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Jacob and Esau! - Charles Spurgeon Audio Sermons

Christian Sermons and Audio Books・38 minutes read

Spurgeon's sermon delves into the complexities of predestination using the biblical story of Jacob and Esau to emphasize God's sovereignty and human responsibility, cautioning against altering the straightforward meaning of biblical texts. He highlights the importance of genuine repentance, God's grace in salvation, and individual accountability for salvation or damnation, stressing the necessity of faith in God's sovereignty and wisdom.

Insights

  • Spurgeon highlights the challenging concept in Romans 9:13 where God loved Jacob but hated Esau, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Bible's teachings without altering the meaning or softening the harshness of the text.
  • The text explores the contrasting lives of Jacob and Esau, illustrating God's sovereign grace in choosing individuals for favor or judgment based on their actions and responses, emphasizing the necessity of true repentance and salvation through God's grace rather than human efforts.

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Recent questions

  • What is the sermon about?

    Preaching on Romans 9:13 by Spurgeon.

  • How does Spurgeon view predestination?

    Acknowledges complexity, warns against overconfidence.

  • What does Romans 9:13 state?

    God loved Jacob but hated Esau.

  • Why does Spurgeon reject softening interpretations?

    Insists on straightforward translation, adherence to original meaning.

  • What is the role of repentance in salvation?

    Crucial for salvation, genuine repentance emphasized.

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Summary

00:00

Spurgeon's Sermon on God's Election in Romans

  • The sermon was preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon on January 16th, 1859, focusing on Romans 9:13 about Jacob and Esau.
  • Spurgeon acknowledges the complexity of predestination, cautioning against overconfidence in understanding such mysteries.
  • He emphasizes the ongoing debates and varied interpretations surrounding man's responsibility, free will, and predestination.
  • Spurgeon advocates for sticking closely to the teachings of the Bible to avoid confusion and misinterpretation.
  • The text in Romans 9:13 states that God loved Jacob but hated Esau, a challenging concept that Spurgeon aims to address.
  • Spurgeon rejects interpretations that try to soften the harshness of the text, insisting on the straightforward translation of "hate."
  • He refutes the notion that the text refers to nations rather than individuals, highlighting the specificity of Jacob and Esau.
  • Spurgeon warns against altering or tampering with God's Word, urging adherence to its original meaning.
  • Spurgeon asserts that God's election of individuals is a factual reality, evident in the differing circumstances and opportunities given to people.
  • He stresses the undeniable truth that God shows favor to some individuals over others, citing examples of divine intervention in Jacob's life to illustrate this point.

20:59

Esau's Downfall: God's Rejection, Jacob's Deceit

  • Esau was not loved by God and his descendants were not blessed, leading to the disappearance of Edom.
  • Edom built its cities in rock but was abandoned by God, becoming slaves to Israel.
  • The kings of Edom had to pay tribute to Solomon in wool annually.
  • Esau's name has vanished from historical records.
  • God's love for Jacob was due to sovereign grace, not based on Jacob's merits.
  • Jacob's character was flawed, marked by bargaining with God and deceit.
  • Jacob's life with Laban was characterized by greed and deceit.
  • Jacob's wrestling with God was more about God wrestling with him to reveal his weaknesses.
  • Jacob's life was marked by disbelief and reliance on sight rather than faith.
  • God's hatred for Esau was due to Esau's voluntary rejection of his birthright for a bowl of stew.
  • Esau's character and actions led to his own downfall, not God's decree.

41:01

Genuine repentance crucial for salvation, not works.

  • Repentance is crucial for salvation, but not all repentance is genuine; Esau's repentance was insincere as he sought his birthright back with tears but did not truly change his ways.
  • Sinners often believe they can regain salvation through good works or giving up sins, but true salvation comes only through God's grace, not by human efforts.
  • Esau's repentance aggravated his sin as it lacked true evangelical repentance, showing that if he lost his birthright, he deserved it, and God's judgment was just.
  • The Bible emphasizes that God's wrath is against those who prepare themselves for destruction, while salvation is prepared by God for the righteous since the creation of the world, highlighting the role of God's grace in salvation.
  • Salvation is solely through God's grace, while damnation is a result of man's sin; the blame for condemnation lies with man, not God, as seen in the judgment scene where the righteous are blessed by God, and the cursed are condemned to eternal fire.
  • The doctrines of salvation by grace and damnation by sin are both present in God's Word and should be believed even if they seem contradictory, requiring faith in God's sovereignty and wisdom.
  • Personal responsibility is emphasized, with individuals being accountable for their own salvation or damnation; salvation is by grace alone, while damnation is a result of rejecting Christ and despising the birthright.
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