God's Righteousness and Freedom in Divine Election

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereign Freedom in Election

God's freedom in election is a profound expression of His sovereignty and independence. His choices are not based on human actions or merits but are rooted in His divine will and nature. This freedom is central to His identity and glory. God's declaration to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion," highlights His absolute freedom and independence in His choices. This divine freedom is not arbitrary but is deeply rooted in His commitment to His own glory, making His choices inherently righteous. Understanding this aspect of God's nature can deepen our trust in His plans and purposes, knowing that they are not influenced by human actions but are expressions of His divine will. [02:35]

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (ESV): "It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt undeserving of God's love or mercy. How does understanding God's sovereign freedom in election change your perspective on His love for you today?

Day 2: The Essence of God's Name

The essence of God's name, "I am Who I am," reflects His self-existence and autonomy. This name signifies that God's mercy and compassion are not influenced by external factors but are expressions of His own nature. In Exodus 33:19, God reveals His glory to Moses by proclaiming His name, Yahweh, which is intrinsically linked to His freedom and sovereignty. This self-existence and autonomy emphasize that God's actions are not contingent upon human behavior but are rooted in His divine nature. Recognizing the significance of God's name can lead us to a deeper appreciation of His unchanging character and the assurance that His promises are steadfast. [06:07]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: How does the understanding of God's self-existence and autonomy influence your trust in His promises and plans for your life today?

Day 3: God's Righteousness and Glory

God's righteousness is demonstrated through His unwavering commitment to His own glory and name. Unrighteousness is characterized by the suppression of God's truth and the devaluation of His glory. In Romans, Paul explains that God's righteous acts are those that uphold and magnify His glory. This understanding of righteousness challenges us to align our lives with God's truth and to live in a way that honors His name. By recognizing the importance of God's glory, we can strive to reflect His righteousness in our daily actions and decisions. [08:24]

Psalm 29:2 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively ascribe glory to God in your daily life, ensuring that your actions reflect His righteousness and truth?

Day 4: Redemption Through Christ's Sacrifice

Through Christ's sacrifice, God upholds His glory and demonstrates His righteousness, affirming that His actions are always aligned with His divine nature and purpose. The redemption offered in Christ Jesus is a testament to God's commitment to His glory. By passing over sins, God might appear unrighteous, as sin diminishes His glory. However, through Christ's sacrifice, God upholds His glory and demonstrates His righteousness. This understanding of redemption can inspire us to live in gratitude for the grace we have received and to share the message of Christ's sacrifice with others. [09:19]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: How does the knowledge of Christ's sacrifice and the redemption it brings influence your daily interactions and relationships with others?

Day 5: God's Righteous Freedom in Choosing

God's freedom in election is an essential aspect of His glory and righteousness. By choosing Jacob over Esau, not based on their deeds but on His sovereign will, God exemplifies His righteous freedom. This freedom is not arbitrary but is deeply rooted in His commitment to His own glory. Understanding God's righteous freedom in choosing can help us trust in His divine wisdom and plan, even when it may not align with our human understanding. It encourages us to rest in the assurance that God's choices are always for His glory and our ultimate good. [12:21]

Malachi 1:2-3 (ESV): "'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 but Esau I have hated.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you struggled to understand God's choices or plans. How can you find peace in His righteous freedom and trust in His divine wisdom today?

Sermon Summary

In this session, we delve into the profound and complex theological concept of God's righteousness and freedom in election, as articulated by the Apostle Paul. The central focus is on understanding how God's declaration to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion," serves as an argument for God's righteousness. This statement underscores God's absolute freedom and independence in His choices, which are not based on human actions or merits but solely on His divine will.

Paul's argument is rooted in the Old Testament, particularly in the interaction between God and Moses in Exodus 33:19. Here, God reveals His glory to Moses by proclaiming His name, Yahweh, which is intrinsically linked to His freedom and sovereignty. The essence of God's name, "I am Who I am," reflects His self-existence and autonomy, emphasizing that His mercy and compassion are not influenced by external factors but are expressions of His own nature.

