Nov. 23, 2025

“Are People Just Puppets?”

“Are People Just Puppets?”
Romans 9:19-21
Central Idea: God’s sovereignty is not a cause for our concern,
because God is God and we are not.
• God __________ Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — Romans 9:6-13
• Is God _________? “May it never be!” — Romans 9:14-18
• Theme of Romans: Righteousness of God (God is _________ right)
I. Question: Does election destroy human responsibility? (19)
A. ________ — Part of that equation is true.
• Psalm 115:3
• Romans 8:29-30
B. ______ — Part of that equation is false.
• The Bible teaches that there is ____________________.
• Isaiah 14:24-27
II. Answer (20-21)
A. Answer is not focused on the _________________ tension. (20a)
B. Answer is focused on the _________________ of the questioner.
1. This is a ______________.
• “O man” = Who do you think you are questioning ________?!
2. “answers back”
• ___________________, ______________
3. Answering back not to ________, but to God
• Not a __________ question: “God, how can these things be?”
• It is: “God, these things ____________ not to be this way!”
C. Illustration (20b-21)
1. Who are you to question God’s ________? (20b)
• Common metaphor
• Isaiah 29:16, 45:9, 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6
• Paul's point is one of ______________.
• Who are you to question the role of the _______ in your life?
2. Who are you to question God’s ___________? (21)
• The potter’s ___________
• “right” = ______________
• The potter has the right - the authority - to ________ what
he wants out of the clay.
• “same lump” = a picture of sinful ________________
• God will make one for _______ & one for ____________ use
• _______ is neither a human right nor is it a divine obligation
Application:
1. God is God and we are ________.
• __________ on this truth.
• God’s dealings are not to be ____________ by us.
2. Let the Word of God __________ your understanding of God.
• ___________ to the revelation about God & _____________ Him.