Romans 9:1-18

Intro

Read Romans 9:1-18

Romans 9:1–18 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

to understand the flow here lets back up real quick and see how Paul’s argument developed

Read Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

as believers we are more than conquers

Nothing can separate us from the love God.

So if nothing can separate God’s elect we must ask the question what happened to God’s chosen people

The Nation of Isreal

What are we to say

this is why Paul begins chapter 9 talking about his grief for the nations of Isreal

The plea

Read Romans 9:1-5

Romans 9:1–5 ESV

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Paul is grieved by Isreal’s unbelief in Jesus

He recognizes that they are cut off from God separated from him and this is the cause of his grief

Paul undoubtedly knows many Jews who have rejected Jesus as messiah and that grieves his heart

Look how he put it “ I wish that I myself were cutoff for the sake of my brothers”

What we can’t miss here is Paul’s evangelistic heart

Man I wish they knew Jesus Like I know him

Paul recognizes Isreal’s place in God’s plan and he also recognizes their error

This is what grieves his heart

do we grieve for the lost like this

Notice where this grief comes from

Romans 9:4–5 ESV

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

The nation of Isreal was the nation of promise

Yet they reject the messiah and are thus cut off from the promise for now!!!

We believe there is still a future for Isreal as the nation but for now it God is allowing for the gentiles to be grafted in

Paul will get into this later

But what we can see here is they are certainly cut off and to Paul he would rather give up his own salvation in order to save his kinsmen the Jews

So salvation belongs to more than a race of people

It is not enough to just be the people who are ethnically people of the promise

God requires more Paul knows this and it grieves him greatly and he ponders how could this happen

The promise

Read Romans 9:6-13

Romans 9:6–13 ESV

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

the implied question here they had the sacred writing they had the word of God so was that not enough to help them believe?

Paul states its not that word has failed

God has not been unfaithful

Because not everyone that was a descendent from Isreal actually belonged to Isreal

Not everyone that is a descendent of Abraham is really a child of his

So it wasn’t a birth right thing to

You arent born into salvation rather you must be called a child of God to receive salvation

Children of the promise are the ones counted as the offspring of Abraham and Isreal/Jacob

So how does one become a child of the promise?

God calls you to it

Its nothing that we do on our own human strength

There are no works

There is no birthright

There is no worldly thing we do to earn our salvation or deserve our salvation

Notice how Paul lays out this argument Romans 9:11-13

Romans 9:11–13 ESV

though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Jacob and Esau are set up as the example

And if you have been with us you can easily see its nothing that Jacob has done that makes him righteous

Jacob has decieved his father and his brother

Jacob is undeserving but God had a plan

God had chosen Jacob I loved and Esau I hated before they did anything

This is truth that can leave us hopeless at times well if it doesn’t depend on me then why even try

If the choosing was done already then there really is no point and I’m just an robot in God’s play place

But let me flip it for you a little bit

Remember verses like Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

We all have a been given a death sentence and for me I am so greatful that my salvation was not dependent on me

I am so thankful that God has chosen to save me

That he has chosen to make me a co heir with Christ

And the greatest desire of my heart is that others will know and receive that free gift of grace that I have received

Romans 3:23–25 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

the thing we must remember when we read things that remind us of God’s sovereign election and it causes us to feel hopeless or like robots

Is that we are thankful for his divine election of us and we don’t know who else he has chosen so we evangilize our hearts are grieved by the lost we proclaim the message of salvation with all that is within us.

But we rest in the fact that the responsibility of salvation is not ours its God’s

If you have had this struggle as you think of election you are not alone.

In fact Paul anticipated this struggle and notice how he addresses it.

The Plan

Read Romans 9:14-18

Romans 9:14–18 ESV

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Here is the reminder

The relief in the complexity of election finds simplicity in the sovereignty of God

Paul asks the very question so many have asked well if God elects then is he unjust for not electing everyone for salvation

Such a valid question

And thank you Lord for giving us the answer in your word

God is not unjust he is God his character tells us he can’t be unjust

In fact he reminds Moses of his place as God

He is the one who gets to choose who he has mercy on and who he doesn’t

And this removes the weight of works based salvation

There is nothing I will do to earn my salvation so I can not boast in my achievement

There is nothing I can do to reason someone into salvation so I dont have to have the weight of their eternity on my shoulders

EXAMPLE FROM STUDENT MINISTRIES AND JOE

This idea has been the subject of many hot debates and arguments

Election is clearly biblical Paul lays out this case

SO the question is what do we do with this

Don’t get hopeless God is working in the lives of people and we dont know it

He plans to use us in the lives of others

He plans to use others in our lives

HE WILL WORK SALVATION AS HE CHOOSES we rest in his sovereignty say thank you that my salvation was not earned by me and I long for others to share in this salvation

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: Understanding God's Choices

Bible Passage: Romans 9:1–18

Summary: In Romans 9:1–18, Paul expresses his deep sorrow for Israel's unbelief and discusses God’s sovereign choice in His plans for salvation, emphasizing that God’s mercy and compassion are based on His will, not human effort or merit.

Application: This passage challenges teens to reflect on their understanding of God’s sovereignty and grace. It encourages them to trust in God’s perfect plan for their lives, especially in situations where they feel marginalized or misunderstood, reassuring them that God’s choices are ultimately for their good and His glory.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that God, in His sovereignty, chooses whom He will have mercy on, and that His decisions are not influenced by human actions. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing God’s authority in all aspects of life and accepting His will for their lives, which might include trials and tough circumstances.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage foreshadows the ultimate sovereignty of Christ, who embodies God’s mercy and grace. Just as God chooses, Christ comes as the chosen means of salvation for all, revealing how God's choice permeates the entire narrative of Scripture, culminating in the redemptive work of Jesus.

Big Idea: God’s sovereignty in choosing whom to save leads us to trust in His greater plan, helping us reconcile feelings of insecurity and questioning as we learn our value is rooted in being chosen by God.

Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon, consider examining the historical context of Paul's letter to the Romans, specifically looking into the implications of Jewish unbelief against the backdrop of God’s covenant faithfulness. In Logos, explore commentaries that discuss the theme of divine election particularly as it relates to the broader themes of grace and mercy in Pauline theology.

1. Paul's Painful Plea

Romans 9:1-5

Perhaps you could emphasize Paul's deep longing and sorrow for his fellow Israelites, illustrating the reality of God's sovereign choice even amidst rejection by His chosen people. Highlight how this illustrates the Christocentric focus, as Jesus also lamented over Jerusalem's unbelief. Encourage teens to relate by trusting God’s plan even when it seems counterintuitive, knowing that God understands and shares their grief in difficult situations.

2. Promise Over Physicality

Romans 9:6-13

You could discuss the concept of divine election through the examples of Isaac and Jacob. Emphasize that God's promises do not fail even if not all physical descendants are chosen. This points to Christ, through whom the promise is ultimately fulfilled. Advise teens to find peace in knowing that being chosen by God is not based on merit but His grace, encouraging them to focus on their relationship with God over societal accolades.

3. Purposeful Sovereignty

Romans 9:14-18

Maybe explore God’s sovereign mercy and justice as illustrated through Pharaoh. Stress that God's choice serves a greater purpose in His redemptive plan, similar to how Christ’s sacrifice fulfills God’s mercy. Challenge teens to embrace God’s decisions as part of His grand design for their lives. Remind them that, like Christ, they can rest in the assurance of God’s sovereignty and find purpose even in adversity.