Romans chapter 9

1) The Jews in Paul’s day had lost sight of a key part of their God-given purpose.

a) The divine purpose was to be a blessing to all nations.

b) This purpose is clearly seen in God’s selection of Abraham, which never meant the rejection of the rest of the world.

c) Rather, God intended from the very beginning to make Abraham and his descendant’s agents of blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1–3).

Genesis 12:1–3 (ESV) 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

d) Through Israel, God was providing salvation for all peoples.

2) Solomon foresaw foreigners from distant lands coming to the temple to worship because of God’s blessing on Israel.

a) As Solomon dedicated the temple, he asked God to hear the prayers of these foreigners “so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel” (1 Kings 8:43).

1 Kings 8:43 (ESV) 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.

b) As a royal priesthood, Israel would mediate God’s grace to the nations.

c) The question we need to ask is: What does God’s plan for Israel say to His church today?

3) These next 3 chapters basically lay out Israel’s divine purpose in history.

a) They describe Israel’s election, unbelief, and ultimate restoration.

4) Romans 9:1–4 (Paul’s Concern for Israel)

Romans 9:1–4 (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.

a) Why was Paul concerned for Israel?

i) Paul was concerned because Israel had rejected Jesus as the Messiah.

(1) His desire for their salvation was so strong that he was at the point of wishing that he were cursed and cut off from Christ for his kinsmen, the Israelites.

(2) Only Christ can do that

5) Romans 9:4–5 (God’s Blessing on Israel)

Romans 9:4–5 (ESV) 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.

a) What were the benefits of being a Jew?

i) They were God’s adopted people

Exodus 4:22 (ESV) 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

ii) Glory probably refers to the glory of God in the tabernacle

iii) Israel received the covenants in which the Lord promised to save them

Genesis 15:18 (ESV) 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

iv) They were privileged with the Law, the temple, and the ability to serve Him.

v) Prescribed their worship in the Mosaic law

vi) Through them, God would bless the earth with His Son, thus saving the world from sin.

6) Romans 9:6–22 (God’s Selection of Israel)

Romans 9:6–22 (ESV) 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. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

a) Had God’s Word failed?

i) There are two Israel’s: one natural and one spiritual.

(1) The natural Israel is made up of the descendants of Abraham.

Romans 2:28 (NLT) 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.

(2) The spiritual Israel includes all who choose Jesus as Savior.

Romans 2:29 (NLT) 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

(3) Those who reject Jesus do not nullify the purpose of God.

(4) People of all nations who belong to Christ are true children of Abraham

Galatians 3:29 (NLT) 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

b) Is God unjust in His sovereign choices (choosing one and rejecting another)?

i) No.

ii) God is true to His character of love and justice.

iii) God acts as He pleases without being arbitrary, impulsive, or unreasonable.

iv) Does Romans 9:18 sound fair?

Romans 9:18 (NLT) 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

v) Nowhere does God harden anyone who had not first hardened himself

Exodus 5:2 (NLT) 2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”

vi) God did not provoke Pharaoh to do evil and then punish him for it

(1) Nor did He predestine Pharaoh to everlasting punishment

(2) Pharaoh hardened his own heart by resisting God and pursuing his own way

vii) He does not want anyone to perish

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

c) Why does God still blame Israel?

i) Paul argued that God as Creator has the right to make us however, He wishes.

Romans 9:20–21 (NLT) 20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

ii) He is sovereign.

iii) When we keep ourselves pure, we can be used for God’s purposes.

iv) God expects us to be responsible.

v) He can keep us accountable.

d) What was Paul’s conclusion?

i) Paul concluded that the people of Israel stumbled because they pursued righteousness by works, not by faith.

ii) The Gentiles obtained righteousness because they believed.