Village Schools of the Bible

ROMANS: Heart & Soul of the Gospel
A Devotional Study of Romans
by Max Frazier, Jr.

ROMANS 9: EXHIBITION OF DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY IN GOD'S PLAN OF ELECTION

We are now at that place in our study in Romans where Paul discusses the nation of Israel and their relationship to God. Chapters 9-11 are considered to be a parenthesis in the text, but their message is an important one for each of us.

The theme of chapter nine is the Exhibition of Divine Sovereignty in God's Plan of Election. If the Jewish nation will not accept Jesus as Messiah, then the unbelieving Jew would say there were two possible conclusions to be drawn:

1.Either the Gospel that Paul preached was not true, or

2.If it was true, then the promises of God to Israel had failed, because the Messiah and the blessing to Israel were connected inseparably. Either Jesus Christ is not the true Messiah or the Word of God has been proven false. How Paul proceeds to respond is important for us to understand.

In Romans 9-11, Paul answers the question, "Why is Israel rejected?"

1.Romans 9 - the absolute sovereignty of God is seen in election
2.Romans 10 - the moral responsibility of man is seen in rejection
3.In Romans 11 - the final purpose of God is seen in reception.

This section begins with a sorrowful tone (Romans 9:1-5), but closes with praise (Romans 11:33-36).

Notes on Romans 9:1-5: the problem stated

Verse 1 - sets forth the reality of Paul's grief

Verse 2 - sets forth the intensity of Paul's grief

Verse 3 - implies that his sorrow was sacrificial.

"Cursed" - means "to be utterly lost forever" (see Exodus 32:32-22 of Moses' experience with Israel). Paul could not fulfill this curse. Why? Because he belonged to Christ. What Paul is stating is: "for I could wish." "It was in my heart to wish it, but I never completed it. That is the way I feel about my people, but when I come to wish myself accursed there is something that stops me. I could wish, if God would let me, but he won't. I could do it, if it were permissible, but it is not."

Verses 4-5: state the position of Israel. Eight respects in which Israel differed before God from all other nations:

1.Theirs is the adoption (see Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 7:6, Amos 3:2)

2.Theirs the divine glory (see Exodus 25:8,21,22 - glory of God in the tabernacle; Second Chronicles 5:13,14 - the glory of God in the Temple)

3.Theirs is the covenants - the many covenants

4.Theirs is the receiving of the law - no other nation had a code of laws that God gave

5.Theirs is the temple worship - the temple ritual, the sacrificial system

6.Theirs is the promises - God's salvation promises were lodged in Abraham; God's kingdom promises were lodged in David; promises pertaining nationally to Israel alone

7.Theirs are the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, the prophets

8.From them is traced the human ancestry of Christ - Christ in the flesh (see Romans 1:3, John 1:14, Hebrews 2:16, Matthew 1:1)

Notes on Romans 9:6-13: the explanation offered

Verse 6 - "for not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" - contains a hint of election

Verse 7-11: illustration of Abraham and Isaac

1.Abraham had two sons: Isaac and Ishmael; God elected Isaac

2.Isaac had two sons: Jacob and Esau; God elected Jacob

Verse 11: God chooses according to His own sovereign will and sets aside all human ideas of merit and superiority.

Verse 12 - this act of election was before they were born

Verse 13 - basis of the election Back to Study Index

Notes on Romans 9:14-24: the objections answered

Is God unrighteous because He takes one man and sets aside another? Example of Moses (see Exodus 32 and Exodus 33:19 - sovereign mercy - God's sovereignty shows His mercy). Paul says, if you are going to say that God is unrighteous because He chooses one man and not another, then God was unrighteous at Sinai when He let you all live.

God is sovereign when it comes to bestowing His judgment. Example of Pharaoh who hardened his heart. (Pharaoh hardened his heart - Exodus 7:14,22; Exodus 8:15,32; Exodus 9:34; God hardened Pharaoh's heart - Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:3; Exodus 9:12; Exodus 10:1,20,27; Exodus 11:10; Exodus 14:17).

Verse 19: If all this you say is true, if every man is as God made him, why does God find fault with my sinfulness? I am what I am. God made me this way. Answer - God did make man, but He did not make the sinner what he is. What right do we have to say anything against God? God makes no man a sinner. God takes the clay as He finds it, and the clay here is man who is already a sinner.

Two classes of vessels:

1.Vessels fitted for destruction - man fits himself for destruction. God never does that.

2.Vessels fitted for glory - God did that. God never fits anyone for hell. Man never fits himself for heaven.

Notes on Romans 9:25-29: the proof given

Old Testament passages, referring to Israel: Hosea 2:23; Hosea 1:10; Isaiah 10:22; Isaiah 1:9

Notes on Romans 9:30-33: the conclusion drawn

Two classes of people:

1.Gentiles who did not follow righteousness, but got there

2.Jews who tried, but failed. Why did they fail? They sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS:

Perhaps of all the chapters that flowed from the pen of the Apostle Paul, this is one of the most troublesome. One of the reasons for this difficulty is in our understanding of the concept of election. Immediately one thinks of the radical Calvinists who proclaim that if God has elected you unto salvation, then nothing will prevent that from happening - you don't even need to be witnessed to. Now, I don't believe that is what Paul had in mind. But Paul is fascinated with the display of God's sovereignty over the selection of men in the Old Testament. His particular focus is upon the choice of two individuals: Isaac and Jacob.

Abraham had two sons - one a son of his flesh, Ishmael, and one a son of God's promise, Isaac. Ishmael was the product of Abraham's human efforts at having a descendant to inherit the land promised by God. The birth of Ishmael produced only bitterness and unhappiness within the family of Abraham and eventually Ishmael was driven from the family setting. The birth of Isaac, the miracle child produced by God through Abraham and Sarah, provided joy and happiness to his parents.

I believe there is a biblical truth here. The consequences of the works of our own fleshly efforts produce no satisfying results with God. We are haunted by such thoughts: have we done enough to please God, or have we done the right good works. However, when we accept the sovereign gift from God, blessings flow and our lives exhibit a joy that is very satisfying.

At times, God may ask us to wait for our "Isaacs" to be born. But, as Abraham was to discover, the wait was well worth it.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER AS ONE READS THESE VERSES:

1.What did Paul wish that he could do? What does this tell us about his love for the lost? Why would his wish never be fulfilled?

2.Why is Israel so different from all other nations on the face of the earth? What is to be our attitude toward the people of Israel today? Are they still God's people? If so, how do we know that - what has God done for them?

3Verses 6-13 are difficult verses dealing with election of why God chose some and rejected others. Read the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:27-34 and Genesis 27:1-46 and decide why God accepted Jacob and rejected Esau.

4.In verses 14 and 19, Paul asks two difficult questions. In verse 14 - "Is God unrighteous because he takes one man and sets aside another" (in other words, is God less than God because He picks and chooses who His followers will be? Doesn't this mean some have no chance?) In verse

Romans 8:18-39 Return to the Table of Contents Romans 10