Romans 9:1-29 God’s Sovereign Choice

Context Romans 1-4 The Gospel: Justification by Faith Romans 5-8 The Gospel: What a Justified Person Looks Like Romans 8:28-39 “What can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord?”

The Dilemma of Romans 9 "The hope of the Christian, with which Rom. 1-8 came to a climax, is wholly dependent on God's faithfulness to his word, his call (8:28,30). But, 'Can the new community trust God's Word when it seems to have failed the Jews?' The unbelief of Israel, the chosen people, and their consequent separation from Christ (Rom. 9:3) seem to call God's word into question and thus to jeopardize not only the privileged place of Israel, but also the Christian hope as well. Therefore, in Paul's view, the theme of Rom is not optional; it is essential for the securing of Rom. 1-8" (John Piper, The Justification of God ). "The very reliability of God's purpose as the ground of Christian hope is called in question by the exclusion of the majority of Jews. If the truth is that God's purpose with Israel has been frustrated, then what sort of a basis for Christian hope is God's purpose? And, if God's love for Israel (cf., e.g., Deut. 7:7f; Jer. 31:3) has ceased, what reliance can be placed on Paul's conviction that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ (C.E.B Cranfield, Romans)

The Dilemma of Romans 9 God made promises to Israel It appears that He has forsaken his love for Israel If God has made promises to Israel, and it appears that He has gone back on His promises, how can we be sure that He is not going to go back on us? Main Question: Can God’s word be trusted when the majority of Jews have rejected the Gospel?

V. 1-5 Paul’s Anguish and Israel’s Dilemma Paul’s anguish is for his own people Israel who have rejected the Gospel (Missionary focus) God gave Israel... *Adoption *Glory *Covenants *The Law *Worship *Promises *Patriarchs *Messiah

V God’s Election of Israel (Patriarchal Foundations) Verse 6 is the main claim “The Word of God has not failed” Not all who belong to physical Israel belong to True Israel Abraham had two sons (Ishmael and Isaac) *Being a physical descendent doesn’t guarantee entrance into God’s family

V God’s Election of Israel (Patriarch Foundations) Rebekah had two sons (Esau and Jacob) For God’s electing purpose to continue He chose Jacob over Esau “The older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob)” (Genesis 25:23) “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Mal 1:2-3) God elected Israel, out of all the nations, for His purpose.

V God’s Mercy Towards Israel (Exodus) Positive side of God’s electing purpose: Exodus 33:19 *Israel worshipped the golden calf *Moses went up the mountain to plead on behalf of Israel and asked God to show him His glory. Negative side to God’s rejection: Exodus 9:16 *Israel was in captivity in Egypt *God used Pharaoh to suppress Israel in order to make his name known in the earth and to bring about redemption.

V God’s Mercy Towards Israel (Exodus) God has the right, as the potter, to form the clay for his purpose(Jer 18) Dishonorable Use = Vessels of Wrath (Eph 2:1; Romans 1:18) *Esau *Pharaoh *Unbelieving Israel Honorable Use = Vessels of Mercy *Jacob *Moses *Believing “Israel”

V God’s True Israel (Exile) True Israel = Those God has called from the Jews and Gentiles *Hosea 2:23, 1:10 = Gentiles are included in the family of God *Isa 1-:22-23, 1:9 = the remnant of Jews If God left Israel they would be just like Sodom and Gomorrah (Rejected and destroyed)

Conclusion and Application God’s word has not failed with regard to True Israel because... *God chose them for a purpose *God had mercy and didn’t reject them *God has prepared a remnant of Jews and Gentiles throughout history (True Israel) We can trust in God’s word to us. We can trust that God is going to be faithful to us. God has mercifully elected us according to his purpose into His family (True Israel)