9th Chapter of Romans
Romans 9:1 (all verses are from the New
International Version)
I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my
conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—
A PARENTHESIS CONCERNING ISRAEL
The apostle could not deal with
the issue of men and women, whether Jew or Gentile, being given a right
standing before God without addressing the place of Israel in God’s plan. Paul
stated with great emotion his concern for the Jews, his own people. They had a
special place in God’s purposes in the past. They were the recipients of
adoption, glory, covenants, the law, the promises, temple worship, and the
patriarchs. -- Holman Bible Handbook
·
The end of chapter 8
marks the conclusion of the first major section of this epistle.
·
Paul resumes his major
themes in 12:1.
·
It seems that Paul has
reached the very apex of the Christian in his relationship to Jesus Christ.
·
He has discussed the
doctrines of justification, sanctification, and glorification.
·
There is another
problem which troubles the apostle—the so-called “Jewish question.”
·
For the next three
chapters we will deal with the question of Israel's standing before God
Paul has preached a gospel of
righteousness by faith instead of righteousness by law. His gospel has made
possible the salvation of the Gentiles without their becoming Jews. In so
doing, the gospel has nullified the covenant rites of the Jewish race and has
passed them by as the channels of revelation. What then is the future of the
Jews? Does this mean that the Jews have been rejected entirely? Not at all!
Although an apostle to the Gentiles, he himself was a Jew. Therefore, this
Jewish problem presented very serious questions for him. What could be done
about the Jewish problem? Does it mean that all Jews are lost forever? If they are
to be saved, how will they be saved?
In chapters 9 through 11 Paul
attempts to resolve this problem of the Jewish question by dealing with three
areas:
(1) The absolute sovereignty of
God (9:1-29);
(2) the freedom of man
(9:30-10:21); and
(3) the harmonizing of the two
(11:1-36).
Paul knew that he was regarded
as a traitor to the dearest interest of his people (Act_21:27-28; Act_22:22; Act_25:24); therefore,
the apostle opens his discussion of the subject by giving vent to his real
feelings with extraordinary vehemence of protestation. -- New Commentary on
the Whole Bible
PAUL BEARS HIS CONSCIENCE
Paul will disclose how he feels about his countrymen's lack
of faith and dependence on God's promise. He makes an emotional appeal to his
Jewish brothers with the Holy Spirit as his witness. Paul has already tried to
appeal to them from a religious, logical and cultural perspective; and now he
will make an emotional appeal before going again into a cultural (historical)
one towards the middle and end of the chapter. We will see some elements of
chapter 4 repeated in this chapter, dealing with the promise God made to
Abraham.
The fact that Paul could prove he was telling the truth by
the miracles he did was a great testimony to the Jews he was telling the truth:
2Co_12:12 NIV The things that mark an apostle—signs,
wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance.
1Th_1:5 NIV because our gospel came to you not simply
with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Romans 9:2
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my
heart.
Whenever Paul thinks of his lost countrymen it brings him
great sorrow. He feels sorrow since they have rejected God and therefore damned
their souls to everlasting perdition! How great his sorrow for them in view of
the mercies of God! This is how we should feel for those whom we know are lost,
especially if they are family members or people we know. Paul felt this way for
his entire race and culture, knowing they were placing their hope on something
hopeless and dooming themselves for all eternity!
This proves Paul was not a premillennialist.
(The following is taken from the Free Online Dictionary)
Modern premillennialism is
divided into two schools of thought.
1.Dispensational Premillennialism - C.I. Scofield popularized dispensational
premillennialism through the Scofield Reference Bible. Dispensational
premillennialism generally holds that Israel and the Church are separate. It also
widely holds to the pre-tribulational return of Christ, which believes that
Jesus will return before a seven year Tribulation followed by an additional
return of Christ with his saints (though there are post tribulation
dispensationalists, such as Robert Gundry). Dispensationalism traces its roots
to the 1830s and John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), a Calvinist theologian and a
founder of the Plymouth Brethren. In the US this form of premillennial doctrine
was propagated on the popular level largely through the Scofield Reference
Bible and on the academic level with Lewis Sperry Chafer’s eight volume
Systematic Theology. More recently dispensationalism has been propagated into
the culture through Hal Lindsey's 1970s bestseller, The Late, Great Planet
Earth and through the Left Behind Series by Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins.
Popular proponents of dispensational premillennialism are Dwight Pentecost,
John Walvoord (d. 2002), Tim Lahaye, Charles Ryrie (in the notes for the Ryrie
Study Bible) and Charles Feinberg. It should be noted that Craig Blaising and
Darrell Bock have developed a form of dispensationalism that is in popularity
known as progressive dispensationalism. This view understands that an aspect of
the kingdom presently exists, but must wait for the millennium to be realized
fully.
2.Historic Premillennialism - Historic or Classic Premillennialism is distinctively
non-dispensational. This means that it sees no theological distinction between
Israel and the church. It is often post tribulational meaning that the rapture
of the church will occur after a period of tribulation. Historic
premillennialism maintains chiliasm because of its view that the church will be
caught up to meet Christ in the air and then escort him to the earth in order
to share in his literal thousand year rule. Proponents of the view include
George Eldon Ladd, and the 19th Century Lutheran theologian, G.N.H. Peters.
These schools of thought continue in the same error the
Jews of Paul's day proposed: that there would be a literal political reign of
the Messiah on earth for a thousand years, or some other temporal time before
the end of the earth as we know of it would come. Even to this day this false belief continues
to affect even our foreign policy with Israel and Arab nations. Many believe
that Israel is still God's people even though they do not even hold onto the
Law of God as Jews from Paul's day did. Premillennialists of today believe that
Israel will play a part in the coming of Jesus and His temporal reign of 1000
years on earth. They believe He will literally reign in the Holy City of
Jerusalem.
This chapter proves them wrong and that Paul himself held
no such belief. Paul has been stating that the Jewish system was the one that
was temporal and it held no promise for things to come - the reality is Christ
Himself and all those who are found in Him!
Romans 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and
cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
Paul is greatly concerned for his Jewish brothers
Key phrase in this verse that will help us understand
Paul's motive and distress: "I could wish...". Paul does not even dare to wish it - he says I
could wish... for he knows it was not even possible or permissible for him
to want to be cut off for the sake of his Jewish brothers. Of course, maybe
some of you have had this wish yourselves. I know I have; many times.
I have often thought of how it could be that I substitute
myself for the salvation of my family if there was some possible way... Of course, I would never want to give up my
relationship with Jesus, for it is for that very reason I cannot even think or
wish this; but my concern and love for them dares to wish it. This is
why Paul says I could wish... that means he dared not wish it for real
for that would mean to give up his union to Christ.
In a way this is exactly what Jesus (God) did for us. God
did wish for Himself to be accursed for our sake and made it happen! Wow!
