Let's take our Bibles and turn again to Romans chapter 9. And my text today is from verse 9 down to verse 18, even though we covered some of this last time. But I've entitled this study, Not of Works. cannot insist enough on this truth that salvation has nothing to do with the works of our hands or our will, but is entirely of God. And that's clearly seen here beginning with verse nine, even with regard to Sarah, Abraham's wife having a son. The birth of Isaac was going to be by promise and without the miraculous intervention of God fulfilling that promise, it would never have taken place because both Abraham and Sarah were beyond age or ability even to give birth. And even in that is a beautiful picture of the work of salvation in the heart of the sinner, that we're dead in our sin. We're born spiritually dead. And it takes the work of the spirit, very much so as it took for Sarah to conceive. So it is with our own regeneration. being made alive in Christ. It's entirely the work of the Spirit. And so this is what Paul reminds us of here in Romans chapter nine. I'll just read this entire portion down to verse 18, Romans nine, nine through 18. It says, for this is the word of promise. At this time will I come and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this, but when Rebekah also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, so there's where the title of this study, not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, and that's the conclusion of this portion, therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he pardoneth." I don't know how anybody can read this portion of scripture except that they be blind and yet left to their own devices and not see how all the glory and salvation belongs unto God alone. So let's come back here to the beginning again in verse 9 concerning the birth of Isaac that was by promise and according to God's will where he says in verse 9, at this time will I come. You remember Abraham sought to produce the seed himself when he saw that God delayed and so Ishmael was born but Ishmael was not by promise even though God purposed it, nothing takes place, even our wanderings are of the Lord and for his purpose. But that birth was according to the ordinary course of nature, if you wanna put it that way. There was a flesh that was born, and yet, as it says in verses seven and eight, that it was to be in Isaac that the seed should be called. In other words, Christ would come from that seed and not the children of the flesh whether the jews or the ishmaelites because it says there in verse eight that is they which are the children of the flesh these are not the children of god but the children of the promise are counted for the seed so that's true of christ being that seed but also all those that god has chosen in christ from eternity is according to god's promise I'll tell you, when God makes a promise, there's no reason to doubt. Everyone that he has purposed to save in Christ and for whom he sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the world, their salvation is sure because it's God that promised it. But Ishmael, here in verse nine, is a type of those who are born after the flesh and are but fleshly men. There are many even professing Christians that are nothing more than Ishmaelites. They've been born after the flesh. In other words, they've been produced by preachers telling them that if they'll just make a decision for Jesus, then they can be sure of heaven as their own name. Those are fleshly and are yet in their sin because that's not how God saves his children. But Isaac, on the contrary, is a type of those who are born of the Spirit, and are proven to be children of God, because it's God that has done the work, and he's done it according to his promise. And so, in verse 10, when it says, not only this, Paul is directed by the Spirit here to add to what he has testified, proving that Abraham's seed are not all the children of God. And we see that even more strongly in the birth of Jacob and Esau, when it says, but when Rebekah also had conceived by one, even by her father Isaac. So, up here it said that the seed would be according to the promise in Isaac and yet not all of Isaac's physical descendants are necessarily for that children of God and that's manifest here in the birth of Jacob and Esau. Now here's an amazing thing to consider, they were both born at the same time, they were twins, they were conceived by Rebekah of the same father. And so the Jews might have argued or might argue that Ishmael was born of a bondswoman, Hagar, and Isaac of Sarah, and therefore the lawful wife. It's interesting that people like to reason that way. Well, if they were born into a Christian family that is a model family where they have a legal marriage and the parents have stayed together and they've been a good testimony all the while, then certainly those children are going to be Christians. That's the way people reason, but that's not the way it is. Here, very specifically, we see that even though Jacob and Esau were born of the same father and mother at the same time, the distinction that is made here between these two brothers can only be traced to the sovereign will of God. And that's the only answer that we can give to anybody as to why we are children and others aren't. It's according to God's purpose and will. Because it says there in verse 11, for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil." So this is before time, that the purpose of God, according to election might stand. If you wonder, well, what will stand? What will be? It will be according to the