Romans 9

Dan: Sunday School

Romans 8: one of the greatest chapters in the Bible.

The chapter of assurance.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

There’s a problem: what about the Jews? They rejected Jesus. What about Israel? Paul addresses this in chapter 9.

Chapter 9 theme: v 6 the love of God will not fail.

1. Not all that descended from Israel are still part of Israel. Ishmael vs Isaac.  God made something that wasn’t possible. Sarah had a child - a miracle.

2. Not the descendants, but the children of the promise. God told her “the older will serve the younger”.

v 14 that’s not fair! Is this unjust? Unfair? Exodus 33:18- “I will show mercy to whom I show mercy…”

What is God saying? He is in control. He is sovereign. He has a plan. God is all about His own glory. His name is freedom. He has freedom, to do whatever He wants. He can show mercy. Mercy is never owed.

v 15-18 parallels…’for…’ and “so then …” we forget what we were blessed with.

Election is not based on genetics, or on birth order, or on future good or bad. Not on human will or on effort, but only from God, who has freedom to show mercy. He has freedom to harden hearts.

Who can resist God’s will?

Resource: Piper’s Look at the Books.

God has endured much patience. There are vessels of mercy, vessels of wrath. Neither is innocent. Both are fallen individuals.

Is it injustice? All of humanity deserves destruction. The debt has been paid in Jesus Christ. Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.

John 6: only some are drawn / dragged to Christ. We must interpret the implicit revelation in the light of God’s explicit revelation. Is this fair? Jesus called Judas to be a son of destruction. Jesus wept over this, over the city who would have Him put to death.

Is God not all powerful and sovereign over everything? Did God not ordain whatsoever came to pass? Is there any free will? Yes. We used our free will to reject God – this from the 3rd chapter of the Westminster confession of faith.

What should God have done with his fallen mankind? Give everyone an opportunity to be saved. Has everyone been given this opportunity? Not through general revelation, but only through specific revelation - by hearing the name of Jesus.

The scandal comes at the end of the chapter - Jesus had to die so we can be saved. This should give us humility, assurance, lead us to worship and to evangelize, and give us joy.

17 in class.