Phi_2:5-8 NIV Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but
made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death—even death on a cross!
So for us to have these daring thoughts is not far from our
created image. I know I have wished for even my children to die innocent than
be found dead apart from Christ in their age of accountability. It is a horrible
thought either way, but far better for them to be in Christ forever than to be
alive on this earth apart from Jesus. It certainly distresses me when I think
about these things and I can only imagine the distress Paul felt for his
countrymen. This is certainly an emotional appeal - straight to the heart of
the matter. We ought to disclose such thoughts and be made vulnerable in the
eyes of those whom we care about, that perhaps they may be moved by our extreme
love for them. This is what Paul attempts; he leaves no stone unturned in the
pursuit of the salvation of his comrades.
Understand this is in spite of the many troubles Paul
suffered on account of his beloved brothers! All the persecutions and attempts
made on his life did not dissuade him from loving them deeply and seeking their
salvation! That is true love!
We can see the same attitude in Moses:
Exo_32:30-35 NIV The
next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But
now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." 31 So Moses
went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have
committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin—but if
not, then blot me out of the book you have written." 33 The LORD
replied to Moses, "Whoever
has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the
people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when
the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin." 35 And
the LORD struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf
Aaron had made.
What great humility! Just like Jesus, he did not consider
himself above the people he cared for but willingly and devotedly interceded on
their behalf.
Of course, Paul and Moses understood that even if it were
possible for them to be given up for the sake of their people, the word of God
would still be true and every man a liar (Rom_3:4). One human life, or even the whole human race cannot
atone for even a single sin. That is why we need our Savior Jesus!
Romans 9:4
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as
sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the
temple worship and the promises.
Paul lists the justifications he felt for wanting to
intercede for Israel. These are the things that made him so distressed. Since
he identifies as an Israelite himself, these things struck a deep cultural
chord in his heart as well. The first and foremost justification: They are
Israelites: The name means "prince of God," or "one who
contends with God," the same being the name given to Jacob by an angel of
heaven at Peniel. From Jacob came the twelve sons of Israel (Jacob), hence the
twelve tribes of Israel.
To them belong:
1.
Adoption - Paul will explain the nature of this adoption in the
next few verses and also in chapter 11. Just remember it was originally
intended for the Jew first, then for the gentile (Rom_1:16; Rom_2:10). The promise
of this adoption was made originally to Abraham, the father of faith, a
patriarch of Israel. God made Himself out to be Israel's Father and Husband,
looking out and caring for them specifically (Exo_4:22).
2.
Glory - Since Israel was chosen by God to be exalted because of
their obedience they had a glory no other peoples on earth had. The Jews have
always prided themselves in this. The visible token of the glory of God itself
rested on the ark of the covenant within the tabernacle, and later within the
temple, filling them with His divine presence and peace. The ultimate
redemption of their bodies was a glory God always wished for them and made a
reality in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
3.
Covenants - The covenants were made with the Israelites: their
descendants and patriarchs. The pre-covenants with Noah and Abraham - the first
covenant (The Giving of the Law) with the nation of Israel and the New Covenant
was first disclosed to the Jews (Rom_3:1-2).
4.
Giving of the Law - The Law intended for the nation of Israel, to bind them
with the Lord their God and to be made an example to all nations.
5.
(Temple)Worship
(Service of God) - The right to worship
God in Spirit and in truth was something given first to the Jews (Joh_4:22-24). This
primarily refers to the temple service; regarded by them as the pride and
ornament of their nation. "The entire system of worship and service
pertaining to the temple and the God-ordained sacrifices and rituals. The
promises (next item) primarily refer to the great Abrahamic promises,
successively unfolded, and which had their fulfillment only in Christ. (See Act_26:6-7; Gal_3:16-17; Heb_7:6.)" – New
Commentary on the Whole Bible
6.
Promise - The ultimate promise of fellowship with God forever was
something God initiated with Israel and their descendants and patriarchs. They
found fulfillment when the Holy Spirit
was first poured out amongst the Jews after the Christ suffered and was raised
(Act_2:33; Gal_3:14; Eph_1:13).
7.
Patriarchs - All those famous and venerable patriarchs we know in the
Old Testament account were the precursors of the Jews: Noah, Job, Abraham,
Joseph, etc. These did not know of the Law but loved God and desired to be
bound to Him.
8.
From their race is
the Christ - Jesus Himself, the Messiah,
from the flesh came from Israel and is a descendant of the sons of Israel,
particularly the house of David, the tribe of Benjamin. What an honor and what
prestige to be identified as the race God chose to be born in! This was a
particularly emotive chord for Paul, who himself was a descendant of the tribe
of Benjamin (Rom_11:1; Phi_3:5).
We can consider these 9 blessings unique to the Israelites.
It is true that the old economy
was a state of tutelage and bondage (Gal_4:1-3); yet, compared with the state of the surrounding heathen,
Abraham and his seed were very special and privileged as members of God’s
family. God had adopted them as his own and fathered them (Exo_4:22; Deu_32:6; Isa_1:2; Jer_31:9; Hos_11:1; Mal_1:6). -- New
Commentary on the Whole Bible
By opening up the discussion with the reminder of the
blessings possessed by all true Israelites Paul tries to soften the blow he
will deliver towards the end of this chapter - that Israel has stumbled and
thus God has rejected them because they have rejected Jesus, the promised
deliverer (Messiah)!
Romans 9:5
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is
traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!
Amen.
An interesting side note from Coffman concerning the
prestige of the patriarchs of the Israelites:
No people ever had more
distinguished ancestors than the Jewish patriarchs. Such men as Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob were so noble, and so excessively beyond other men in character and
integrity, that God himself deigned to identify himself as "the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exo_4:5). Abraham,
especially, stands upon the horizon of pre-Christian history like a great
monolith casting its shadow over centuries and millenniums of history. Three
great religions, like streams coursing down from some mighty mountain and
finding their issuance in various oceans, descend from Abraham; Muslims, Jews
and Christians all alike hailing Abraham as their father. Paul truly
appreciated the heritage that was his and Israel's in such distinguished
progenitors of their magnificent race. -- Coffman
Christ Himself, here touted by Paul as God over all,
as well as in these other verses (Phi_2:8; Col_2:9; Tit_2:13), was chosen to be born into such a race of people. The
honor is too much for Paul not to use these facts as persuasive speech in his a
fortiori arguments.
Needless to say, this is yet another verse where the deity
of Christ is affirmed. Notice how Paul includes the "Amen" (Let it be
so) to emphasize this necessary doctrine of faith (Joh_8:24). Without
believing this is so we are lost and hopeless; the truth of Christ being God
incarnate and interceding on our behalf that we may live with Him forever is
the Gospel Paul preached everywhere (1Co_4:17).