purpose of God, and that according to His electing, His choosing, that it might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth. I'll tell you, this is the offense of the gospel. This is the foundation of it. This is where there's a divide and you find out who truly are regenerated sinners and who aren't. Because those that the Spirit has regenerated and drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ, that wasn't of our doing. But knowing ourselves to be God's children by His grace and grace alone, a matter of joy for the children, but for those who are not children and yet consider themselves to be so, this is a subject of great contention. But we see that the choice of Jacob as an object of grace was made even before the children were born, and the choice was made before it says there they had done any good or evil. So it's not based upon our works. The choice was made according to the purpose of God, that the purpose of God might stand. We already saw that back in Romans chapter eight, verse 28, that people like to quote partially, where it says, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, People stop there, but there's a comma, to them who are the called according to his purpose. And so that's what's gonna stand, being called according to his purpose. And this is the foundation of all grace and mercy. It is in the sovereign will of God alone. There are many other scriptures we could go to at this particular point, especially in Ephesians chapter one. That's one of my favorite scriptures when people want to argue with you and say, yes, but, you know, just take them to the scriptures. We're not to try to reason men into this. You can't, just like you can't reason somebody into being born. It's the will of God and it's according to his will and purpose. not of works, it says there in verse 11, but of him that calleth." That calling is, first of all, being named from eternity in election, to call somebody by name, it's one manner of seeing that word calling, but also to call in the sense of summons. So those that he has named in the Lamb's book of life, that from eternity, according to purpose and will, He does in time call, that is summons out to Christ and thereby being born of the Spirit, they're brought into the knowledge of Christ and into that relationship with Him that was purpose from all eternity. And so, when you consider what it says in in verse 12, there was only one point in which the sons of Isaac were different. Esau was the oldest, and according to the Jewish custom, therefore, he would have been considered the natural heir of all things. When you say the oldest, he was born just before Jacob, but you remember the story he came out holding on to Esau's heel and yet in time he would have been the youngest and Esau being the oldest would have had the priority and authority over Jacob but God it says chose the younger son to be the object of his grace and mercy and partake of that grace and so the dominion of the younger over the the older, that flowed from God's eternal love. Love to Jacob and hatred to Esau. People have trouble with that. They say, well, I don't understand how God could have hated Esau, because it's a very strong word. Doesn't mean there in verse 13 that he was loved less, but that word means hated, means he was never an object of God's love. from eternity in Christ and he died as he lived, even though God gave him in his mercy a good life, yet he was not one of the Lords. And again, this is to show that salvation is not in any way by our decision or our will or our works, but of God alone and his grace. When you look with me over at 1 Corinthians 1, in verses 26 through 29, you'll see that this is how the Lord directed Paul to write to the Corinthians. He says in verse 26, 1 Corinthians 1, for you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." You notice where it starts, it starts with foolish and that's what we are by nature, foolish in the sense of having no understanding of God in truth as he is. But then it goes down from there, God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. There are many that consider themselves mighty out there, but God has chosen the weak. The next time you feel your weakness, thank God, because that's the spirit of God. The next time you feel your foolishness, thank God, that's the spirit of God, else you would never see yourself as foolish. You'd never see yourself as weak. And then it goes down from there. It's like we started at the bottom floor and now we're going lower. The base things of the world, and the things which are despised hath God chosen." I'll tell you that next time you feel even in yourself your sin and despise yourself, that's a good thing because the opposite would mean that you're left to yourself. Yea, the things which are not, in other words, had God left us in our lost estate we would have died in that lost estate and not even know. The things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are. If you ever can think of any reason in yourself why God should show you mercy and grace, then to that degree, you are left to your darkness. Now, those that have the spirit of God They know themselves to be what they are, and in their need, they continue to cry out to Him. But this is how God has purposed the salvation of His people. What we see in this is the great truth of God's absolute sovereignty, the truth of His electing grace, and of predestination. These are all terms that the world despises. but also reprobation. A lot of people like to put it this way, well, God chose for salvation, but he just permitted others to condemnation. No, to choose is in the positive and negative. He chose those that he would save in Christ, but he also, in passing by the rest, determined that they be vessels of wrath and we could be very much ourselves those vessels of wrath were it not for God having purpose to save such wretches as we are. Verse 13, I love how the scriptures put it, as it is written. It's like a judge that makes a determination in court, it is according to the law as it is written. Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. That's a direct quote actually from Malachi chapter one and verses one through three. You can go back and read it there. But again, men, because they're wanting to determine God's will for them, they wanna read this Esau have I loved less. but that's not the way it reads in scripture as it is written. If any of us have any understanding at all of God's absolute holiness and our own sinfulness, we can understand why God could hate us. My problem isn't understanding how he could hate Esau, but the wonder of wonders or to hate both. You know, God could have hated both Jacob and Esau, but as it is written, God loved Jacob. And the way it's written there, have I loved, it's in the sense of always loved. In other words, it's according to God's eternal love that he chose Jacob. it is according to his justice that he hated Esau. You've heard me give the illustration before of a wheel with a hub. If you put God's love there as the hub of all of his attributes, there are some that we can't understand them. How could God love and yet at the same time hate? How could God love and still send sinners to hell. Well, he loves his righteousness. He loves his holiness. So everything you read about God begins and ends with his holiness. I've mentioned before that you can read through the entire book of Acts and all of the preaching of the apostles and never once see love mentioned in any message. In fact, take your concordance and look up the word love. You won't find it in the book of Acts, but you'll find holiness and you'll find holy. And so, when the Lord gives that understanding of God in His holiness, we have no argument with how He could hate any sinner. The wonder of wonders is that He could love any sinner, especially me. But God does never love by setting aside His holiness. That's why it took the Lord Jesus Christ coming into this world and laying down His life and paying the sin debt that those that God has loved from eternity might be saved because Christ's work answered His holiness. Christ's work answered His justice. The justice due those who are objects of His love fell upon His Son and therefore God is just in justifying those for whom Christ paid the debt." That's a glorious revelation when the Lord opens our eyes and causes us to see the harmony that there is in the work of Christ and how God did not lower His standard in order to save any sinner. And when you look at it, in many ways, you say, well, Jacob was a worse sinner than Esau, because Esau stuck close to his father, Isaac, but Jacob was the supplanter. And then he ended up leaving and running, yet he was the one who was the object of God's love all along. Outside of Christ, there is only wrath and judgment. And that is pretty clear in the scriptures. If you look over in John chapter three and verse 36, this is a portion that often is misunderstood as well. Of course, John 3 16 is one of the most misunderstood verses in all of scripture. But as you get down toward the end, You see there in verse 35, why does God love anyway? Well, it's because he loves his son. And his son was there from all eternity as the Redeemer and the Savior. And so God honored him in giving him a people to come and save. And that was his joy. Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and the set down at the right hand of the Father. But not only Was it salvation that was put into the son's hands? But here it says in John 3 in verse 35, has given all things into his hand. So that's for salvation or judgment. That's why Christ prayed there in the garden in John 17. He thanked the father, that the father had given him authority over all flesh, that he might give eternal life unto as many as the Father had given Him." You say, what about the rest? Well, they were given over to condemnation and that's why John 3 36 says that. He that believeth on the Son, notice, doesn't say shall have everlasting life, it says hath everlasting life. So any that do believe on the Son, it's because that everlasting life was purposed for them, given them in God's purpose but in time by the Spirit of God. That's why they believe. The only reason any one of us believes on Christ in truth is because it has been given us to believe. That's part of that choice, that election according to the purpose and will of God. That was Jacob and any like Jacob such as we. But notice also in verse 36, and he that believeth not the son shall not see life." Why? Because it takes life to believe. And so those that God has purposed in His justice, like Esau or any other reprobate that God has purposed to leave to themselves, shall never see life. They'll never seek life. It's like a dead person doesn't seek anything, doesn't desire anything. They'll never see life. And here's the reason, the wrath of God abides on him. that the wrath of God was always on such and always will be. Just like with Esau, he would never ever become a child according to the promise. That was God's purpose and will. And as we're going to read, moving on, next time when anybody has a complaint about this, the answer is in verse 20. We'll