2001.10.21. Washingtonian(22) - Rev. Young Jin Cho

God is God

Romans 9:14-33

Last week's service was very emotional for all of us. We thanked God with praises for his guidance for last 50 years. And also we renewed our resolution for our future. As I wrote in the Bulletin, we thank all of those who have worked so hard to prepare our celebration. I want to thank everyone. I would also like to thank all the neighborhood pastors and friends in the Korean community for joining our celebration.

In my 21st sermon of the Romans series on the first Sunday of October, I talked about Paul's anguish towards Israelites. Paul expressed deep regret for the fact that Israelites, who are blessed among all nations, are ignoring the Good News of the Christ. He was even willing to be cut off from Christ for his brothers, if they would come back to Christ. I also appealed to you that we need to have this anguished heart of Paul for our people. For our loving children, Korean-Americans in this country, and further more, for Americans, we need to worry for their return to Christ. Especially, as a 50 year old church, we need to participate in worrying and praying for the salvation of this country.

Continuing from last sermon, we are going to look at the scripture that is one of the mostly argued about scriptures in the Bible. In chapter 9, verse 14 and there after, Paul says, the reason God chose Israelites is not because they are good or because they tried more. Paul also specifies with the example of Jacob, being chosen to be a part of the Grace of Promise, is totally due to God's choice, and His grace.

But choices God make are often hard to understand. We are bound to ask questions about this kind of work of God. Today's scripture talks about these two important issues about the Grace of God's Choice.

I.

The first question is in chapter 9, verse 14: What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!!

What does this say? God chose one son between two sons. The other son was not chosen. God chose Isaac and Jacob. Ishmael was not chosen. Then, doesn't that mean God's choice is unfair? Is God unjust? This is the question. What do you think of this question?

It is a very appropriate question. We naturally ask this question. But to this question, Paul answers firmly, "no!" "Not at all". After his conclusive answer, Paul gives an example of Moses and Pharaoh as a ground for God's justification. Roman's 9:25 is a quote from Exodus 33:19.

Let's think about the background of this scripture. When Moses came down from Mount Sainai with the 10 commandments, after 40 days, Israelites were celebrating the golden calf they made as their God. They worshiped that idol as one who brought them out of Egypt. Moses was furious. He threw the stone tablets to Israelites and he prayed with his life to God to have mercy on them. When Moses pleaded to God that only He can guide Israelites, God listened to his prayers. When God responded to Moses' prayers, he said, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Is God unjust? For this question, Disciple Paul tried to find answers in the answers of two other questions. First, "What is human?" The second is, "Who is God?" What are humans like? As told in Moses' story, humans are beings who forget God's grace so easily and betray Him. We are sinners.

Humans are the ones who are fickle enough to make idols while Moses was in the mountains for 40s days. But what about God? He still didn't give up on these people and had mercy for them. Even though they were sinners who had to be destroyed, God listened to the prayers of Moses and again forgave them. How can you say God is unjust? If you know who God is, you can not say that. If you know how much God loves us, you can never say that.

It is acceptable up to here, but the question rises again in verses after 9:17. It's about Pharaoh. We can understand that God was merciful to Israelites. But was it also God's love that he raised up Pharaoh for that purpose? In chapter 9, verse 18, he says, "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." Now, that is difficult to understand. About this passage, we need to focus on one of the opinions of Biblicists that God would never harden anyone who is not like that to begin with.

If we see the case of the King of Egypt, we can see that he was already hardened. Therefore, we can understand "God hardened Pharaoh." means as God just left Pharaoh as he is. If we look at it that way, the works of God who hardens who he wants to harden is not unjust. Anyway, for the question, "Is God unjust?", Paul is very firm in saying "no!" He proclaims that it is not possible.

II.

There is another question. If God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden, is it God's responsibility if one is hardened? But then, why does God rebuke someone who is hardened? What do you think? Isn't it natural to ask this question? In theology, this issue is called "Predestination". God already have decided on who will be saved. I will talk about this at the end again. Anyway, Disciple Paul approaches this question the same way he did in the beginning. He tried to find answers through the answers of two questions, "Who are humans?" and "Who is God?"

(1) Dear everyone, who are we? In today's scripture, chapter 9, verse 21, Disciple Paul referred humans as clay pottery. On the other hand, Who is god? He is the potter. When the potter makes pottery, he can make precious ones and he can also make lowly ones. It is solely up to the potter. So, how can what is formed say to him, who formed it, that he is just or unjust?