Romans 9:6
It is not as though God's word had failed. For
not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
God is faithful - He has not failed
Paul wants it clearly known that it is not God's fault that
the Israelites failed to recognize the Messiah in Jesus Christ. It was not
God's words and prophecies that failed. What happens is that not all who profess
to be Israelites belong to Israel, just as not everyone who professes to be a
Christian belongs to Jesus (Mat_7:21; Luk_6:46).
Paul is trying to say their claim of descendance does not
derive from the mere fact of being born an Israelite, any more than a person
who is born in this country can claim is truly an American. Being an Israelite
was a question of duty and honor to the God of the Israelites; it was a
question of faith more than law, which is what the Jews held onto. The Jews
made everything about law, which is why their genealogies were considered to be
so important. Without a record of genealogy no one's descendance could be
established as genuine, particularly for the Levites who were charged with the
temple duties.
But now through Paul, the Spirit makes it clear that true
faith is more than duty and honor to your ethnic origin or religious culture -
it is obedience to the word of God by faith - particularly faith in God's Son,
Jesus Christ. Paul had already mentioned this in chapter 2:
Rom_2:28-29 NIV A man
is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward
and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is
circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's
praise is not from men, but from God.
Romans 9:7
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."
Many peoples claim to be descendants of Abraham being that
he did have hundreds of children (Gen_16:4-11; Gen_25:1-2); yet as we will see in Paul's logical progression of this
argument, only Isaac was made the child of the promise. So Ishmael, though a
descendant of Abraham, was not chosen by God as a child whose descendants would
fulfill the promise God made to Abraham. Only those descending from Isaac would
be named heirs of the promise. This was established by God's sovereignty, not by heredity or blood
lineage.
Paul is slowly progressing to making the controversial
point he wants to ultimately make: that Israel, because their rejection of
Jesus, has been rejected by God.
In Galatians Paul used the analogy of the different
covenants represented by Hagar and Sarah to explain that the descendants of
Isaac were children of the promise to be fulfilled under the New Covenant:
Gal_4:22-31 NIV For it
is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by
the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman
was born as the result of a promise.
24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two
covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be
slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and
corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is
written:
"Be glad, O
barren woman,
who bears no
children;
break forth and
cry aloud,
you who have no
labor pains;
because more are
the children of the desolate woman
than of her who
has a husband."
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac,
are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary
way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30
But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son,
for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free
woman's son." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave
woman, but of the free woman.
Paul makes another attempt to soften the hard blow he is
working to deliver using this analogy.
Romans 9:8
In other words, it is not the natural children
who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded
as Abraham's offspring.
THE TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD
Now the premise of the true identity and descendance of
God's children is affirmed, one that he began to established back in Rom_2:28-29. It is not
a fleshly descendance or inheritance we are looking for, says Paul, but a
spiritual one - one that came by a promise!
Joh_1:12-13 NIV Yet to
all who received 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.
This right came to all the families of the earth through
the promise made to Abraham:
Gen_12:3 NIV I will
bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be
blessed through you.
Gal_4:28 NIV Now you,
brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
God is spirit (Joh_4:24), therefore His true children will be spiritual, born of
the water and the Spirit (Joh_3:5), worshipping in Spirit and in truth! God never intended
for His promise to be fulfilled according to worldly or carnal ways, since God
is Spirit! The Jews were proud of their physical inheritance, but that was a
limited enterprise. God's promise was to be fulfilled through the Spirit and in
the Spirit - in Jesus Christ!
Gal_3:29 NIV If you
belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.
The material and fleshly inheritance of the Jews has
already faded, never to return, but the inheritance we will receive in Jesus
far exceeds anything in the world and will never perish, spoil or fade (1Pe_1:4)!
Php_3:3 NIV For it is
we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus,
and who put no confidence in the flesh
Even the birth of Isaac himself was by spiritual
intervention, since both Sarah and Abraham were very old and Sarah was never
able to get pregnant. And even though Ishmael was a fleshly son of Abraham,
God's decision was to promise blessings to those who would come through Isaac -
that is us, the Christians of today born out of obedience to the word of God.
So, is physical Israel considered God's children, as so
many in the denominational word believe? Absolutely not! The children of God are
those who are in Christ!
Gal_3:27-29 NIV ...for
all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for
you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
Romans 9:9
For this was how the promise was stated: "At
the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
Paul quotes from Gen_18:10. Isaac here is the antitype of Jesus. Just as God chose
Isaac to fulfill the promise made to Abraham, God chose His Son Jesus to make
true on that promise. Isaac, like Jesus, was a birth not from human decision or
will, but by the Spirit of God.
Romans 9:10
Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and
the same father, our father Isaac.
Another example of divine will and selection is the
favoring of Jacob over Esau.
Paul's point is that if God chooses whom He chooses, who
are we to limit or ascribe blessings, when it is God, in His great mercy, who
desires to choose those who are obedient to Him? We will see this thought
develop in the next few verses.
As sovereign Lord, Creator of
all things, He has the perfect right to plan and work in His world according to
His own purposes. His purpose could be one of total destruction. Instead, He
chose in love to work out a way to save those who believe. -- Disciple's
Study Bible
Romans 9:11
Yet, before the twins were born or had done
anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand:
Notice the reference to when they were in utero, fetuses, described as people and already identified and
chosen by God. Where does this fit in with the abortionist's idea that people
are not human beings before they are born, or that they are without identity or
purpose?
Some Calvinists will say that God chooses people before
they are born to be condemned or to be saved. People have no choice about what
their life will be - God has already predestined them for something despite
their individual volition. But where does this leave passages like Joh_3:16 or 2Pe_3:9 (and many
others), which tell us God wants all people to be saved and that choice is
ours?
Notice the reasoning given by the Spirit to explain this
predetermination:
So that God's purpose of election might continue: that it may not be determined by the work of man but by
God, in keeping with the promise He made Abraham and in keeping with His
sovereign will, not man's will.
1.
There's a difference
between, predetermining a man's life (individual election - what is also
known as the Calvinist's predestination) and predetermining a fulfilled promise
or vehicle of fulfillment (salvation) for individuals. Since God knew how these
two, Esau and Jacob, would live; He knew which one would be best suited for the
purpose of His promise. God did not pick them based on their birth order not
works, but because He wanted to fulfill a promise to all obedient peoples on
earth.
2.
There's also a
difference between God imposing on man's will (predestination) and God knowing
the future (foreknowledge). See Rom_8:29-30 notes on this. God
did not work against someone's will: He knows the end result.
The Holy Spirit wants the Jews to understand that man has
never dictated nor is able to change God's plan and promise. The Jews cannot
decide who is saved and who is not: that is God's sovereign choice as judge and
Creator. God has always been in the details, planning and willing amongst men (Act_17:26-28). This
doesn't mean God decides who is saved or who is lost, He just simply knows the
end result since He is outside of time.