This divine freedom is not only central to God's identity but also to His righteousness. In Romans, Paul explains that God's righteousness is demonstrated through His unwavering commitment to His own glory and name. Unrighteousness, on the other hand, is characterized by the suppression of God's truth and the devaluation of His glory. Therefore, God's righteous acts are those that uphold and magnify His glory.

The discussion further explores how God's righteousness is vindicated through the redemption offered in Christ Jesus. By passing over sins, God might appear unrighteous, as sin diminishes His glory. However, through Christ's sacrifice, God upholds His glory and demonstrates His righteousness, affirming that His actions are always aligned with His divine nature and purpose.

Ultimately, God's freedom in election is an essential aspect of His glory and righteousness. By choosing Jacob over Esau, not based on their deeds but on His sovereign will, God exemplifies His righteous freedom. This freedom is not arbitrary but is deeply rooted in His commitment to His own glory, making His choices inherently righteous.

Key Takeaways

1. God's freedom in election is a profound expression of His sovereignty and independence. His choices are not based on human actions or merits but are rooted in His divine will and nature. This freedom is central to His identity and glory. [02:35]
2. The essence of God's name, "I am Who I am," reflects His self-existence and autonomy. This name signifies that God's mercy and compassion are not influenced by external factors but are expressions of His own nature. [06:07]
3. God's righteousness is demonstrated through His unwavering commitment to His own glory and name. Unrighteousness is characterized by the suppression of God's truth and the devaluation of His glory. [08:24]
4. Through Christ's sacrifice, God upholds His glory and demonstrates His righteousness, affirming that His actions are always aligned with His divine nature and purpose. This redemption is a testament to God's commitment to His glory. [09:19]
5. God's freedom in election is an essential aspect of His glory and righteousness. By choosing Jacob over Esau, not based on their deeds but on His sovereign will, God exemplifies His righteous freedom, deeply rooted in His commitment to His own glory. [12:21]
** [12:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Introduction and Prayer
[00:44] - Focus on God's Mercy
[01:23] - God's Righteousness in Election
[02:04] - Basis of Election: God's Call
[02:58] - Old Testament Reference: Exodus 33:19
[03:42] - Moses' Request to See God's Glory
[04:34] - Connection Between God's Name and Glory
[05:33] - The Significance of God's Name
[06:26] - God's Freedom and Identity
[07:02] - God's Righteousness and Freedom
[08:24] - Unrighteousness and the Glory of God
[09:19] - Redemption and God's Righteousness
[10:18] - God's Freedom in Election
[12:00] - Summary of God's Righteousness and Freedom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Exodus 33:19
Romans 9:15
Romans 3:23-26

---

Observation Questions:

In Exodus 33:19, what does God reveal to Moses about His nature and how does this relate to His glory? [04:02]
According to Romans 9:15, how does Paul use the Old Testament to explain God's freedom in election? [04:34]
What is the connection between God's name "I am Who I am" and His freedom to show mercy and compassion? [06:07]
How does Romans 3:23-26 describe the way God demonstrates His righteousness through Christ's sacrifice? [09:19]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of God's freedom in election challenge or affirm your understanding of His righteousness? [02:35]
In what ways does the statement "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy" reflect God's sovereignty and independence? [01:00]
How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's glory and His righteousness? [08:24]
What does it mean for God's righteousness to be demonstrated through His commitment to His own glory, as seen in the redemption offered in Christ? [09:19]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you struggled with the idea of God's sovereignty in your life. How can understanding His freedom in election bring you peace?
How can you apply the understanding of God's self-existence and autonomy ("I am Who I am") to your daily trust in His plans? [06:07]
In what ways can you actively uphold and magnify God's glory in your personal life and community?
How does recognizing God's righteousness through Christ's sacrifice influence your view of forgiveness and redemption in your own life? [09:19]
Consider a situation where you felt God's choices were unfair. How can this sermon help you see His decisions as inherently righteous?
How can you ensure that your actions and decisions align with valuing God's glory, as opposed to suppressing His truth? [08:24]
Identify one area in your life where you can better trust in God's sovereign will, and discuss practical steps to cultivate that trust.

