Romans 9
EverettRomans 9:1-11
Divine Election and Israel – Having revealed God’s four-fold plan of redemption (Romans 1:16 to Romans 8:39), Paul next explains the role of Israel in His plan of election and glorification for the Church. Chapter nine discusses Israel’s past election by God (Romans 9:1-33), while chapter ten explains Israel’s current role in divine election (Romans 10:1-21). Chapter eleven explains Israel’s future role in God’s plan of election (Romans 11:1-32). These passages serve to explain how Israel and the Church are one, but its primary emphasis is to show that the Church’s glorification is dependent upon and awaiting Israel’s restoration and glorification. Having revealed God’s plan for the church in the first eight chapters, we can say, “But wait a minute, the story of redemption is not complete. What about Israel and the fulfillment of Old Testament Scriptures? How does this plan a role in the Church’s redemption? The story of redemption is more glorious than has been revealed up to now. Romans 9:1 to Romans 11:36 expounds upon God’s plan of divine election for His people Israel. In this lengthy passage Paul will quote directly from no less than twenty-seven passages in the Old Testament, and with others implied, thus relying heavily upon his knowledge of these Scriptures in order to establish his points concerning Israel’s divine election. He will quote from eleven books of the Old Testament, relying heavily upon the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 10, Genesis 3, Hosea 3, Deuteronomy 3, Exodus 2, Leviticus 1, 1 Kings 1, Job 1, Psalms 1, Joel 1, Malachi 1). Paul has just explained the glorification of the Church in Romans 8:17-39. He will now turn his attention to the restoration and redemption of Israel as a part of this overall plan. The reason is because the Church’s glorification is wrapped up and dependent upon Israel’s glorification. God’s redemptive plan for Israel was never nullified, but only postponed while provision was made to include the Gentiles into this wonderful plan. Israel’s restoration will also mean the glorification of the Church (Romans 11:11-12) In other words, the Gentiles have been grafted into the vine, not taken the place of Israel, as Paul will explain in Romans 11:15-19. This is exactly what Jesus meant in John 4:22 when He said that “salvation was of the Jews.” Paul will begin this lengthy passage in Romans 9-11 by stating Israel’s divine plan of redemption as “the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises” (Romans 9:4). He will say that God is “over all” (Romans 9:5). That is, God is watching over His divine plan of redemption to perform it. Paul will take three chapters to explain how God is performing His plan in and through Israel. Thus, the word of God has taken effect, as Paul asks rhetorically in Romans 9:6 a. Chapter nine discusses Israel’s past election by God (Romans 9:1-33), while chapter ten explains Israel’s current role in divine election (Romans 10:1-21). Chapter eleven explains Israel’s future role in God’s plan of election (Romans 11:1-32). These passages serve to explain how Israel and the Church have become one body in God’s plan of redemption. However, the fact that the epistle of Romans separates the discussion of the divine election of Israel from its discussion of the election of the Church reveals that God has a parallel, but unique, plan for His people Israel. Old Testament prophecy supports this unique plan that God is orchestrating through Israel by the very fact that many of these prophecies are for Israel and not the Church. The fact that Paul takes three chapters to discuss Israel’s redemption reveals the love and importance that this subject had in his heart. His opening statements in Romans 9:1-3 express his sorrow and pain because of their rejection of Christ. If Paul the apostle could have chosen his own calling, he would have wanted to evangelize his own people Israel, whom he loved. In God’s divine order, He sent Peter to the Jews and Paul far away to the Gentiles. Paul will open this lengthy passage by explaining that God’s plan of redemption for Israel is only for those Israelites who have chosen to believe in the promises to Israel; for he says, “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed,” (Romans 9:8). Outline – Here is a proposed outline:
- Election Revealed in Israel’s Past Election — Romans 9:1-332. Election Revealed in Israel’s Present Rejection — Romans 10:1-213. Election Revealed in Israel’s Future Salvation — Romans 11:1-32
Romans 9:6-13
