Pg.1
Romans Chapter 9 Throughout the rest of Romans chapters 9-11 Paul will explain that Israel has not been rejected but enlarged so that God’s chosen nation now includes everyone who believes in Christ, Jew and Gentile alike. Paul says, if we have faith in Jesus, the blessings of adoption, glory, covenants, the law, worship, promises, patriarchs, and Christ are all ours as well. Let us live in gratitude for these gifts and never fail to appreciate how much the Lord has given us, In and through Christ our Lord
Romans 9:1-8. God’s Choice, Rom 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit; 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. 6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring
Discussion The Jews looked for a Messiah (John 7:40-43), They expected the Messiah to restore the nation of Israel to world prominence, But Christ came as it was written–the Lamb of God, the righteousness of God, the atonement and sacrifice for sin, for Jew and Gentile. But they rejected him and his message. As a result of their greatest sin, the rejection of Christ, they have been blinded and the gospel preached to the Gentile nations.
The Jews, for the most part, abide still in unbelief. This is what is on Paul’s mind as he writes “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit” Paul was happy in Christ; but when he thought of his Jewish brethren in blindness and unbelief, it caused him great sorrow. then he states that if his being separated from Christ could secure their salvation, he would do it.
Paul tells us that it is not only the natural descendants of Abraham who make up the true Israel of God, but those who believe in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles We have this illustrated in the case of Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was not of Israel though he was a direct descendant of Abraham. The error of the Jews was that they thought they were children of God by being the children of Abraham. This natural sonship was only a figure of the spiritual sonship of all believers of all nations. Paul is saying that one is not a child of God because they are descendants of any person, but they are a child of God who are children of the covenant of grace in Christ Jesus, who are born again (John 1:11-13), who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart and soul and with their mind as well. Those who are the true believers.
1. Why do you feel Paul found it necessary to start with the statement, “I’m not lying?”
2. What is behind Paul referring to his own race, Israel, as “they?”
3. How do you feel Paul’s discussion of the descendents of Abraham applies to Christians?
4. How does our last session, on predestination fit in with the ideas(natural sonship) and (spiritual sonship) expressed here by Paul?
Pg.2
Not of works – but of him that calleth The birth of Isaac was by promise; and without a miracle, it would never have taken place. The birth of Ishmael was not by promise but in the ordinary course of nature. Ishmael is a type of those who are born after the flesh and are carnal men. Isaac is a type of those who are born of the Spirit and are the children of God (John 3:5-7). He is one of the elect of God
Romans 9:9-18 The matter of election
9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son. 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 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 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Discussion
At the time of creation, there was not sin. The concept was nonexistent. But in creating man, God allowed that man should have free will. Thus in our natural state since the fall, all men desire to satisfy their own will, and oppose God, even at the expense of their soul. Some of these He simply allows to destroy themselves, consumed by their own evil desires. He does change the desires of others through the resurrected Christ, so that they will love Him forever.
God’s justice can be manifested to His glory, and His glory is the highest goal of creation (Isaiah 43:1-7) If the text implied that whether or not people were believers was a result of whether God had mercy on them or hardened them, they would have a point. But if read in context, the passage rather suggests that God has mercy on whom he will and hardens the heart of others in response to what they do, or do not do, as with Jezebel or Pharaoh, The mercy of God is apart from the unbeliever. The belief in a doctrine that denies the Triune God is dangerous and the result is eternal condemnation.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Rejection of the redemption offered by faith in Jesus Christ is rejection of the offer of salvation through Christ. As if to say, that whoever does not believe in Christ, will perish. The elect of God will not perish because God has called them to faith in Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God that you have the desire to know Him and His saving grace. And so it is that we come to Him and thank him for mercifully changing our heart's from a desire to sin, to a desire to seek Him and to have a repentant heart and a disciples heart of service to Him..
Q.1 What are we talking about here, what does election mean? Q.2 Is there the possibility that I as a believer, will be passed over ? Q.3 Who did God choose to reveal Himself to the world in Moses' time?
Q. 4 Why is it useless to talk with some people about God? Q. 5 So then why are God-deafened people accountable for not listening to Him?
Pg.3
Scripture readings John 7:40-43 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.
John 1:11-13 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
Isaiah 43:1-7 But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth. 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
More Questions for study
Q. How did Paul feel about His own Jewish kin rejecting their Messiah?
Q. Are the Israelites still a special people to God?
Q. Did God fail in His promise to the Israelites?
Q. The promise of a great nation was made to Abraham. Who was the promise fulfilled in?
Q. Who are Abraham's other children? And who are they known as today?
Q. Why was Abraham chosen by God?
Q. Do I receive God's promise by choosing it?
Q. Can I receive it by working hard for it?
Q. How then can I be saved?
Who Goes There? Pg.4
A meditation on election
There are many verses in both the Old and New Testaments that speak of election. Properly understood, God’s unconditional election is one link in the unbreakable chain of salvation seen in Romans 8:28-29: which we studied last week.
There are several common misconceptions about unconditional election. First, it is important to understand that the doctrine does not teach that God’s choice is capricious or arbitrary. God elects someone to salvation not because of something worthy God finds in that individual but because of His inscrutable, will. Not to all, but to some the call is made and the response is either there or it is not, and God knows the answer each will make. Here are a few scriptures which help to illuminate our concept of the doctrine of election
Isaiah 55:8-9. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
John_10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--
John_10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Psalms_103:6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. John_10:26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
Proverbs_16:4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end-- even the wicked for a day of disaster.
Another misconception is that unconditional election precludes and stifles evangelism, but the reality is just the opposite—it empowers and confirms it. A proper understanding of the doctrine of election encourages evangelism and guarantees its success. It overcomes the fear of failure when sharing the gospel and empowers people to remain faithful to the message in times of great persecution. They know that the power lies in the gospel message and in God’s sovereign election and is not dependant on any thing they can do or say . A biblical understanding of election helps one share the gospel freely with all people, knowing that any one of them could be Christ’s sheep whom He is calling into His fold. John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
When one examines what the Bible teaches about election and predestination, it becomes clear that the doctrine of unconditional election represents what the Bible teaches on this important subject. While this, or any of the other Doctrines of Grace—can stand on their own merit, their importance becomes even clearer when they are considered together with all which the Bible teaches about salvation. They essentially serve as building blocks, with each one furnishing a necessary part of a biblical understanding of salvation.
Total depravity defines man’s need for salvation and reveals his hopelessness when left to his own resources. It leaves man with the question “Who can be saved?” and “Why does God provide a way of salvation?” The answer lies in an understanding of unconditional election—God’s sovereign choice to save people despite their depravity and based solely on His redeeming for Himself people from every tribe, tongue and nation. This He accomplishes by predestinating them “to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5). It is Jesus who has accomplished the work of our salvation, doing as it were, the will of His Father God, and this to each of us individually through the calling of the Holy Spirit. Thank God for Jesus!
Amen.
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