Sermon Clips

God is righteous because he said to Moses I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion now what what is the arguing for the righteousness of God in what well in this though they Jacob and Esau were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad not yet born done nothing good or bad in order that God's purpose of election might stand not because of works but because of of him who calls. [00:01:31]

The basis of election choosing Jacob over Esau is not in what they had done, they weren't even born yet they hadn't done anything good or bad yet not for anything in them and then he doesn't say not because it works but because of faith or not because I've worked but because of love or not because of works but because of the work the fruit of the Holy Spirit he says not because of works election is not because of works but because of him him that's God. [00:02:04]

God is free God does what God does is there then unrighteousness on God's part in choosing Jacob over Esau and the answer is no why not and then he chooses an Old Testament text exodus 33:19 that says the same thing as we saw here namely his freedom because God said to Moses I'll have mercy on whom I have mercy I will have compassion on whom I have compassion in other words I will elect not according to works but according to myself. [00:02:48]

Moses said please God show me your glory and he said I will make all my goodness pass before you and I will proclaim before you my name so close connection between Moses says show me your glory he says I'm gonna proclaim my name Yahweh this all caps here whenever you see that in the Old Testament Yahweh built on the word be I am Who I am we'll we'll see that in a minute Yahweh the Lord and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. [00:03:52]

My complete freedom and independence from causes of my Grace and my mercy from outside myself is at the heart of my name my freedom to act according to my own dispositions is Who I am it's my glory now is that right are we on the right track here let's check this because this name here seems to be a big deal he asked to see his glory he says I'm gonna show you my name the name is Yahweh and then he declares in these words I I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. [00:05:00]

I am Who I am as the very name of God is another form of I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious I will show compassion to whom he'll show compassion I am Who I am it's the same verbal or in linguistic structure of absoluteness I am and nobody decides Who I am I decide who I am i have mercy nobody decides for me who I have mercy on I decide who I have mercy on so the name of God includes his freedom. [00:06:10]

The glory of God includes his freedom because Moses said show me your glory and God said alright I'll show you my name it is I have mercy on whom I have mercy that is I am Who I am now how does that relate to righteousness because Paul said God is not unrighteous to act that way his son he is not he Paul says this this identification of God's freedom is a reason for why he's not unrighteous to elect in freedom. [00:06:51]

The unrighteousness of God causes them to not glorify him but to trade off the glory of God so at the heart of unrighteousness is the discountenance thing of the glory of God and at the heart of righteousness then would be the valuing of and the acting in accordance with the value of the glory of God so keep going we're now in chapter 3 of Romans all have sinned and fall short the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. [00:07:50]

God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith this was to show God's righteousness because in His divine forbearance he had passed over former sins so God looks unrighteous in passing over sins why does he look unrighteous in passing over sins because sins fall short of the glory of God sins are as we saw in Chapter one woman's they are the de meaning of the glory of God so God in great mercy has passed over sins and thus he looks like he doesn't value his glory. [00:08:56]

God elects and he elects not because of works they hadn't been born they hadn't done anything good or evil and then he says what's the alternative of responding to human distinctives the alternative is I do the calling I elect because of him who calls God in other words God is free in his election he elects without considering the qualities of the person he's considering as deserving or not Paul then says he C is the unrighteous to choose one and not the other in this way and act in such absolute freedom. [00:10:20]

God is righteous to the degree that he acts for the sake of his glory, his glory consists in his freedom therefore when he acts in freedom here he is acting righteously and here's the summary of the argument so you can think about it the righteousness of God I'm arguing includes his allegiance to his own name and glory that's where we saw it God's name and glory include his freedom to act without constraint from outside influences therefore God's freedom in election as part of his glory is essential to his righteousness. [00:11:37]

He is therefore as Paul says in verse 15 not unrighteous but righteous to choose Jacob over Esau and to elect unconditionally. [00:12:34]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

God's Righteousness and Freedom in Divine Election

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereign Freedom in Election

Day 2: The Essence of God's Name

Day 3: God's Righteousness and Glory

Day 4: Redemption Through Christ's Sacrifice

Day 5: God's Righteous Freedom in Choosing

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Righteousness and Freedom in Divine Election

Share