It should be remembered that
Paul's entire argument here is to the effect that other factors besides fleshly
descent had always been involved in determining the seed of Abraham. God's
election was a factor in it; but that factor entered into the determination as
a consequence of other factors. Esau was rejected because of what God knew he
would become and of what Esau's character would produce in the lives of his
posterity. -- Coffman
Romans 9:12
not by works but by him who calls--she was told,
"The older will serve the younger."
Reference to Gen_25:23. Based on God's foreknowledge. We can understand from what
God told Rebekah that these words were in reference to two nations that were
going to come out of her sons. So these predictions were not about individuals
per se, but about the nations that would come out from them.
Romans 9:13
Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but
Esau I hated."
Reference to Mal_1:2-3. This was said by God long after Jacob and Esau lived, in
reference to the nations that came from them. The Edomites, descendants of
Esau, were a nation that did not honor God. The word translated as hate
is the same word Jesus uses in Luk_14:26 : miseo (Gk). It simply means "to love
less" by comparison.
God’s favor and blessing upon
Jacob was so extensive that by comparison Esau would appear to be hated. The
verse could be understood to mean that God has chosen Jacob to fulfill His
elective purpose, but He has rejected Esau. -- Believer's Study Bible
Romans 9:14
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at
all!
Even if God did predestine people and imposed on their
wills would that constitute injustice? This is what some thought God was doing;
and even the Calvinists say God is doing that very thing. But the Holy Spirit
will teach us something in these next few verses about the justice, or should I
say, mercy, of God's will. Recall since Rom_1:17 that Paul has always made it a point to illustrate the
righteousness of God in all He does, especially in dealing with man's problem
and resolution.
The question in the Jew's mind that Paul is trying to
pre-empt is: If God intervened so much in our lives, judging us even before we
are born, is it really righteousness? Again, this question presumes God is
imposing and predetermining on the individual's will.
The answer, of course, is "by no means!" If
anything this shows the righteousness of God in the amount of mercy He is
willing to extend unto those who are disobedient - putting into effect a plan
that is very hard not to notice: the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Romans 9:15
For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on
whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
GOD'S MERCY IS SOVEREIGN
Paul quotes from Exo_33:19. This indicates the sovereign will of God on all peoples.
The emphasis here being on mercy and compassion! God saves whomever He
decides to save!
(God's statement to Moses is
given) not as a proof of stern and inexorable justice, but as “the very proof
of his benevolence,” and the highest which he thought proper to exhibit. When
people, therefore, under the influence of an unrenewed and hostile heart,
charge this as an unjust and arbitrary proceeding, they are resisting and
perverting what God regards as the very demonstration of his benevolence. The
sense of the passage clearly is, that he would choose the objects of his favor,
and bestow his mercies as he chose. None of the human race deserved his favor;
and he had a right to pardon whom he pleased, and to save people on his own
terms, and according to his sovereign will and pleasure. -- Albert Barnes
The whole theme for the next few chapters is the sovereign
mercy and compassion of God on all peoples, especially to the Jews and then to
the Gentile. Paul will not only be addressing the Jews on this, but in Chapter
11 especially the Gentile Christians of Rome are also part of his audience.
God's declaration of mercy and compassion testifies:
·
That He is sovereign,
without giving an account of the reason of His choice to any.
·
That He is merciful
without regard to any claim on the part of man; man being destitute of merit,
and having no right to His mercy.
·
That He will be
compassionate to any extent which He pleases, and in whatever time and manner
may best accord with His own good pleasure.
·
That He has regard for
a definite peoples and that on those he intends to bestow eternal life.
·
That no one has a
right to complain.
This does not mean that God blindly blessed and curses
without any sense of reasoning or arbitrarily:
This quotation from Exodus
simply does not speak of a totally blind man separating a box of black and
white marbles in a cellar at midnight without any light! -- Coffman
Some prominent theologians assert that it does. They go on
to say God that there is no human justification or reason that can be
attributed to God's election and predetermination of man. Such egregious claims
cannot be justified from Scripture. Quite to the contrary, God, who does not
need to explain Himself to us, always gives us His reasoning - treating us as
children who are loved and who need to be taught their Father's will; which is
very predictable, just and perfectly rational to those who choose to deny
themselves and love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
Notice God's explanation for electing Abraham:
Gen_18:19 NIV For I
have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after
him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the
LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.
Just as we have argued that God rejected Ishmael and Esau
because of His foreknowledge, God elected Abraham and his descendants because
He knew he could rely on their dependence and faithfulness of Him.
This is why we have no right to complain about God's
election or doings amongst men. He is blameless and continually chooses to
bless a rebellious people. If anything, we as inadequate and sinful people have
earned only two rights:
The right to disobey and the right to die (be condemned),
which really are one right in light of the free will God has extended man.
Rom_6:23 NIV For the
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Another right bestowed to man in this recent age is this:
Joh_1:12 ESV But to
all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God...
Rev_3:21 NIV To him
who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I
overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
This right is granted by Jesus Christ to all who receive
Him and who believe in His name.
Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or
effort, but on God's mercy.
Here is the theme of the rest of this chapter and through
the next two: God is sovereign! This means man is not to dictate
how and when one is saved: God has decided that and answers to no one.
The Jews had thought God owed them salvation because of the
long history and association they had with Him. They regarded themselves as
holy and were full of self-righteousness, as we see from their dealings with
Jesus Himself.
1.
The Jews were willing and running for the position that God would
bless and save people only through them, but God was not granting that role to
one just because they were willing to run for that role.
2.
God, and God only, would choose the means and ways of salvation.
3.
Once God made His choice, then it made no difference who did or did
not like it.
4.
This is true with the plan of salvation.
5.
God did not ask any of us what the plan needed to be.
-- World Video Bible School
Many men may think their election depends on merit:
their efforts. Some think it is about having God's favor despite our
faithfulness. What Paul is
specifying here by the Holy Spirit is that the human will and effort does not
factor in God's election when it comes to salvation. We cannot will ourselves saved nor
work to gain salvation as many think. It is because of our will that we need
the mercy of God (Rom_3:23)! And no matter how
good your intentions may be you cannot will anyone else to be saved either, no
matter how much you may plead on their behalf or work on their behalf. If they
have chosen to ignore God's plan, that is their choice!
God has set a specific plan according to His mercy and that
plan is what has been elected as the vehicle of salvation by obedience of God's
word, which is by faith in Him. Anyone else who places their faith in man's
ideas or words, apart from the Gospel, is doomed by their own will apart from
obedience.
A.
Catholics rely on a
mixture of merit-based salvation and a view that God plays favorites or saves
based on pity:
1.
Apart from their
sacraments you cannot be saved
2.
It's about how many
good deeds you do regardless of the bad ones
3.
They rely on
"saints", candles and "virgins"
4.
They rely on prayers,
crucifixes and rosaries apart from the Bible.
