Romans 9:1-29

Review

Paul has just exploded in praise: Romans 8:38–39 “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But then the joy is tempered by being reminded that Paul’s people, the Jews will not all be saved

Sorrow over Israel’s Curse

Romans 9:1–5 KJV

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Paul is saying that if it meant all of Israel would be saved, he would offer himself to be separated from God forever. He reminds them of their special place as a covenant people to miss salvation. That To have had the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as their fathers magnified the tragedy. Worse yet, the Messiah, who brought salvation to the world, had come to and through them and in spite of this they were strangers to the very salvation he brought.

God’s Sovereignty in Election

National Israel and True Israel

Romans 9:6–13 KJV

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

6: Paul has made it clear that those that did not believe Jesus was the Messiah weren’t saved

Those Jews listening to him say that thought he was saying the Torah or Word of God to Abraham in Genesis 17:8 “8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” wasn’t true and God had failed in His promise to Abraham

7: National Israel are those descended from Abraham through Jacob by birth, True Israel isn’t just by birth but by faith and the receiving of the covenant.

By birth the children of Ishmael were just as much the physically the seed of Abraham as those who would be children of Isaac. But the covenant seed would be through Isaac.

8-9: Just being born in a family didn’t and doesn’t make anyone a child of God. Paul explains the “children of promise” and the fact that Ishmael isn’t a covenant child of Abraham

Genesis 17:19 “19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”

Genesis 17:20–21 “20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.”

10: Paul knew some may have argued that Isaac and Ishmael may have had Abraham as their father but they had different mothers (Sarah for Isaac and Rebecca for Ishamel) and this is the reason Ismael was rejected as the child of promise. He goes on to explain why that’s not it by using the example of Jacob and Esau who DID have the same mother and father:

11: Before Jacob and Esau were born, before either had a chance to do anything that was sinful or good, God purposed His true children come by faith and not by works

12-13: Conscience! Paul quotes Genesis 25:23 “23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” then Malachi 1:2–3 “2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”

Some say this is only about God being sovereign to choose the Nation of Israel, but it’s clear in context that Paul is answering the question as to why some Jews would be lost if the promise to Abraham and the Word of God were true

The Freedom of God to Choose

Romans 9:14–23 KJV

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

14: Paul anticipates the objection he would hear. “Doesn’t that mean if God loved Jacob and “hated” Esau that God sins?” He emphatically answers no!

15: Paul then follows with an example not showing the God (who can do no wrong) sins, but that it’s His prerogative to determine for His glory that some Jews would be saved and some would be lost

Paul quotes the Septuagint translation of Exodus 33:19 “19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”

16: Anyone that wants and runs toward God and the righteousness He offers in salvation does so ONLY by God’s mercy and not because of their own merit

17: 15 and 16 show God’s sovereignty in choosing who sees His compassion; 17 and 18 also show His sovereignty in who He chooses to harden

17: Paul is referring to Exodus 7-9 and Moses going to Pharoah for the release of the Jews and specifically Exodus 9:16 “16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”

18: God hardening is seen in (Ex 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 17; Deut 2:30; Josh 11:20; John 12:40; Rom 11:7, 25) in context here specifically

Exodus 7:3 “3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.” and Exodus 9:12 “12 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.”

19: Paul anticipates the question “If God is choosing all this, how can he judge anyone for what God chose?”

20: Paul’s answer sums up what I see as possibly a foundational problem with evangelicalism and the church (especially in America) today. It’s not a new problem, but it seems more prevalent now than ever. The problem is this: We ALL ALWAYS THINK BETTER OF OURSELVES THAN WE OUGHT. WE THINK WE CAN PUT GOD IN THE DOCK AS IF WE’RE THE PROSECUTOR AND HE”S IN THE WITNESS CHAIR RATHER THAN THE JUDGES SEAT!

Paul’s answer is “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO QUESTION ANYTHING GOD CHOOSES TO DO?”

21: Specifically Isaiah 29:16 “16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” . Paul clearly has Jer. 18:1-10 in mind”

Jeremiah 18:1–10 KJV

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

22: Just as the pot can’t tell the potter what to do with it and how to use it, man (the created) can’t tell God (the creator) what to do or how He chooses to show His glory with what He chooses for His creation!

The New Community - The Remnant and the Gentiles

Romans 9:24–29 KJV

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

24: What God is choosing to do, He does so for the offer of salvation not only for the Jews but for the Gentiles

25: Paul quotes Hosea 2:23 “23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” and

26: Hosea 1:10 “10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” and

27: Isaiah 10:22–23 “22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.”

28: the longsuffering of God will not last forever and many will have waited too late

29: Isaiah 1:9 “9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.”

Only by the mercy of God is there a remnant left. The miracle is not in the question if God would only choose some for mercy. The plain miracle is that God would save ANY OF US in light of fallen mans wickedness, and selfishness, and deceitful hearts after the fall

Conclusion

This chapter has been one of the most contentious chapters of the Bible in the history of the church. It was even a foundational part of why George Whitefield (one of the greatest evangelists in history) and John and Charles Wesley (two of the greatest in the area of discipleship) could not minister together in England and America after 1739 even though Whitefield considered John Wesley one of his “father’s in the faith”

Let me take a moment to point out how much Christian maturity was shown by these men.

They all were used of by God in a great revival from 1736 to 1739

They split due to doctrinal differences even writing and preaching opposing the views of each other

And yet in the end not hating each other because of all the foundational beliefs in Christ from the Bible

“The relationship was described by one of Wesley’s preachers as “agreement to differ.” Whitefield was welcomed to preach among Wesley’s societies. Wesley lent Whitefield one of his best preachers, Joseph Cownley, for work at the Tabernacle.”

Even to the point Charles Wesley could write in a poem:

"COME on, my Whitefield, (since the strife is past,

And friends at first are friends again at last,)

Our hands and hearts and counsels let us join

For mutual league, t' advance the work divine.

Our one contention, now our single aim,

To pluck poor souls as brands out of the flame,

To spread the victory of that bloody cross,

And gasp our latest breath in the Redeemer's cause.”

“In 1770, the year of his death, Whitefield wrote to Charles as “my very dear old friend” and described John as “your honoured brother.” To each he bequeathed a mourning ring, “in token of my indissoluble union with them in heart and Christian affection, notwithstanding our difference in judgment about some particular points of doctrine.” On Whitefield’s death, Charles penned a noble elegy. And at Whitefield’s request, his funeral sermon was preached by none other than his former opponent, John Wesley.”

But the most important point to get from this chapter is this:

God has the right to show mercy or not Because He is God. It’s not to be seen as God hardening and and sending some to heaven and some to hell. Mark what I’m about to say and hear it clearly: WITHOUT ANY OF US SEEING THE MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD, NONE OF US WOULD CHOOSE GOD AND THE SALVATION HE OFFERS! PEOPLE DON’T NEED TO BE SENT TO HELL, BECAUSE OF THE FALL AND OUR OWN NATURES, SHORT OF GOD CHANGING OUR HEART OF STONE TO A HEART OF FLESH, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WOULD RUN AS FAST AS WE CAN TO SPLIT HELL WIDE OPEN

I believe I’m accurate in saying the doctrine of this church and that followed by the pastor is that GOD DOESN’T SEND SOME TO HEAVEN AND SEND SOME TO HELL

This church, the pastor, and I all believe the Bible is true when John says John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

That the only way to be saved is Romans 10:9–10 “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Whom does God choose to save? Those who come to know themselves as unworthy wretches and turn in faith and believe on Jesus Christ!