Bill Acton :: Romans 9:14-24 - Questioning God's Sovereign Right to Elect Some

Sermon Outline for Romans 9:14-24

1. Questioning God’s Sovereign Right to Elect Some – Rom 9:14
   1. “How shall we respond?”
   2. “Is God unjust?”
   3. The implication – “It’s not fair!”
2. Answering God’s Sovereign Right to Election
   1. Directly – “No, not at all!”
   2. The explanation
      1. The instruction to Moses, Exo 33:19; Rom 9:15
      2. God’s authority revealed – “I will”
      3. God’s mercy and compassion exercised sovereignly
3. God’s Election and Salvation Is Independent of Man
   1. Election does not depend on man’s will
   2. Election does not depend on man’s effort
      1. To exert one’s self
      2. To strive hard
      3. To exhaust one’s energy to gain something
4. God’s Sovereign Authority over Pharaoh
   1. God raised him up
   2. God used Pharaoh for God’s own purposes
      1. To display God’s power
      2. To make His Name known
   3. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart
      1. Pharaoh’s heart is already hardened by his own sin nature
      2. God directs Pharaoh to resist in order to accomplish His purposes
5. The Anticipated Human Objection to God’s Sovereign Authority
   1. Man’s claim to innocence
   2. Man’s claim to be free from being responsible
6. The Glorious Biblical Answer to Man’s Prideful Objection to God’s Sovereign Authority
   1. “Who are you, O man?”
   2. “To talk back to God?”
7. The Truth Revealed Through the Potter and the Clay
   1. The Potter – God
   2. The clay vessels – man
8. God’s Eternal Purpose Stated
   1. The vessels of mercy
      1. To make known the riches of God’s glory
      2. They were prepared in advance
   2. The vessels of wrath
      1. Prepared for destruction
      2. To display God’s patience with rebellion
      3. To display His power over the rebellious
9. God’s Eternal Destination for Man Is Never in Conflict with Anyone
10. God’s Sovereign Election Is Necessary for Anyone to Be Saved
11. Our Response to the Truth Stated in Romans 9:1-24