The title of this post seems like a weird statement. “God is Free to Act.” Our first response may be, of course God is free to act. God can do what He wants! And you would be correct. That is actually Paul’s point in Romans 9 - God can do whatever He pleases! But many Christians would say God is not totally free. God is restricted. God is confined by one important factor. God is not free to act when it comes to human free-will. Free-will trumps God’s activity according to some Bible-believing, well-meaning, Jesus-loving Christians. This is a tricky issue. An issue that has caused division in the church over the centuries. And we must confront these two seemingly opposing points of view this week in our Romans series!
It is no easy task. The passages in Romans 9 are complex. They require careful study, consideration, and work. Even then, we must bow down to God our Creator and say, “I do not have all the information I need to solve this issue. You are God. I am finite man. I trust in your wisdom, justice, love, and knowledge. Help me understand and give me humility when I don’t fully understand.” I don’t believe there is any other conclusion. We must believe God when the Bible teaches that God is absolutely free to elect, choose, and have mercy. And we also must believe God when the Bible teaches that humans have a genuine choice to believe or reject God. There is tension. There is mystery. And God has knowledge to work out what we cannot know at this time.
Come Sunday to wrestle and work through Romans 9 together. It is work, but it is good work! We will also take communion and eat together! We bow to God the Creator as creatures who love and serve Him!
“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” - Romans 9:20a
- Pastor Curt
Please take note of ways to gather for Sunday Service at The Rock:
1) We are meeting inside at Manhattan Beach Pre-School for our Sunday Service at 4:30 pm.
2) We will also be live on Facebook Live. CLICK HERE at 4:30 Sunday afternoon.
3) Finally we will provide a video link to the sermon on our website.
Theological Word of The Week:
mercy
God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress.
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Upcoming Events
Children's Ministry
Children can join Cameron every Sunday for Bible time during the service. They will go through the Bible story by story.
Sermon Topic - march 5
romans: The gospel changes perspectives
Romans 9:14-29
“god is free to act”
A21-M22 Fiscal YTD