Sermon: God is Faithful

This morning we come to the table of communion.  This table is rightly called a table of remembrance.  It is designed to remind us of things that we must not forget, that we cannot forget, that we dare not forget:

• We dare not forget our need for salvation.
• We dare not forget the cost of redemption.
• We dare not forget the centrality of the cross.
• We dare not forget the significance of the blood of Christ.
• We dare not forget the power of Christ’s imputed righteousness.
• We dare not forget the nature of God who has brought this salvation to us.

That is where we are headed this morning, as we come to the communion table.  We are going to be reminded about the redemptive plan of God, but even more than that, we are going to be reminded of the God of the redemptive plan — what kind of God has given us this salvation?  What kind of God sent His Son to be our Redeemer?  What kind of God took pity on us to save us?  What kind of God keeps us in our salvation?  We find all these questions answered in Romans chapter 9, which teaches us:

God is always faithful.

When God chooses people for salvation through election, He is faithful.  When He judges unbelievers for their rebellion against Him, He is faithful.  When He saves individual Gentiles, He is faithful.  He is always faithful.

While Romans 9 unfolds much about the elective, sovereign purposes of God, the chapter is ultimately about the faithfulness of God — “will He save His people, whom He has promised to save?”  In this chapter, Paul asks and answers four questions about the nature of God that guide us to understand that God is faithful always and in all circumstances.  How do we know that God is faithful?

1. The Unbelief of Israel Does Not Mean God’s Promise Has Failed (vv. 1-13)
2. The Election of Some Does Not Mean God is Unjust (vv. 14-18)
3. The Will of God Does Not Mean God Cannot Judge (vv. 19-29)
4. The Election of God Does Not Mean Man is Not Responsible (vv. 30-33)

Download the rest of this sermon on Romans 9.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by tomorrow.