look at that next time. Nay, but O man, who art thou that replies against God? Can the creature rebel against his creator and say, what doest thou? That's what men attempt to do, but it doesn't change God's purpose and God's will. And so coming back here, all the way down through here, Paul anticipates the objection of natural minded people. to the truth of God's sovereign mercy and will. It says there, what shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? See, that's what men wanna do. Rather than take the blame, they want to attribute unrighteousness to God. They'll say, well, that's not fair, that's not just. Just remember, God is God. Can he not do with his own what he will? And so if any have a problem with this message or what I am declaring, the problem's not with me. Their problem is with God himself. Does not loving Jacob and hating Esau before they were born imply that there is injustice in God? That's how men reason. But you'll notice immediately Paul declares, God forbid. When people want to contest against God, against this message, the simple answer is God forbid. Otherwise men are always going to cavil. They're going to argue. They want to philosophize. They'll say, is it righteous for God to love one who has done no good and to hate one who has done no evil? That's how men reason. but the simple answer is God forbid. That's all he says, and that's all that's needed. God forbid that any should charge God with folly. In fact, when you go back and read the testimony of Job in the Old Testament, when the Lord brought all of that evil in one day against Job, and even Job's wife, sought to get him to curse God and die. It says there in verse 20 that Job arose, Job 1 verse 20, and rent his mantle and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped and said, naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And notice in verse 22, in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Any that argue against what the scriptures clearly declare concerning God and his will and his purpose are charging God foolishly. All that God does is consistent with the perfection of his character. In God there is no shadow of turning. And so in verse 15, coming back to our text, the apostle doesn't make any defense or apology for God. We don't have to defend God. Someone said, truth is like a lion, just turn it loose, it'll defend itself. We don't have to try to reason people into submission to this truth. Now, the scriptures alone suffice. And that's why in verse 15, he says, for he saith to Moses, he's saying to these that would argue against it, go back and read in the scriptures. And here he's quoting from Exodus 33. You can read that entire chapter sometime. It's a beautiful chapter. But verses 18 and 19, he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion. whom I will have compassion." Now for a child of God, that's sufficient. God has spoken. When people ask why, well, it's like you tell your children, because I said so. When people ask why, the answer is simply, God has spoken. God shows mercy to whom he will, and whom he will, he has compassion on them. I find that to be a comforting truth, the fact that he purposed to show mercy to any or have compassion upon any. But when you look at the rest of scripture, none of this is without reason. We can see being God who he is and bringing glory to his name, how it takes God to show mercy. It takes God to have compassion, else we would know nothing but condemnation, because first of all, we're all dead in sin, dead in Adam. And there's none righteous. And secondly, by nature, we don't love God. Some people think they do until they encounter the God of scripture, then they find out they really never knew God. And So had God left us in that ignorance and rebellion, he would have been just in doing so. But just the fact that he does show mercy, that causes my heart to melt when I consider that. Why me? That he does have compassion. He will have compassion. I know I used to say that God could have, determined that everybody be condemned, but then you've got the matter of God's mercy. He's a gracious God. He's a merciful God. And so even from eternity, He purposed that a great number should be saved who are undeserving. When you hear about, I will have mercy, it's to the undeserving. Compassion means to the weak and those unable to save themselves. Oh, what a God he is. So while natural-minded people find fault with God, we bow in humble adoration, considering, why me? Why should I even be considered an object of his grace and mercy? And so in verses 16 and 17, we see conclusion, 17 and 18, all the way down through here. Here's the conclusion, verse 16, when it says, so then, in light of everything that's been declared, so then, it is not of him that willeth. Right there is the one truth in scripture that ought to shut men's mouths, but because they're left to their own rebellious nature, they continue to preach up man's will. Here's a scripture, if you want, when people say, what about man's will? what about God's will? So then, here's included, it is not of him that willeth. When we say not of works, it's not by man's will nor of him that runneth. People that think, well I'm just going to strive to be more and do more, act better, all that. No, it's not of him that runneth. But again, but of God that showeth mercy. Here's speaking specifically of his mercy in Christ Jesus because God's a merciful God. His mercy is over all His creatures. Scripture says that He causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. But there's that distinguishing mercy, that distinctive