God’s Righteous Demand
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
3/8/2020 AM
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Text:
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Romans 9;
Lord's Day 4
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Psalters: |
375, 342, 146, 242 |
- The question.
- Is it right of God to demand of man what is impossible for Adam’s descendants to do?
- We are quick to challenge God and to judge Him to be unjust to demand obedience of those who are unable to obey.
- And how can God condemn the reprobate when they don’t have the ability to obey God?
- Man takes to himself the right to judge God to be unjust to demand what man cannot do.
- We want our responsibility determined by our ability, not by God’s commandments.
- The Catechism answers that God is just to demand obedience. Four thoughts.
- First, God’s continuing to demand loving obedience is because God has not changed; He is maintaining Himself as God.
- Second, God may command obedience because He created man able to keep His commands.
- Third, the reason we do not obey/love God is because we do not want to do so.
- Fourth, man may not take to himself the right to judge God.
- Scripture’s answer to this question assures us that there is still hope and that we must not despair.
- Let us begin with the constant humble confession of our complete inability.
- Then let us look away from ourselves to God’s provision of the Savior and His cross.
- God maintained His honor and glory, and thus His standard (did not lower it).
- And God provided His only begotten Son Who fulfilled the law perfectly and did so for us.
- Therefore, let us bless God Who alone is to be praised for the glorious wonder of His grace.
- God, in His great grace, imputed Jesus’ perfect keeping of the law to us.