Israel’s Election is Based Upon God’s Promises – In Romans 9:6-13 Paul explains how Israel’s election before God did not come because of their physical birth as the descendants of Abraham. It came, rather, because of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In addition, the Gentiles have been grafted into the vine of Israel, and become partakers of her promises. Although Israel has failed God, Paul explains how the word of God has taken effect not only for Israel, but also for the Gentiles who have been grafted into this vine. Paul had written earlier to the Galatians and called those who are in Christ as the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). This phrase also described the biological Israelites as those who had accepted the Messiah as well as those Gentiles who had been grafted into the vine of Israel, as we will describe in Romans 11:17-20. Galatians 6:16, “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Paul is able to call the Church the “Israel of God,” because the Gentiles have been grafted in, or included in, Israel’s election and blessed with their promises. The Gentiles are now covered by the blessings of Israel. When God looks down from Heaven He sees His people Israel, and makes no distinction between the natural vine that those grafted in; for all are partaking of the same promises and blessings that were given to Israel. Outline – Here is a proposed outline:
- Paul’s Testimony of the Son of Promise — Romans 9:6-92. Paul’s Testimony of Divine Election — Romans 9:10-13 Illustration - After graduating from college, I returned home and began to teach a twelfth grade Sunday school class in my home church of Hiland Park Baptist Church. I was relatively unversed in the Scriptures and followed the teacher’s lesson book. One Sunday morning two students had a disagreement as to how the people in the Old Testament were saved and went to Heaven. We were all clear about how a person goes to Heaven since Christ’s redemptive work on Calvary two thousand years ago.
However, we as Christians are not always clear about Old Testament salvation. I did not have an answer for them, so I went home and studied the Scriptures that week and came to the conclusion that people in the Old Testament were saved, or justified, by faith in Calvary the same way that we as New Testament believers are saved. The only difference is that they had to look forward to the Cross and we look back to it. I took this answer to the class the next Sunday and the statement seemed to satisfy their inquisitive minds. Although this is the right answer, I did not realize until years later that this is what Paul is implying in Romans 9:6-13. Although Paul is placing emphasis upon their divine election by God in this passage, it also reflects their need to believe in these promises for justification. Romans 9:6-9 — Paul’s Testimony of the Son of Promise - Romans 9:6-9 serves as a Paul’s testimony of Isaac serving as a son of promise that established faith as the rule for God reckoning a man righteous. These verses also serve as a summary of Abraham’s genealogy in recorded in Genesis 11:27 to Genesis 25:11. This genealogy records God’s promise and His fulfillment of a son for Abraham and Sarah, with Abraham’s faith to believe in God. Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Romans 9:6 — Comments - Because the children of promise are reckoned by god as justified, and not children of physical birth, Paul is about two give several Old Testament witnesses that God’s Word has taken root in this depraved word, and a people of righteousness are in this world as members of the Kingdom of Heaven. Romans 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Romans 9:7 — Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - In Romans 9:7 Paul quotes from Genesis 21:12 where God was explaining to Abraham that the promise was in his son Isaac and that he should send Hagar away with his first son Ishmael. Genesis 21:12, “And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Romans 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Romans 9:8 — Comments – Each time Paul uses the word (λογίζομαι) (G3049) (reckon) in the epistle of Romans, he is explaining God’s plan of redemption for mankind from a divine perspective, which is a position we must take by faith, not being able to see it in the natural realm. Paul will give two Old Testament witnesses of God’s promises, one to Abraham (Romans 9:9) and one to Isaac (Romans 9:10-13), to support this statement in Romans 9:8 that God reckons Israel’s righteousness by those who believe the promises, and not by Jewish birth. Both Sarah and Rebecca were barren, and both had a child by a promise from God. Paul could have continued with other Old Testament examples, but he is compelled to immediately explain the issue of divine election that these examples address (Romans 9:14-33). Romans 9:9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. Romans 9:9 — Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - Romans 9:9 refers to Genesis 18:10; Genesis 18:14. Genesis 18:10, “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.” Genesis 18:14, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Romans 9:10-13 — Paul’s Testimony of Divine Election: The Elder Shall Serve the Younger – Romans 9:10-13 serve as a testimony of Jacob’s election serving as a son of promise that established faith as the rule for God reckoning a man righteous. These verses also serve as a summary of Isaac’s genealogy in Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29. This genealogy records God’s promise and His fulfilment of an elected son to fulfil His promise of raising a nation of righteous offspring on the earth in order to fulfil His divine plan of redemption for mankind. God’s Immeasurable Love for His Children - F. F. Bruce tells us that it is not so much the individuals that are referred to in Genesis 25:23, when God said that “the elder shall serve the younger,” as it is the two nations that will descend from Jacob and Esau.