Nov. 09, 2025

“Is God Unfair?”

“Is God Unfair?”
Romans 9:14-18
Central Idea: God’s choices, including our salvation, are based on
His mercy and grace and are never unfair.
Truths about the doctrine of election:
1. It’s in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
2. It’s seen in the fact that God initiates.
3. It’s a difficult doctrine.
4. It’s not essential (Not going to die for it).
I. Context of Romans 9
• If the Jews are God's chosen people, why are so few of them
believing the gospel?
• Is this God that we are trusting in trustworthy?
• As Paul answers this question, he lines up the examples:
• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
II. God’s choices are based on His mercy and grace (14-18)
A. Question (14)
• Isn’t it unfair for God to chose one over the other?
• “May it never be!” = strongest negative possible
B. Three answers (15-18)
#1 - God is free to be merciful to whom He will (15-16)
• Moses - Exodus 33:19 (15)
• Mercy = not getting what you deserve
• Not a negative statement, but positive
• This showing of mercy depends only on God (16)
• “wills” = mercy is only the choice of the giver
• “runs” = mercy is a gift; can’t be earned by effort
#2 - The center of everything is God and His glory (17)
• Exodus 9:16
• God is using all the circumstances and situations in the
world to bring glory to Himself.
• Who else would deserve any of the glory but God alone?
#3 - God is free to harden whom He will (18)
• God is free to chose both who He shows mercy to and who
He hardens.
Application
1. Submit to this truth: “God always does what is right, good and
just.”
• God can do no wrong.
• God does things at times that we don’t understand.
2. Be careful to never put yourself in position to judge the fairness
of God.
• Our heart is never good enough and our wisdom is never wise
enough to judge the actions of God.
• We cannot see things more clearly than God can.
“Is God Unfair?”
Romans 9:14-18
Central Idea: God’s choices, including our salvation, are based on
His mercy and grace and are never unfair.
Truths about the doctrine of election:
1. It’s in the __________ from Genesis to Revelation.
2. It’s seen in the fact that ________ initiates.
3. It’s a _______________ doctrine.
4. It’s not _______________ (Not going to die for it).
I. Context of Romans 9
• If the Jews are God's ___________ people, why are so few of
them ________________ the gospel?
• Is this God that we are trusting in ____________________?
• As Paul answers this question, he lines up the examples:
• ______________, ___________, ___________
II. God’s choices are based on His mercy and grace (14-18)
A. Question (14)
• Isn’t it _________ for God to chose one over the other?
• “May it never be!” = ____________ negative possible
B. Three answers (15-18)
#1 - God is free to be ______________ to whom He will (15-16)
• Moses - Exodus 33:19 (15)
• Mercy = not getting what you _____________
• Not a negative statement, but _______________
• This showing of mercy depends only on ________ (16)
• “who wills” = mercy is only the choice of the __________
• “who runs” = mercy is a gift; can’t be earned by __________
#2 - The ___________ of everything is God and His glory (17)
• Exodus 9:16
• God is __________ all the circumstances and situations in the
world to bring glory to Himself.
• Who else would __________ any of the glory but God alone?
#3 - God is free to ___________ whom He will (18)
• God is free to ___________ both who He shows mercy to and
who He hardens.
Application:
1. Submit to this truth: “God ___________ does what is right, good
and just.”
• God can do no __________.
• God does things at times that we don’t ____________________.
2. Be careful to never put yourself in position to ___________ the
fairness of God.
• Our heart is never good enough and our wisdom is never wise
enough to judge the ___________ of God.
• We cannot _______ things more clearly than God can.