· Romans 9—Children Of The Promise Through Faith In Christ

· Romans 9-Children of the Promise through Faith in Christ Romans 9 Paul says something that might seem contradictory to where romans 8 ends off on, that nothing can separate us from Jesus. Paul states that he feels great sorrow and unceasing grief in his heart and that his conscience with the Holy Spirit can testify to his statement and the one to come; Which is that he wishes to be able to be accursed and separated from Christ on behalf of his brethren, in here he is talking about Israel those who are related according to the flesh but he will continue to explain what he means throughout the chapter. He clarifies who they are, the Israelites whom 1. Belong the adoption as sons (adopted through Christ if they accept him as Lord), 2. Belong to the Glory and covenants(promises of old), 3. Belong to the giving of The Law( "the law of Moses"; the ways provided for temporary redemption), 4. The temple service and promises(Levites, who had their own set of promises and privilege of serving God in the temple) 5. Belong to the Father(via being the Chosen nation) and finally 6. Belong to Christ according to fleshly kinship, Paul then calls to attention that they are overall blessed by God but follows up with "But" "4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;" -Romans 9:4-6 NASB. This "but" is referring to the fact that the new covenant with God does not render all the stated above Promises or the Words of God as "failed or useless" similar to the argument on Romans 3; Paul clarifies this by reminding his audience that not all of Israel are descents from Israel( in both literal and figurative born from Jacob(Israel) or born of the Nation Israel) and that they are also not all children of God because they are offsprings of Abraham bringing to remembrance Genesis 21:12 that states through Isaac they will be named(Abraham had other children). He sheds light on the various Promises of God and clarifies them plainly to see that it is not the children of the flesh(offsprings) who are the children of God but the children of the promised who are regarded as such. " 9 For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON."10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER."13 just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."-Romans 9:9-13 NASB. The promise was that Sarah will have a Son when He(God) returned to see them (Genesis 18:10) and (Genesis 25:21-23) Rebekah was barren and the Lord answered with twins that also fulfilled what was written in (Malachi 1:2 and verse mapping will take you into other books and verses in the bible that pertain to this scripture). Paul makes it clear that though they have not done anything and are yet to be born they had a purpose and that purpose was so that God's people will continue not due to works but because of God who calls them. Paul then continues to answer the question a scoffer would have; does that mean God is unjust?; and the definite answer is NO, he brings to remembrance what God spoke to Moses in Exodus 33:19 ; God said that he will have mercy and compassion on whom he will have mercy and compassion to, so that its not up to mankind whom receives these mercies by works but up to God who has mercy(he is a God of mercy). Therefore he has mercy on whom he desires and hardens whom he desires, this once again would make scoffers ask; why then does God find blame, since no one can resist his will? But the right question to ask is who are we as the creation to question and talk back to God. Does the molded ask the molder why it was made like that? Doesn't the "creator" have the right to make two different things out of the same material'. Paul then highlights the fact that God being almighty if he was willing to show his wrath to let his power be known he could yet he endures with much patience waiting for the vessels of wrath that were prepared to carry out destruction, Paul brings into attention that God choices were done to show the riches of his Glory (that will be attainable through Christ). But even so God who had already called the Jews showed Great mercy to the Gentiles and grafted them in to the family by calling them his people instead of when they were called not his people( added comment on my part that is a Great mercy given unto us even though we did not deserve).Paul also reminds his audience that though Israel are many only the few will be saved and again that being a mercy by God by letting them have offsprings saved otherwise they would be like Sodom and Gomorrah. Then the question is do the Gentile who did not pursue righteousness attain it by faith, but Paul brings a case against Israel that even though they pursued righteousness by the law they did not attain it because they did not pursue it by faith but by works making themselves stumble over the stumbling block as it was written in Isaiah 8:14 and that those who believe in Him(Jesus) will not be disappointed (as it pertains to righteousness, justification and salvation).