B.
Protestants (basically
non-Catholics) rely on grace without works. They've completely taken themselves
out of the equation all together and some extremists (Calvinists usually) will
say that no matter what you do God has already declared who is saved and who is
not.
1.
You cannot loose or
gain your salvation
2.
You can be saved
without need of repentance - you are saved by grace (faith only)
3.
You don't need to be
obedient to be saved - all you need to do is believe (forget about the biblical
synecdoche of belief!)
4.
Salvation is
subjective and exclusionary (supports the false and dangerous ideology of
multiculturalism which fragments society even more).
5.
Basically Protestantism
is a reaction to merit based catholic doctrine
C.
Mormons, JW's, 7th Day
Adventist and other cultish religions rely on their own interpretation of God's
word to form exclusionary groups. This is contrary to the inclusionary nature
of the Gospel of Jesus. Jesus' goal is to form one body out of the many. These
cults want to exclude the many to form their own clicks. Strict adherence to
their own extra biblical views is mandated or you are outside the group. They
are to conform to whoever is the main leader of the movement, as opposed to
conforming to Jesus Christ.
I exclude modern day ecumenism since it basically assumes
many of the "non-threatening" and exclusionary ideologies of Protestantism.
Our society is moving towards a more liberal and subjective view of the
scriptures (which the scriptures don't support by any measure) in reaction to
the former centuries of dogmatic and conservative thought.
God's mercy trumps all of these: The Gospel rules! Repent
and obey God!
Just because God's
plan does not depend on our will or effort deosn't mean our will and effort are
needed for us to become saved once Gods has established His plan!
A.
The word “will” in
this verse does not have reference to man’s response to God’s requirements of
salvation.
1.
Rev_22:17 NIV The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And
let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take
the free gift of the water of life.
2.
Mat_23:37 NIV O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and
stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children
together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
B.
The word “effort or
exertion” in this verse does not have reference to man’s response to God’s
requirements of salvation.
1.
Not only must we run,
we must finish the course!
2.
1Co_9:24 NIV Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,
but only one gets the prize? Run
in such a way as to get the prize.
3.
Heb_12:1 NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us throw
off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and
let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us.
--
World Video Bible School
Our will and effort is required for obedience that
leads to salvation!
Php_2:12-13 NIV
Therefore, my dear friends, as
you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my
absence—continue to work
out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who
works in you to will and to
act according to his good purpose.
Our will and effort did not bring about God's plan for
salvation but are required to be saved and to conform unto Jesus!
Romans 9:17
For the 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."
By God's foreknowledge He chose Pharaoh to show the power
of His name (Exo_9:16).
Much debate has been generated by the lack of understanding
of the difference between God's foreknowledge and God's election of peoples.
Remember:
1.
There's a difference
between, predetermining a man's life (individual election - what
is also known as the Calvinist's predestination) and predetermining a fulfilled
promise or vehicle of fulfillment (salvation) for individuals. Since God knew
how these two, Esau and Jacob, would live; He knew which one would be best
suited for the purpose of His promise. God did not pick them based on their
birth order not works, but because He wanted to fulfill a promise to all obedient
peoples on earth.
2.
There's also a
difference between God imposing on man's will (predestination) and God knowing
the future (foreknowledge). See Rom_8:29-30 notes on this. God did not work against someone's will: He
knows the end result.
Many have decried God's actions against Pharaoh as unjust
or unfair, or have misunderstood this verse to a point where they say God has
already elected individuals regardless of their will, so there's nothing you
can do to ensure your own salvation. But what does this verse below say?:
2Pe_1:10-11 NIV
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do
these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into
the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How can you make your calling and election sure if it has
already been predetermined? You can't! But if God has predetermined a way for
you to get to Heaven then you can make sure you’re in that vehicle that will
get you there: Jesus Christ!
So what principle is at work in the hardening of Pharaoh's
heart? Did God harden it or did Pharaoh himself harden his own heart? Let's
see:
Exo_4:21 NIV The LORD
said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before
Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so
that he will not let the people go.
Here God says He will harden his heart. Does that mean
Pharaoh had no choice? Let's let the Bible tell us before we second guess God:
Exo_8:15 NIV But when
Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as
the LORD had said.
Here we see that it was Pharaoh himself who hardened his
own heart! So why did God say He would do it in the previous verse and in this
next one?
Exo_9:12 NIV But
the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and
Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.
Let's get a clue to what is happening from something in
Hebrews:
Heb_6:7-8 NIV Land
that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is
farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and
is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
So you see, God blesses the righteous and the unrighteous
with sun and rain (Mat_5:45). Its up to them to do and produce what is useful. God's
providence is general and specific (recall Rom_8:28 commentary). We can get His specific blessing if we take
advantage of His general providence and produce a crop that is useful for the
kingdom. Pharaoh looked at God's signs and hardened his heart despite them. The
Israelites saw the same signs and feared the Lord and obeyed.
It is individual people who decide to harden their own
hearts. God's input is the sun and the rain he sends on all. God does not wield
His will over yours.
Eph_4:18 NIV They are
darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of
the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Heb_3:15 NIV As has
just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion."
This verse quoted 3 times in Hebrews (Psa_95:7-11)
If Pharaoh had submitted to
God's will, God's name would have been magnified all over the world and his
power would have been demonstrated in Pharaoh just as gloriously in that manner
as it was in the manner of its actual occurrence. Pharaoh had the free choice of obeying or not
obeying God; but God had purposed, either way, to use him as a demonstration of
God's power and a means of publishing the divine name all over the world; but
the choice of HOW this would come about remained with Pharaoh until he was
HARDENED. -- Coffman
What do you do when you hear God's voice? It could come
through a brother, a preacher or even someone in the world if you are hardening
your heart.
Romans 9:18
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have
mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Here's the theme expressed again. God's mercy is sovereign.
God is not looking to harden people, He's looking to express His mercy. If
people get hardened that's their choice but God will not stop sending rain and
sun just because some decide to get hardened.
Paul says this as a warning to the Jews. He's telling them
to be careful and not to miss the mercy of god in Jesus Christ. This is how God
has decided to show mercy in this age - through faith in His Son!
The Jews could not depend on their own heritage any more -
they had to either soften their hearts towards the Gospel or risk hardening
their hearts and ending up burned forever.
An account of someone being fruitful to God is the
Ninevites. When Jonah was sent to preach to them and he finally did it, they
repented in sackcloth and ashes - all of them! And God rejoiced but Jonah felt
they didn't deserve God's mercy. So Paul again reminds them what God is all
about: "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I have compassion."
Romans 9:19
One of you will say to me: "Then why does
God still blame us? For who resists his will?"
