Sovereignty and Responsibility
Romans 9:17-33
For they stumbled at that stumbling stone, as it is written: “Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” [Romans 9:32-33]
God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility have been philosophical discussions throughout the ages and will likely continue until we are on the other side of eternity. Only in heaven will the two reconcile. Therefore, we will have to wait and see.
We should be cautioned to take one side at the cost of the other, because they both are in Scripture. Here’s a short list of the two: Eternal Security [Jn 10:27-29, Rom 8:38-39, Eph 1:13-14, 2 Cor 1:21-22, Phil 1:3-6, 2 Tim 2:15-19]; Our Responsibility [Rom 10:12-15, Phil 2:12-13, Heb 6:4-6, Heb 10:26-31, Rev 22:17].
When you read these [and the many more], you will find that one side is from God’s eternal perspective and the other from man’s temporal perspective. Perspective dictates the side of the discussion.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” [Jn 10:27-29] This is clearly eternal security from God’s perspective.
But from our perspective, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” [Rom 10:13]. Notice the choice and responsibility from our perspective, you and I must call on the name of the Lord. Revelation 22:17 is another example, “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
“It is not a question of whether or not we are among God’s elect. That is a mystery known only to God. He offers us His salvation by faith. The offer is made to ‘whoever will’ (Rev. 22:17). After we have trusted Christ, then we have the witness and evidence that we are among His elect (Eph. 1:4-14; 1 Thes. 1:1-10).” [Wiersbe]
Our passage this morning brings balance to the discussion on God’s Sovereignty and Responsibility regarding Israel. They, too, have responsibility amid God’s sovereignty. “Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
God is sovereign for sure, but Israel is responsible for believing; and so are we.