God is God. Before God's sovereign work, humans can not argue about it just because we can not understand him. Some Biblicists question Paul's parable as an inappropriate one. They say, a pottery can not talk but humans can since we were built by God after his shape and also we can have fellowship with God.

But everyone, let's think deeply about this. Who is God? He is the great God who created the universe and the world. He is the source of wisdom and He is Good and Truthful. Humans can not understand his thoughts. Things we consider as oxymoron may make perfect sense in God's eyes.

If we think only our narrow judgements are right, we will be locked in the well of our knowledge. God can never be locked in the frame of our knowledge and analyzation. In Romans chapter 9, verse 20, Disciple Paul says: "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"

God is God. He is not limited to fit into human frame of thoughts. We can not argue with him because we do not understand his sovereign works. This is Paul's answer to the question "Why does He rebuke people who is not saved because he has not chosen them?"

(2) Paul also clarifies that this is not new, God's sovereign work has been shown and witnessed in the Bible. And according to these words, the remnants of Israelites, and the called gentiles took a part in the pool of Glory and the grace of mercy.

It is written, that the Gentiles, who had nothing to do with the Grace of God before, will be part of salvation, in Hosea chapter 2, verse 23: "I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one'. I will say to those called 'Not my people', 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'" Also, it is told in Isaiah's message, that even if there are as many Israelites as the sands in the ocean, only the remnant will be saved.

Anyway, it has been written in the old testament and it has been witnessed now that there will be people who are called to be the part of salvation. Disciple Paul said that's why humans can not argue about the Sovereign work of God.

III.

We have thought about Paul's witness about the two questions. One, if someone is chosen by God's sovereign will and someone is not, isn't that unfair and unjust? Two, if God rebukes the faults of unchosen, isn't that oxymoron? Paul said, 'NO' about this.

Who is God? He is merciful God. He is never unjust. He is the potter who molded us, He is the creator. We can not argue about his work. The fact that he will save the remnant has been witnessed in the old testament. I want to point out one thing by summarizing Paul's proclaim about God's plan for people who will be saved.

(1) First, there is one point that Predestination Theory emphasizes. That is God's sovereign will in the salvation of humans. All humans a sinners. There is nothing any human can do to be saved. God has chosen and called us to be his children with his sovereign will. God did this all by himself. Humans didn't do anything. According to today's scripture, chapter 9, verse 16, it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy, only by his sovereign will.

(2) That's why we should accept this with confession of gratitude for God's grace, according to predestination. How wonderful is it when He has called and chosen me to be his child when I didn't do anything? The fact that he has chosen me is our confession to his grace. And in predestination, the focus is on the God's Grace that leads to salvation. The focus is on the thanksgiving to the grace when he called and chose me when I am not good enough. It is not on the explanation of people who are not save. Focus is on us who are saved, it is not to analyze why some are not saved.

(3) If you are still not unsure, please remember that God is God. God's work can not be explained with humans' reasoning. We often express this as 'mystery'. Mystery is something it can not be understood with our reasoning. That's not because mystery is oxymoron. But because human reasoning has limitation to understand all the mysteries.

All we know in this world today is like poor reflections on a mirror. Mirrors in the old times were different from the mirrors we use today. They had poor reflections. The mystery of God we know today might be like those poor images. But then, we shall see Lord face to face. Until then, we shall wait in trust. Let's not complain about why God doesn't give us understanding.

I have been thinking. My life is such an insignificant one. I have poor health. My ribcage is collapsed. 1/3 of my stomach is cut off. My liver is not functioning well enough that it is limiting my life. But is my inner being better? I am weak, lazy, and unclean. But my life so far has been full of God's grace. He has led me to live my life without regrets. How can I thank him? How can I not thank him for calling someone as insignificant as I am without scolding and giving me his commission. He has been waiting patiently even though I am not good enough. By the eternal clock, 70, 80 years can be just like a moment but he has called and chosen me. How can I not thank him? It is only by his amazing grace.

Dear everyone, who is God? Who are we? It is, now, time to wake up. Please awake before God's love and his grace. God is God. That God has chosen us, called us. It is amazing grace. We shall give thanks to God. We shall praise Him. Truly, truly, we have to thank him. Hallelujah.