God is Sovereign

Romans 9:1-29.

Apostle Paul has now concluded the first major portion of his letter to the church in Rome.

The main topics being the Foundation of Christian Theology:

Justification

Sanctification and

Glorification

Chapters 9 through 11 provide an interlude, before he begins his final instructions to the local churches.

As one commentator puts it:

Romans 9-11 leaves both the Scholar and the reader in a bit of a conundrum

“Leaving Romans with eight chapters of the “Gospel”, at the beginning

Four chapters of “Application” at the end, and

Three chapter in the middle as a “Puzzle”

Yet others would agree that chapters 9-11 are the essential Backbone of the entire letter.

For a brief moment in time - Paul gets personal

While pressing in on the Nature of God’s Sovereignty-

He also feels deeply compelled to speak about Gods plan for the Jews and the Gentiles.

While living in the Freedom of the Christian Faith, Paul express anguish and concerns over the state of the Jewish People- His people.

This leads to several questions:

Has God abandoned and rejected the Jews?

If the Jews were God’s Chosen- Why did so many reject the Gospel of Christ?

If the Gospel is the Fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures- Then why do the Jews not accept it?

Although called of God to be the light to the Gentile World, Paul could still empathize with the Jewish people

Paul had so violently been opposed to this new concept that he, personally, had hunted down and imprisoned those that had dared to reject Judaism for this this “New Way”

So, while changed by his confrontation with Christ on the Damascus road, Paul has not lost his heart or neglected his own heritage and culture.

Paul’s realization is ours, as well:

God’s Sovereign choice is a Truth so deep, we fail to totally comprehend it-

Yet that same truth invites us to abide in the confidence of God’s plan

A constant reminder that His Great Grace and Mercy are still the foundations of our salvation and relationship with Him.

Apostle Paul, knew and understood that the church in Rome was strategically positioned to use the unique blend of cultural and ethnic backgrounds-

To strengthen the unity of the church

Paul takes on many of the hot topic issues of the day in an effort to build unity and trust within the community of both Jewish and Gentile believers.

So let’s begin with a look at Paul’s deep sorrow and anguish that motivates his passion

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.

1- Sorrow, Anguish and Promise

All Followers of Christ should have a well tuned conscience-

That inner prompting that either confirms our actions

Or rejects them

This is the Holy Spirit speaking to our Spirit to guide and direct us on the path God laid before us.

Paul speaks of this same sense

His conscience bearing witness through the Holy Spirit

That he speaks the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

He is torn in his commitment

To be the messenger to the Gentiles, which fills his heart with joy

While being rejected by his own Jewish community, as they reject the teachings of Christ.

As a learned Pharisee, Paul knows the Israelite nation should have been

The First to recognize the Saviour

Their own Sacred Scriptures pointed directly to the Coming Messiah

Sadly, The Jews of Paul’s day, and in large part today,

Still reject Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

They are missing out on the Gift of Salvation

And Paul expresses deep sorrow and anguish over their lost state.

One of the most profound examples self sacrifice is exhibited by Paul

Romans 9:1–5 ESV

“... wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh...”

Paul’s sorrow for his kindred brethren runs so deep that he would gladly accept being cut off from God, if it would bring his fellow Jews into Salvation in Christ.

This passage does highlight that heritage and birthright are no longer the standard- In fact they never were.

In a world and culture where everything was based on Ancestral family lines...

Divine selection has nothing to do with ethnic background but, rather,

On God’s omniscient Purpose

We can also hold onto the fact that God’s plan for Salvation is solely based on Divine Mercy and Grace-

And not on any Human merit, to be earned.

So, lets look at HOW God’s sovereign Will works for us:

2- Chosen Without Conditions

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.”

As Paul continues, his main point becomes clear:

Just because the Jews rejected their Messiah

Does not men that God’s plan failed.

Paul now makes the theological argument that

There is a defined distinction between-

The physical descendants of Abraham,

And the Children of Promise.

The Promise did not go through Abraham- As much as the Patriarch was revered

The Children of the Promise are grafted into the family, through Isaac.

Once again- It is the Spiritual Connection to Christ

Not the Ethnic connection to Abraham

That determines the True Israelite.

To the modern Church- This means that it is the Blessings of Salvation are extended to, only those who are, truly, Right with God

Through Genuine Faith in Jesus Christ.

God has not turned away or rejected Israel-

He has simply defined succinctly, what it means to be a true Child of Abraham.

This should challenge and motivate todays followers of Christ to reflect on and accept the unmerited favor of God, in our lives...

Bringing us to a response of great humility and an Attitude of Gratitude

For being found acceptable by God-

Not by anything we could do

But by God’s Divine Will and Purpose.

Using the Ancient history of the OT Patriarch’s...

Paul illustrates that God’s Sovereignty is on full display

In the example of Isaac and Ishmael

The promise comes through Isaac, because Abraham and Sarah

“Cheated” with Hagar and Ishmael

Isaac was the Promised one although he was Abrahams’ second son.

To bring the point home- Paul

That God even picked Jacob over Esau-

Before they were born, having done nothing right or wrong

God made the Sovereign choice

Thus taking away the argument that any works man

Could, somehow merit the favor of God towards being favored.

The one thing we can hold to in all of this is that God keeps His promises

As the