Here is a human argument in light of the misunderstanding
of God's sovereign mercy: Why does God judge if we cannot resist His will? This
is similar to the argument we encountered in Rom_3:5 (see
commentary for further clarification):
This argument is based on two presumptive flaws Paul has
already discussed:
·
It assumes God will judge us according to an arbitrary
standard. The Jews believed it was either
their Holy Law or nothing. God couldn't possibly find favor in people who did
not uphold the Law of Moses. Nowadays people embrace relative morality to the
point where they see obeying one set of rules as too restrictive or narrow
minded. They will miss the Kingdom of God!
·
It assumes God imposes His will on us. Yes, we are under His domain. He allows us free will
however, to be under His domain or not - so don't complain if you find yourself
outside of His blessed domain because you choose to!
This is how the Jews saw it; and frankly many people find
themselves in judgement of God as opposed to wanting to receive God mercy.
Ironic isn't it? By choosing to judge God they will end up being judged
themselves.
Rom_11:22 NIV Consider
therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but
kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you
also will be cut off.
We will revisit this argument in chapter 11.
God foreknew what Israel would
do. Just because God stated what they would do, and acted accordingly, does not
mean He caused it. - WVBS Commentary
The same logical reasoning can be applied to the case of
Judas Iscariot.
Romans 9:20
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?
"Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like
this?' "
For the moment Paul's reply to such an argument is to put
those who think like this in their place. God did the same with Job and his
friends:
Job_38:4 NIV Where
were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Rom_11:32-35 NIV For
God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them
all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34"Who has known the mind of the
Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
The one talent man was the one finding himself being judged
by the Master because he was presumptuous in his judgement of the master Himself.
He was called wicked and lazy. His heart was hardened!
Mat_25:24-30 NIV Then
the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that
you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you
have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in
the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So
you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not
scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the
bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever
does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant
outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Romans 9:21
Does not the potter have the right to make out of
the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
God's sovereignty is illustrated again from these passages
in Isa_64:8 and Jer_18:3-6 :
Isa_64:8 NIV
Yet, O LORD,
you are our Father.
We are the
clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Jer_18:3-6 NIV So I
went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the
pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed
it into another pot,
shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to
me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the
LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house
of Israel."
It is God who decides how to establish honor and dishonor
amongst His creatures. He has clearly established why and how to
gain honor:
Rom_2:6-10 NIV God "will give to each
person according to what he has done." 7 To those who by
persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give
eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and
follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and
distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the
Gentile; 10 but glory,
honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for
the Gentile.
2Pe_1:3-4 NIV His divine power has given us
everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him
who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us
his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature
and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
It is God's right to shape the clay as He, The Potter,
wishes. Notice how God's sovereignty is always describes in terms of how good
He wants to be, never in how much power or judgment He reserves the right to
impose. Clearly His wrath will consume the disobedient, but He desires for them
to turn and gives them every chance to do so, as we will see in the next few
verses.
The same lump here is an allusion to Jews and Gentiles
together, which is all of humanity. Israel's forthcoming judgement announced by
being referred to as the vessel of dishonor while the new Christian church was
the vessel being prepared for honor.
2Ti_2:20-21 NIV In a
large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood
and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man
cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes,
made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Paul's instruction from the same
figure there reveals that caprice is not the determining factor in selecting
which vessels are to be honorable; because Paul granted to those who will
"purge themselves of wickedness" the precious promise that they
should be made into vessels of honor, suitable for the Master's use. -- Coffman
Romans 9:22
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make
his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared
for destruction?
God's Mercy is shown in His longsuffering with the vessels
prepared for destruction
This sentence encompasses the next two verses as well.
Let's look at them as a whole, but analyze each component in each verse at the
same time.
First it is a "what if" statement. It could be
God is doing this, but it may be not necessarily so; keep that in mind.
The Spirit describes God here as wanting to show His
disapproval of disobedience and all that is evil. In the same way a good and
godly parent desires to show his disapproval to a disobedient child because the
parent loves that child. God wants to show those who are good and evil that He
is present and involved, but that He also shows great restraint.
1.
He endured Israel's
rejection of Moses
2.
He endured Israel's
rejection of the promised land
3.
He endured their
rejection of Him as their King when they cried for a human king of their own
4.
He endured their
faithlessness and apostasy after Solomon's reign through many sinful kings and
false prophets
5.
He endured their
rejection of the Messiah
Some may think God is not involved because we interpret His
seeming silence as indifference. God wants to remind those who are evil
He is in control, that they cannot get away with their evil, but He does so
with much restraint! In this is revealed how much God loves us, in
desiring for us to repent and in giving us time to do so!
2Pe_3:9 NIV The Lord
is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The patience (longsuffering) He shows illustrates the
desire for everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved (Joh_3:16).
God is particularly being patient with those who will be
used for dishonorable purposes. God is hoping against hope (Rom_4:18), like
Abraham did, for their salvation! His wrath will eventually be fully displayed
if no penitence is shown (Rom_2:5).
Never forget God is involved and always remind those who
disbelieve!
1- His wrath is being revealed now in manifold ways (Rom_1:18)!
a- Through
disease (Rom_1:27)
b- Through
geological events (Rom_8:22)
c- At the hand
of the authorities (Rom_13:4)
d- Through
sinful delusions and obsessions (1Th_2:15-16; 2Th_2:9-12)
2- He is deeply involved in getting people connected to the
church!
a- He sets times
and places for people to be able to reach out to Him (Act_17:26-27)
b- The church is
God's centerpiece to display His manifold Wisdom (Eph_3:10-11)
God is patient, He shows restraint (longsuffering) because
this is what love is (1Co_13:4)!
Don't forget that God's patience also can run out:
Gen_6:3 NIV Then the
LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal;
his days will be a hundred and twenty years."
Romans 9:23
What if he did this to make the riches of his
glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory--
Here's the reason God endured with longsuffering: here we
see the heart of God - His desire is to bless richly those vessels of mercy!
This is the antithesis of the wrath He will show the vessels prepared for
destruction! Which vessel do you prefer to be? Undoubtedly we all would rather
be recipients of the kindness and mercy of God! Many call Him, "Lord,
Lord" but don't do what He says (Luk_6:46)!
...in the case of the “vessels
of mercy” God’s activity was that of preparation, but in the case of “vessels
of wrath” the Creator simply “endured with much patience.” Thus, the Creator is
pictured as active in the case of one but passive in the case of the other. - Davidson
and Martin (New Commentary on the Whole Bible)
As carefully and thoroughly as God is involved in the lives
of each person to get them saved (Joh_3:16; Act_17:26-27; Joh_10:28), that is how thoroughly He has prepared the revealing of
the sons of God and the glory He will bestow on them who do His will and love
Him. So not only does God have to illustrate His disappointment and wrath
concerning sin and disobedience, but much more so He wants to show everyone the
love He will lavish on the kingdom citizens and the glory they will share and
know.
