• extraordinary grace of adoption (12-17)
• navigating trials of this life
2. Inspired Logic 18-21
• beyond comparison
• expectation/personification of creation
• from subjection to deliverance
3. Inspired Assurance 22-25
• settled knowledge
• groaning of creation and of believers
• an absolutely certain future
4. So What?
• Because your future glory is assured, wait eagerly as you groan inwardly.
• Let the certainty of the “then” inform your navigation of the sufferings of the “now.”
• “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (Wesley)
1) Confirm the Egyptian gods were nothing.
2) Compel Pharaoh to free the Israelites from slavery.
3) Convince Pharaoh that God is the only sovereign.
• 7:14-25 1st plague – water turned to blood
“Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.” PS 119:89
“The sum of your word is truth.” PS 119:160
“All scripture is breathed out by God.” 2 TIM 3:16
✦ “Do you not know that friendship with the world means enmity with God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4
✦ Second compromise – v.28-29
• “I’ll let you go to sacrifice to your God but do not go very far away”
God controls all circumstances to demonstrate His absolute sovereignty over everyone and everything.
II. God’s Sovereignty Declared
Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart, or did Pharaoh harden his own heart?
If God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh hardened his own heart how can both be true?
1) Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
• “Pharaoh hardened his heart and did not listen to them.” (8:15)
• “Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also.” (8:32)
✦ Pharaoh resisted God’s authority, but he could not overthrow God’s sovereignty.
2) God knew what Pharaoh would do.
• “Pharaoh will not listen to you.” (7:4)
• “Pharaoh’s heart will be unyielding.” (7:14 )
• Romans 1:18, 21-22
3) God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
• “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Proverbs 21:1
• At the burning bush: “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will not let the people go.” Exodus 4:21
• For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Romans 9:17-18
4) Summary: Pharaoh hardened his heart in rebellion; God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in judgment; and through both, God accomplished His sovereign purpose.
Every response to God strengthens your faith or hardens your heart.
“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” Proverbs 28:14
“Today if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your heart.” Hebrews 3:7-8b
God is sovereign. He is constantly working behind-the-scenes in ways we cannot see or understand.
• last section of 3:21-8:39
• immediately preceded by the assurance of Romans 8:1
2. Led by the Spirit 12-14
• debtors no more
• contrast and confirmation
3. Reception of the Spirit 15
• not slavery but adoption
• family address
4. Witness of the Spirit 16-17
• children then heirs
• suffering fellow heirs
5. So What?
• Because the Holy Spirit testifies to your new identity, live like a true heir.
• “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine inheritance now and always…” (Byrne, “Be Thou My Vision”)
• “He leadeth me: O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught!” (Gilmore, “He Leadeth Me”)
• exaltation of grace as means of justification and sanctification
• from the logic of baptism to the logic of conversion
2. Consider the Logic of Conversion 15-16
• logical protest and timeless principle
3. Reflect on the Exchange of Masters 17-18
4. Present Yourself to the Right Master 19-20
5. Assess the Fruit 21-22
6. Grasp the Ultimate Contrast 23
7. So What?
• Because everyone serves a master, make sure you are enslaved to the right one.
• “Master, Thou callest, and this I reply, ‘Ready and willing, Lord, here am I.” (Crosby, “Lord, Here am I”)
• preceded by 5:1-11 and the concept of justification by faith
• continuation of 5:12 beginning with 5:18
• comparison/contrast between Adam and Christ
2. Condemnation/Justification 18
• one trespass (Gen. 3:6, 9-12,17)
• one act of righteousness (Phil. 2:5-11)
• qualification of “all” according to context
3. Sinners/Righteous 19
• one man’s disobedience
• One man’s obedience
4. Sin/Grace 20-21
• purpose of the law
• triumph of grace
• hyper-activity of grace
5. So What?
• Since Christ’s sacrifice is sin’s only remedy, rely on Him and revel in His grace.
• “He breaks the power of canceled sin…” (Wesley, “O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing”)
• “Marvelous, infinite , matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe…” (Johnston, “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)
• our forefather Abraham
• justified by works or counted righteous?
5. So What?
• Because of God’s intervention at the cross, guilty offenders like us can be reconciled to Him.
• Trust and Treasure
• “Since from His bounty I receive such proofs of love divine, had I a thousand hearts to give, Lord, they should all be Thine.” (Stennett, “Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned”)
• proceeding from Rome to the Sonburst Class
• shift from shameless immorality (1:18-32) to the world of self-conscious moralism
2. Indictment of a Self-Righteous Judge 1-4
• inexcusable
• inescapable
• insensitivity
3. Impartiality of the Righteous Judge 5-11
• discernment
• distinction
4. Impact of Righteous Judgment 12-16
• sinners
• secrets
• standard
5. So What?
• Because God’s standard of righteousness is found exclusively in Christ Jesus, rely entirely on the righteousness He provides.
• three words of application: comparison, condemnation and confession
• “Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin; Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within. Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee, can rid me of the dark unrest, and set my spirit free…” (Bonar, “Not What These Hands Have Done”)
• theological treatise: doctrine and duty
• Paul’s relationship with the church at Rome
2. Intention 13-15
• objective
• obligation
3. Declaration 16-17
• shameless
• substance (Hab. 2:4)
4. Revelation 18-23
• wrath
• removal
• reality
5. Deprivation 24-25
• given up (3 times)
• devastating exchange
6. So What?
• Because only the gospel delivers desperate sinners, delight in its transforming power.
• “On that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy loving face; Clothed then in blood-washed linen, how I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace…” (“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Robinson)
• Three scenes in Ruth: road (1), field (2) and threshing floor (3)
• continuation of Naomi’s concern
2. Naomi Proposes a Plan 1-5
3. Ruth’s Compliance 6-9 (Ezek. 16:8)
4. Boaz’s Response 10-13
5. Boaz’s Provision 14-18 (Psa. 37:25)
6. Conference with the Nearer Redeemer 1-8 (Dt. 25:5-10)
7. Confirmation of Intent to Redeem 9-12
8. Consummation of Marriage 13-22
9. So What?
• Because the LORD providentially intervenes in the lives of His people, trust Him to replace your emptiness with His fullness.
• connection to NT and Jesus: Heb. 2:11, 17 and Eph. 5:29
• Remember: both the crushing and the caring are in God’s hands
• “Blessed Redeemer” (A. Christiansen)
• deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion and Naomi left with Ruth and Orpah (1:1-5)
• Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest (1:6-22)
2. Insider Information 1-3
• introduction to Boaz and Ruth’s initiative
• she “happened…”
3. Pre-Meeting Coordination 4-7
• Boaz arrives from Bethlehem
• greeting and inquiry/information about Ruth
4. Boaz and Ruth Have a Meeting 8-13
• permission, protection and provision: “hesed”
• reward and refuge (Psa. 5:11)
5. Boaz and Ruth Share a Meal 14-17
• significance of meal and unheard-of favor
• a long way from Moab!
6. Report to Naomi 18-23
• quantity of grain and identity of Boaz
• no resolution-yet!
7. So What?
• Knowing that the LORD faithfully provides refuge for His people, rest in His providential care.
• connection to Jesus and NT: Ruth 4:22 and Matt. 1:5
• two applications: rely and remember
• “The providence of God is like Hebrew words-it can be read only backwards.” (J. Flavel)
• “…redeemed through His infinite mercy-His child, and forever, I am.” (F. Crosby)