[195] The Scriptures reveal that Esau himself never served Jacob. However, during the long stretch of biblical history, Edom did in fact serve the nation of Israel a number of times. [195] F. F. Bruce, The Books and the Parchments (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1963), 46-7.Genesis 25:23, “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” In the same sense, it is not so much the two individual sons of Jacob that are meant in Malachi 1:2-3 where it says, “yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau.” as it is the two nations. In other words, God loved the nation of Israel and hated the nation of Edom. Malachi 1:2-3, “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” F. F. Bruce goes on to explain that the Hebrew thought and speech is making an extreme contrast in these passages for the sake of emphasis. He uses Luke 14:26 to illustrate this Hebrew way of saying that someone must love God far more than his earthly family. Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” This is exactly what the parallel passage in Matthew 10:37 says when Jesus tells us that we must love Him more than our parents or children. Matthew 10:37, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Thus, God was saying that He loved Jacob far more than his closest blood kin. God also had a love Esau, as He does for all of mankind, but not in the same way as He loved His people Israel. This statement in Romans 9:10-13 is, therefore, meant to place emphasis upon the immeasurable love that God has for His people. Romans 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; Romans 9:10 — Comments – Rebecca’s natural conception is described in Romans 9:10 as being “conceived by one,” which stands in contrast to Sarah’s miraculous conception. Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) Romans 9:11 — Comments – Romans 9:11 reads, “…in order that the purpose of God might remain and continue by election…” Divine election is the gear that turns the wheel of God’s plan of redemption. God chooses to intervene in the affairs of mankind outside of man’s efforts. Thus, Romans 9:11 says, “…not of works, but of him that calleth…” Romans 9:18 will show us that God’s mercy is the oil that greases the gear that turns the wheel of redemption. Romans 9:18, “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” Romans 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. Romans 9:12 — Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - In Romans 9:12 Paul quotes from Genesis 25:23 where Isaac prayed and asked the Lord why the children within his wife were kicking so much. Genesis 25:23, “And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Romans 9:13 — Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - In Romans 9:13 Paul quotes from Malachi 1:2-3. Malachi 1:2-3, “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”
Romans 9:14-33
God’s Promises Based upon His Mercy – In Romans 9:14-33 Paul qualifies God’s method of divine election, basing it upon His promises to Abraham, and He bases His promises to Abraham upon His mercy towards mankind. Romans 9:15 — Scripture References - Note: Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Romans 9:17 — Comments - We read in Exodus 4:21 that God told Moses He will harden Pharaoh’s heart. Exodus 4:21, “And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.” God hardened Pharaoh’s heart many times in the book of Exodus. God also hardened the heart of Sihon, king of Heshbon of the Amorites (Deuteronomy 2:30) in order to carry out His divine plan of Israel receiving their inheritance of the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 2:30, “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.” God hardened the hearts of the Canaanites so that Joshua would destroy them utterly (Joshua 11:20). Joshua 11:20, “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.” Romans 9:18 — Comments – While divine election is the gear that turns the wheel of God’s plan of redemption (Romans 9:11), His mercy is the oil that greases the gear that turns this wheel. Romans 9:11, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” Romans 9:19 — Comments – Paraphrasing Romans 9:19, we could read, “Why does God find fault with mankind if He is in control of everything?” Paul must have certainly dealt with such objections during his years of ministry in Jewish synagogues and church meetings as he preached and taught God’s Word. Therefore, Paul asks this question in a rhetorical manner because he anticipates the thoughts of his readers. Romans 9:20 — Scripture References - Ecclesiastes 8:4 says that God is King of Kings. He is over all kings. Ecclesiastes 8:4, “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” Romans 9:22 — Scripture References - Note: Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”