We don't know how God will show these things but one thing
we do know is how to be a vessel of mercy assigned to receive His glory:
1.
Rom_10:17 – Hear the Gospel message from the Bible and have faith in
the message.
2.
Rom_10:9-10 – Confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead.
3.
Rom_2:4 – God's kindness is to lead you to repentance.
4.
Rom_6:3-4 – Be baptized into Jesus Christ's death, burial and
resurrection.
5.
Rom_6:17 – Obey from the heart His standard of teaching, the Bible
6.
Rom_6:16 – Be obedient
slaves to God.
Romans 9:24
even us, whom he also called, not only from the
Jews but also from the Gentiles?
Paul points out that God has pursued the Gentiles with as
much care as He has the Jews.
...the apostle tells us that it
was God’s purpose all along to take out of the Gentiles a people for his name (Act_28:14). That
subject, now introduced, continues to the conclusion of chapter 11. - New
Commentary on the Whole Bible
Gal_3:27-29 NIV for
all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are
all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Rom_1:16 NIV I am not
ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Romans 9:25
As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my
people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my
loved one,"
The Spirit intends to prove to the Jews that all along God
has reserved a remnant from the Gentiles as well as from amongst the Jews. With
the skill of a well experienced lawyer Paul continues to build his case using
the very Scriptures the Jews considered their own to prove he is speaking on
God's behalf. Here he is quoting Hos_2:23.
"Who should think it
extraordinary, or something to wonder about, that God would at last reject that
nation which had so long been rejecting him?" Paul at this point proceeded
to show, by the quotation of a number of prophecies, that just these very
things, the calling of the Gentiles and the rejection of Israel had been
exactly foretold by God's prophets. -- Coffman
If the Jews really believed the Scriptures as inspired by God,
then they would have to accept this; otherwise they would be hypocrites! It is
similar to what we disciples do today when showing biblical evidence for the
requirement of salvation to those who say they believe in God's word but by
their actions deny it.
Romans 9:26
and, "It will happen that in the very place
where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons
of the living God.' "
Quotation from Hos_1:10. At that very time in history these prophecies were
becoming true - God was rejecting Israel and welcoming the Gentiles as His
children. Remember this epistle was written between 57-58 AD. The destruction
of Jerusalem, occurring in 70 AD by the Roman armies of Titus, would forever
change the Jews of that age.
Romans 9:27
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though
the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will
be saved.
Here the quotation is coming from Isa_10:22-23. Here's
the clincher (conclusive factor): "Only a remnant of them will be saved"!
Wow! The very word of God prophesying that not all Israel would make it! Only a
remnant! What a devastating blow to the Jew who had put confidence in his
heritage instead of in God!
Destruction is decreed...
Although not quoted by Paul, it is within the verses
quoted. God's impending destruction of Jerusalem was about to happen in a few
decades. At that very moment the Romans were reading Paul's letter the extent
of the wrath of God had not been felt yet - He was enduring with longsuffering.
Romans 9:28
For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth
with speed and finality."
God's judgment on Israel would be carried out soon
All the Scriptures Paul is emphasizing at the moment
clearly delineate God's intent in taking in the Gentiles who are obedient and
also rejecting disobedient Israel. The Scriptures make it clear only this
obedient remnant will be saved. Keep this in mind for later in chapter 11.
The Old Testament remnant
doctrine applies to the church. Just as God had reduced Israel to a remnant
under Assyria, Babylon, and Persia, so God again reduced His people to those
who followed Jesus, Israel’s Messiah. God added to His Israelite faithful
remnant those Gentiles or non-Jews who trusted Jesus for salvation. The church
is God’s remnant seeking to lead all people—Jews and Gentiles—to Christ. -- Disciple's
Study Bible
These (words from Isaiah) appear
to be forensic (legal) terms, and refer to the conclusion of a judicial
proceeding; the Lord has tried and found them guilty, and will immediately
execute upon them the punishment due to their transgressions. -- Coffman
1.
Christ had died for
the sins of men and was raised victorious over sin and death
2.
The church was being
established through the work of the Spirit and kingdom saints
3.
The Gospel of salvation
was being preached
4.
The rules and
regulations that stood against us was already nailed to the cross and declared
invalid (Col_2:14-16)
5.
The temple was soon
going to be destroyed (May 24)
6.
Judaism was history
If preachers today only had the courage and sense to use
the Scriptures as pointedly as Paul to encourage people to be obedient to the
Word of God!
Romans 9:29
It is just as Isaiah said previously:
"Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become
like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."
Only Israel's remnant will be saved
Here is the particular reference to a remnant that will be
left (Isa_1:9). Were it not for this offspring of Israel, their
destruction would have been complete. God had mercy on Israel and although the
whole nation may not be saved, a faithful remnant will, as it happened
throughout their history time and time again (2Ki_19:31; 2Ch_34:21; 2Ch_36:20; Ezr_9:8).
A few righteous people would
have saved Sodom and Gomorrah. A few righteous people did save the nation of
Israel to get the attention of the Lord of hosts. -- World Video Bible
School Commentary
This remnant, those who put their faith in Jesus, are the
ones that ushered in the new spiritual age and were the firstfruits of the New
Covenant in Jesus' blood.
Act_2:37-41 NIV When
the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the
other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied,
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all
whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them;
and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about
three thousand were added to their number that day.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS
THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL!
Romans 9:30
What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who
did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by
faith;
The Spirit again reasons with the Jewish Christians of Rome
and concludes:
1- Gentiles did
not pursue righteousness from God but have attained it by faith
Although the Gentiles did not pursue and seek God out like
the Jews claimed they did by following the Law, God granted them a righteousness
(remember this word also means to be justified before God, having fulfilled
all divine requirements for salvation) by faith - the same as happened to
Abraham, the father of the Jews. Paul had been preparing them for this
revelation since chapter 4, remember?
Here is proof that the Gentiles
had attained to an acceptable degree of righteous living; there had truly been
a transformation in their lives. On the other hand, Israel, despite their
possession of Moses' law and their pride in all the privileges and prerogatives
of the covenant people, described here as "following after a law of
righteousness," had nevertheless failed to attain any acceptable degree of
godly living. They "did not arrive." -- Coffman
God chose to honor those vessels who would pursue a
righteousness by faith, as did Abraham. Paul is telling the Jews that it is not
God that had changed on them, but they who had changed and God and distorted
His will! The Spirit will explain in the next chapter how it is that Israel
lost their hope because it chose to deify the Law as opposed to pleasing God by
faith. They refused the Son Himself and chose to crucify Him on a tree. God did
the same with their Law; He nailed it to a tree and cancelled the code (Col_2:13-14)!
Romans 9:31
but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness,
has not attained it.
2- Israel pursued
the Holy Law but stumbled because they did not pursue it by faith but by works.