mercy in Christ that is for those that He has chosen. And yet, none that He has chosen can claim any goodness in themselves, but must and will declare it all to be on the mercy of God. Salvation is not by the will of man, but according to the will and purpose of God. And secondly, salvation is not attained by all the activities and efforts of the flesh, walking an aisle, saying a prayer, bowing the head, raising the hand, all these things of religion. That's not what brings salvation, but it's accomplished by God through the work of His Son and revealed by God's Spirit alone in the heart. That's how He shows His mercy. We would not know of God's mercy were it not for Him by His Spirit revealing in us His Son. And thereby we find out, we know, we learn that we have been children of promise all along. People say, well, I got saved at such and such a time. Well, that's not what salvation is. Salvation was purpose and eternity accomplished at Calvary. And when the spirit is pleased to reveal Christ in one of God's own that he's chosen to redeem, it's then their eyes are open to see that their salvation been accomplished all along through the purpose and will of God and through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. So it says in verse 17, even the scripture saith unto Pharaoh. So here again we see the distinguishing mercy of God as opposed to his justice and wrath even as with Jacob and Esau. We have the example of Esau have I hated and we have the example of Pharaoh when it says all things were put into Christ's hands to do with what he will. Here's an example in condemnation for the scripture saith, and again, it's what the scriptures say, it is written. Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might show my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. How did God show his power in Pharaoh? Well, it was in destroying him. He raised him up for one purpose. that he might fulfill his purpose in him, in his destruction. The birth, the situation, the power, and the conduct of Pharaoh were all by divine appointment. He would not have been who he was were it not God that had raised him up. And that's true of anything in life. Pharaoh certainly did not complain about his life of luxury the power and rule that was given unto him, and yet he was a reprobate all along. And I hear people say, well, what if somebody wanted to be saved, but they weren't elected? You wouldn't want to be saved, not God's way. And so God, in leaving men to their own will and devices, he's given them over to what they want in reality. And people say, I wish God would just leave the choice up to me or up to man. Well, guess what? Those he has given over to their own will and choice, they've ended up in condemnation because they'll never see God in truth. And yet even these are accomplishing the will of God, just as Pharaoh did. And the Lord has purposed it for his own glory. Raised him up. that God says, my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Let's remember that as we look around and see the world in the state that it is right now, nothing's out of order. It's all going according to God's purpose and will, has been ever since the beginning of time. Even Adam's fall, God purposed that Christ, the last Adam should be exalted. against the backdrop of the evil of men and their rebellion against God, how great does the grace of God shine? All of it to God's glory and honor. So that's why in conclusion in verse 18, and we'll pick up with this again next time, Paul repeats it again here in verse 18. Therefore, just like he said up there in verse 16, so then, therefore, He repeats that God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. And we see then that his mercy is in harmony with God's sovereignty. We're not in conflict. God has purposed to show mercy to, he shows mercy. And it reminds all of us that anything that we have to do with salvation, it is according to God's mercy, but never at the expense of justice. He says, therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth. It's all of God, mercy or pardoning. One last scripture that I'd like to leave us with is in Matthew chapter 11 and verses 25 Here's where we see that God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. Matthew chapter 11 and verse 25 and 26. At that time, Jesus answered and said, and this was in light of all of the unbelief that he faced as he preached himself to that generation. and they remained in unbelief. Here Christ said, answered and said, I thank thee oh father lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent. That's a purposeful hiding. It's not that he really wanted to save them but alas they wouldn't let know. He's thanking his father What men find is a reason to find fault with God. Here, our Lord is thanking his father because he purposed that these things be hid from the wise and the prudent. Wise and prudent in themselves. But here it is, and has revealed them unto babes. Babes, that's a good description of who we are. That left alone, we would die. A babe needs someone to care for it at all times. And that's who we are. as those for whom God has purposed mercy. But again, I like the simple answers of scripture. Just like we saw, God forbid that anybody should find fault with God. Well, here our Lord says, even so father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. That's a good answer. And people say, why did God do that? Choose to hide it from some and reveal it to others. The simple answer is, for so it seemed good in his sight. All right, well, Lord willing, we'll pick up with this again next time.