounds in saying that God is unjust. God is sovereign and access. He chooses to act as he sees fit, always consistent with his character and his purposes. We see the Jews thought that God must make them do those verse 21. The expression of vessel for on their juice. I'm Jewish. I'm on the road I'm set apart. I'm okay now like these Gentiles. These Gentiles are made for dishonorable use, but we are on the whole use pulse is now in verses 22 through 29.

God demonstrates his mercy on the Gentiles and on the Jews know God is not unjust. Verses 22 and 23. What if God desiring to show his wrath and to make known his father has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory. You notice the expression there about God's patience has endured with much patience wasn't God patient with Pharaoh opportunities. Would you have given Pharaoh before you acted in judgments. God gave Pharaoh opportunity after opportunity after opportunity with these plagues and God is very patient. Paul has said in chapter 2 verse four. Do you presume on the riches of God's kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. The patient is being with you. Thank her for panning. God has been with us and how forgiving he is the in this forbearance. This patience gives us opportunities to repentance. And yet God's judgment came on Pharaoh and God's judgment comes on those who continue to rebel against him as if said the Gentiles were looked on by the Jews as vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. But Paul is arguing very very well here that the Old Testament Scriptures if he knew the made it very clear that God has always purpose to part post to include Gentiles, that is, non-descendents of Abraham in his family. Verse 24.

Even us whom he is called note from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles as a gentle. I say praise God that your blessings come not just the Israel but to those of us who were once outside of the commonwealth of Israel, 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 and in the very place what was said to them, you are not my people, they will be called sons of the living God.

Wonderful descriptors also made it clear that there would be a remnant of Jews verse 27 and Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea only remnants of them will be saved. God is true to his promises is quoting from the Old Testament in people know like assignments but only a remnant will be saved for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the artfully and without delay, and as Isaiah predicted of the Lord of host had left us off spring we had not left us offspring. We would be like Sodom and become like tomorrow. Only a few people were saved as we know Sodom and Gomorrah.

Many Gentiles today are presently being saved, but only a small remnant of Israelites point Israel's present rejection of the Messiah does not defeat the purposes of God, and in fact Paul is going to argue is going to be used by God to bring Jan to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to God. Furthermore, it hasn't finished with Israel is true that presently there's only a remnant to accept the Messiah, but a future day is going to come as we'll see in Chapter 11 when all Israel will be saved. God is just and all he does. FF Bruce writes that if God were compelled to be merciful by some cause outside himself not only with his mercy be so much the last mercy, but he himself would be so much the less God but God because God's plan has always been to show mercy to many Gentiles, and that in no way, he knows his promises no way obligates his promises to Israel both Jew and Gentile are totally undeserving of God's salvation. Both are totally dependent on the mercy of God. And this is what pulsates in Chapter 11 verse 32. For God has consigned all the subregions that he may have mercy on all you and Gentile, and so we rely on the justice of God even when we don't understand his actions. Paul is going to say the end of Chapter 11. His judgments are unsearchable in these ways, and inscrutable, and the interplay between the sovereignty of God and our capacity to choose is difficult for us to understand that both truths are taught in Scripture God is 100% sovereign and we are 100% responsible for our actions and attitudes. God's election is not based on known independent of his foreknowledge is Peter Saiz in the opening verses of first Peter one. His election is according to his foreknowledge. That is, God exists in the terminal present no pass presents and and that no past present future with God exists and that in and the terminal note.

You see what I've got some questions about some questions but doesn't answer all of your questions. Deuteronomy 29 verse 29 the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but I do notice that God is perfect, that God is just and all of these ways, and I do know that God's mercy is available to you. Although you don't deserve it. Two trees are very clear. God always acts according to perfect justice when you stand before God. You will never be able to say you have been treated unfairly. Secondly, the only way that any of us will be saved is to depend on the grace of God and the mercy of God. It's all of the mercy of God few minutes ago the beginning of her service. We sleep with her veterans. I want to do that.

I want to thank the men and women who have served our country yes is 100 years since World War I ended the quarter stanza written by a young Scottish soldier. In fact, a man I knew a man who in God's purposes.

Introduce my parents so I got the feeling for him. He fought in World War I and he was a stretcher bearer, no such abettor is one of the most scary and frightening assignments. Any soldier can have World War I if you know nothing about. It was all about trench warfare. This man writes this stanza, which comes from appointment written on the screen right on stanza at the battle of the Somme in 1916 Germans on one side is the British and the French. On the other 20,000 bricks were killed in the battle of the Somme together 14,000 approximately were injured. It was awful warfare was cold. It was noisy.

People were being killed all around the stretcher bearer, and in no man's land.

When the soldier was injured or was killed. It was his task to go out to the man on the stretcher and bring them back to the trenches. Obviously many of them selves were killed, but this young man survived the first battle. Incidentally, the Somme in 1916 with tanks were used is what this young soldier wrote, who later became an evangelist and the preaching of the gospel because I when the guns are booming.

Can you imagine the noise could imagine the fear of being in these trenches producing movies about it. Absolutely fearful. Some small villages and in Scotland loss.

All of the young men who were killed in World War I many of them in the battle of the Somme.

He says this is where the guns are booming lads and read that once the lion when the battle closer living lads are wondrous. Peace is mine are quiet voice steals my courage lads beneath the song of doom and I must stand true as you have me do with the big guns boom in the mercy of God. This man survived and came back to Scotland in the become a preacher of the gospel, but also experience the mercy of God, not just in saving his life, but in saving his soul to have that wondrous piece over the big guns are booming and the life which is difficult for you and to understand that in the grace of God. God can give you that piece that piece which passes all understanding is that how can I get that Jesus says that there were two men that went up the temple to pray, one was a Pharisee and took time to tell God all that he did all that he didn't do, and the other man was a tax collector.

He wouldn't even lift his head. God and his prayer was a very short one God be merciful to me, listen when man wanted to tell God all that he did as if God owed him because he was a good man, and religious.

Nevermind the tax collector new that he was totally dependent on the mercy of God and Jesus said that man the tax collector went down to his house justified justified by faith to the mercy of God our Savior comes to save us. If you experience the mercy of God to cry out to Christ to come in to save you as you turn from your sin and there were a little late to take time to sing at least one stanza Tim from the him about faith. When you send as musicians come and the we will sing because God in his mercy is provided salvation in Christ. But we by faith must receive Christ as Christ died for you, who rose again receive them as your Savior.

Father, we thank you for your mercy.

We thank you that your God of justice and we certainly don't understand everything that we read talked about and we we have some questions but we understand this, you're just and that we need your mercy, have mercy upon each one of us father. Some are calling out to you to come and save them. May we by faith, trust the Savior and his name