Israel had all the glory of God and all the favor, but they
eventually chose to glorify themselves and take pride in their own works and
did not acknowledge God nor glorified Him. Their God became the Law and their
glory was their pride.
The reason why Israel failed,
Paul would explain in the next chapter; but the thing in view here is that, in
the rejection of Christ and in their refusal to accept his proffered mercy
through loving, obedient faith, they, as a nation, were cut off from being any
longer God's people. Of course, any Israelite was still eligible, as were all
people, to accept and obey the gospel of Christ, Paul himself being an
outstanding example of the remnant that did so. Yet no Israelite, AS SUCH, was
received into that kingdom of Christ, in which all such distinctions as Jew and
Gentile, male and female, Greek and barbarian, bond and free, etc., were
blotted out, and all people considered as "one" in Christ Jesus. -- Coffman
Rom_10:1-4 NIV
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they
may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but
their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the
righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 Christ
is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who
believes.
Can you think of any other religious group today that fits
this description of Israel and has also failed to attain the righteousness of
God in Jesus Christ? Remember that believe is a synecdoche for
all the divine requirements of salvation: faith, obedience of the Gospel,
confession, repentance and perseverance.
Romans 9:32
Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but
as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Israel is condemned because they have rejected the Messiah
Although Paul will not directly disclose that yet, he is
alluding to it by the quotations taken from Isaiah in the last verse of chapter
9.
Here we are reminded of chapter 4 again.
1.
Faith vs. works
2.
Obedience vs.
self-confidence
3.
Something owed vs.
something credited
4.
Abraham's steps of
faith
And also of chapter 7
1.
We die to the Law to
belong to Jesus
2.
The Law of the Flesh
brings death
3.
The Law of the Spirit
is Life!
4.
The New Way vs. the
Old Way (Written Code)
5.
The Flesh vs. the
Spirit
The Jews were receiving a complete analysis of what they
were confiding in, accepting and persevering in. It was a reliance on the wrong
thing!
The law of God given through
Moses is precisely what they did not keep. They relied solely upon fleshly
descent, as taught by John the Baptist, Christ, and Paul. -- Coffman
The stumbling stone (proskomma lithos: a stub, that is, (figuratively)
occasion of apostasy: - rock of offence; stumbling (-block,[-stone]) an
obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls;
that over which a soul stumbles, i.e. by which is caused to sin)
referred to here is Jesus Himself, as the Spirit explains in the next verse.
1Co_1:23 - NIV but we
preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God.
To those who would accept Christ as their rock, they would
be the remnant accepted by God, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles).
Gal_3:13 NIV Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." (Deu_21:22-23)
This is why the cross caused Jews to stumble. The Greeks
just found it offensive to believe in one God, particularly one who became man
and made Himself vulnerable even unto death! They missed the love of God and
that is why the very message is a stumbling block!
1Co_1:18 NIV For the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God.
Both Jews and Greeks who want to rely on their own are
foolish:
Gal_3:3 NIV Are you so
foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your
goal by human effort?
Romans 9:33
As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a
stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one
who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Here again is evidence from the Jewish Old Testament that
these things were written about the Jews long before Jesus became flesh. This
quote is from Isa_8:14 and Isa_28:16.
Again, Paul is not yet making this connection clear to
the Jews in this chapter but we all know who the living stone is!
JESUS -
THE LIVING STONE
This prophecy revealed some characteristics of the kind
of stone God would lay in Zion (Jerusalem):
1.
It is a tested
stone. Heb_5:8-10 teaches
us how Jesus had to be perfected by learning obedience through suffering. This
is how he became the source of salvation for everyone who obeys Him. We can
trust this foundation! It has been tested and approved! It passed God's
inspection! Jesus is
perfect!
2.
It is a
precious stone. Something precious
has value. It is important and worth something. In this case, Jesus is the most
precious of all! This foundation is considered precious by God because it saves
souls! 1Pe_1:18-20 teaches us that our redemption didn't come about by
perishable things like silver or gold, two things considered very precious by
men. The blood of Christ is the most precious of all because it had no blemish
or defect and because this blood gives us an imperishable gift - eternal life!
Through the living and enduring word of God we have been born again of
imperishable seed (1Pe_1:23)! In his second epistle Peter describes Jesus as the
Living Stone, chosen by God and precious to Him! Jesus is more precious than gold!**
3.
It is a sure
foundation. A tested, perfected and
precious foundation is sure and steadfast. It is trustworthy and able to
accomplish its task. As Heb_11:9-10 says, even Abraham knew and trusted in the city that had
true foundations, built by God Himself. This city is God's household, the church,
as 1Ti_3:15 teaches, built on the foundation of the eternal and
imperishable word of Jesus (Joh_6:63; 1Pe_1:23), which is the foundation of the apostles and prophets
with Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone (Eph_2:20). Jesus
can be trusted!
4.
Those who put
their faith in this foundation will not be disappointed. When we have the Lord as our strength and our shield,
when we can lean on the everlasting arms we shall not be disappointed (Psa_22:5)! Instead
of pinning our hopes on people, and expecting our leaders to bail us out, we
need to depend on the Lord of hosts who will never put us to shame (Isa_49:23). To not
be disappointed means to never be put to shame (Psa_25:2).
Psa_25:3 NIV No one
whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
Psa_25:20 NIV Guard
my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
Of course, this is talking about Jesus! He is the tested
and precious foundation and His words are the ones we can stand on. This is why
the Father said:
Mar_9:7 and Luk_9:35 NIV
"This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
We He becomes our foundation, the very cornerstone on
which we can stand and be raised, we all together with Him become the living stones:
1Pe_2:4-6 NIV As you
come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to
him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to
be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a
chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be
put to shame."
Only in Jesus:
1.
Are we true priests
2.
Are we a spiritual
house - able to worship God in Spirit and in truth (Joh_4:23-24)
3.
Can we offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
What is built upon Christ will
endure. As he himself revealed, to build upon the rock is to keep the sayings
of the Master (Mat_7:24). If people would only build upon the living stone, they
would no longer be discouraged by the collapse of all that they build
elsewhere. -- Coffman
Men seek stable foundations on which to build houses and
assets of all sorts. However, the best earthly foundation one can find is sand
compared to the Rock, the Lord God Almighty, our Lord Jesus Christ!
On
Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other
ground is sinking sand!
** - Just a trivial note. Why are
precious stones not even considered when speaking of what is precious to men?
That is because the most expensive (not valuable) stone is the diamond. This is
not because it is precious or a commodity that appreciates, but because it is a
controlled and manipulated market. Technically, diamonds are worth just as much
as quartz or even less if they were not monopolized and manipulated with as
they are today by De Beers, owners of all the diamond mines. So when you buy a
very expensive diamond all you are doing is, in essence, buying a pretty
worthless transparent rock. Its only redeeming value is that it is the hardest
mineral on earth. That's about it!