ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

NO RIGHT TO RUIN

Romans Chapter 14

Passionate Problem

Romans 14:1-4 (ESV)

1  As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2  One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3  Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4  Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Acts 10:9-16 (ESV)

9  The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10  And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11  and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12  In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13  And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15  And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16  This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Personal Position

Romans 14:5-12 (ESV)

5  One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6  The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7  For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10  Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11  for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12  So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV)

16  Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)

10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 (ESV)

13  each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Preventing Pitfalls

Romans 14:13-19 (ESV)

13  Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15  For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16  So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.  17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18  Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19  So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (ESV)

4  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5  for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Promoting Peace

Romans 14:20-23 (ESV)

20  Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21  It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22  The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23  But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

DO THE RIGHT THING

Romans Chapter 13

FOR WRATH’S SAKE

Romans 13:1-4 (ESV)

1  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4  for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV)

16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Acts 4:18-20 (ESV)

18  So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20  for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Genesis 9:6 (ESV)

6  “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Deuteronomy 25:1-3 (ESV)

1  “If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty, 2  then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense. 3  Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight.

FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE

Romans 13:5-7 (ESV)

5  Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6  For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)

13  Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14  or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

FOR LOVE’S SAKE

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV)

8  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

4  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

FOR JESUS’ SAKE

Romans 13:11-14 (ESV)

11  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)

13  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-9 (ESV)

4  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV)

2  Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

LIFE IN ACTION

Romans 12: 9-21

LIFT FELLOW BELIEVERS WITH THE GIFTS OF GOD

Romans 12: 9-15

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

1 Peter 4:8

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 2: 3-4

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Timothy 6: 17-19

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Colossians 3: 12-14

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

LIVE WITH OTHERS BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Romans 12: 16-18

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Galatians 6:10

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

LEAVE ALL VENGEANCE IN THE GRASP OF GOD

Romans 12: 19-21

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS

Romans 12: 1-8

With Our God

Romans 12: 1-2

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

With Our Church

Romans 12: 3-5

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Hebrews 10: 24-25

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

With Our Gifts

Romans 12: 6-8

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

FIVE FACTS FOR A FUTURE

Romans chapter 11

Paul Serves as an Example

Romans 11:1 (ESV)

1  I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

THE PROPHET ELIJAH SHOWS THE TRUTH

Romans 11:2-10 (ESV)

2  God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3  “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4  But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5  So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7  What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8  as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”          9  And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; 10  let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”

Isaiah 49:15-16 (ESV)

15  “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16  Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

THE GENTILES SHARE THE BLESSING

Romans 11:11-15 (ESV)

11  So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12  Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Psalm 94:14 (ESV)

14  For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;

THE PATRIARCHS STAND AS THE ROOT

Romans 11:16-24 (ESV)

16  If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18  do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.  19  Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20  That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21  For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22  Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23  And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24  For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

1 John 2: 19 (ESV)

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

GOD HIMSELF SAVES THE BELIEVING

Romans 11: 25-32 (ESV)

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Zechariah 12: 9-10 (ESV)

9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Isaiah 59: 19-20 (ESV)

19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

THE DOXOLOGY SINGS OUR RESPONSE

Romans 11: 33-36 (ESV)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.  Amen.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

THE ISSUE OF ISRAEL

Romans 9: 30 – 10: 21

THE REASON FOR THEIR REJECTION
Romans 9:30-10:4 (ESV)
30  What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31  but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.  32  Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33  as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”                        1  Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
2  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Galatians 3:23-24 (ESV)
23  Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24  So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Philippians 3:4-9 (ESV)
4  though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
7  But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 

Galatians 3:10 (ESV)
10  For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

James 2:10 (ESV)
10  For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

THE REALITY IN THEIR REJECTION
Romans 10:5-13 (ESV)
5  For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6  But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)  7  “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  9  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

THE REMEDY FOR THEIR REJECTION
Romans 10:14-15 (ESV)
14  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

THE RESULTS OF THEIR REJECTION
Romans 10:16-21 (ESV)
16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 18  But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19  But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20  Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21  But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

ALL ABOUT GOD

(Sermon Series)

 by Rev. Richard Jones

GOD HAS A PLAN

Romans 9: 1-29

THE ANGUISH OF PAUL
Romans 9:1-5 (ESV)
1  I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2  that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4  They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5  To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Philippians 1:22-24 (ESV)
22  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

Exodus 32:31-32 (ESV)
31  So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
32  But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”

Exodus 4:22-23 (ESV)
22  Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son,
23  and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Genesis 15:18 (ESV)
18  On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
Romans 9:6-13 (ESV)
6  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7  and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8  This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9  For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11  though they were not yet born 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 him who calls— 12  she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13  As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Malachi 1:2-3 (ESV)
2  “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob
3  but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
Romans 9:14-18 (ESV)
14  What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!
15  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18  So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

THE JUSTICE OF GOD
Romans 9:19-29 (ESV)
19  You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
20  But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21  Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22  What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23  in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—24  even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25  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.’” 26  “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” 27  And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28  for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29  And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”

Job 42:1-6 (ESV)
1  Then Job answered the LORD and said:
2  “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3  ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4  ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
6  therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Matthew 20:1-16 (ESV)
1  “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2  After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3  And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4  and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5  So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7  They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8  And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9  And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10  Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11  And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12  saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13  But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14  Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16  So the last will be first, and the first last.”