Sovereignty, Security and Service

Romans 9:15-23
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.
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—

Salvation belongs to our God (Revelation 7:10). It is not something man can set his mind on to accomplish or achieve (human will). Nor is it something that can be attained through hard work and dedication (exertion). The word exertion carries a pretty heavy meaning in the Greek. It denotes going through extreme situations, even perilous that require one’s total effort to overcome. In other words, all of our strength, stamina, wisdom and ability could not attain what we need. God will have mercy on whom He chooses. To some, this seems inconsiderate or unloving. But the miracle here is that He will have mercy at all.

Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

No one has earned God’s mercy. The point made is no one could. We are the vessels of mercy, those that have been born again (John 3). God chooses to reveal to us the riches of His glory, not ours. This glory is realized as we look out at this dark world and see what we were before God’s grace struck our hearts and opened our eyes. What mercy. What grace. What love. What power. Salvation indeed belongs to our God and He gives to whom He chooses.

In this sovereignty lies security. I would be lying if I said I never have doubts about my salvation. As I look back on my life, I am disgusted at things I once enjoyed, even ashamed. But as I look at my current life, again I am disgusted at the instances of disobedience and sin that mark moments in my spiritual walk. But it is not up to me. Salvation, that is.

Obedience, on the other hand is a choice. Do we live in Christ and His power? Yes. Do we often rely on our own power (which has been proven to be useless)? Yes. But each step of obedience begins with a step of faith. Faith that God will see it through and will make the necessary provisions, for His purpose. And even though we play no part in obtaining salvation (except for faith in Christ – a gift in itself - His deity and His humanity and the giving of His life on the cross and His resurrection), we are given several opportunities throughout the New Testament to see the importance of our obedience.

Here is the service.

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.

This is one of many. But in verse 1 Paul uses the word therefore. You can read Romans 1-11 to grasp the gravity of this word, but basically: We were vile sinners, dead in our sins. God showed us grace through His son Jesus Christ that those who believe in Him would be saved. And as stated in the opening, this was none of our doing but of God’s to show us the riches, the abundance, the plentitude, the fullness of His grace.

Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Therefore, let us give our lives to this glorious King. I beg you to pray that I would do so, for I am not my own, but I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.