9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 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.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[b] but on God, who has mercy.
ROMANS 9:9-16
UNFAIR?
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
ISAIAH 55:8-9 (MSG)
MACRO-THEMES IN ROMANS 9-11
ISRAEL
God chose to bless the whole world through a Jewish family; not a gentile family.
Three Kinds of Offspring:
10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
ROMANS 9:10-13
“The word ‘hate’ does not bear the same weight as our English translation. Words, like colors, have hues and ranges. Hate may be interchangeable with rejected, did not accept, did not choose, did not prefer, or passed over. God chooses one brother to bring Jesus into the world, but He does not despise the other brother.”
Mark Driscoll
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
LUKE 14:26
“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’”
Newell
Israel = “God Prevails”
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:9-13
Paul deals with the problem associated with the condition of Israel. What does it mean that Israel has missed its Messiah? What does this say about God? What does it say about Israel? What does it say about our present position in God?
The question goes something like this: How can I be secure in God’s love and salvation to me when it seems that Israel was once loved and saved, but now seems to be rejected and cursed? Will God also reject and curse me one day?
David Guzik
WHO IS SAVED?
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
ROMANS 11:33
DO WE CHOOSE GOD, OR DOES GOD CHOOSE US?
Universal Damnation: no one chooses God, and God chooses no one. No one is saved, and everyone is damned, like the demons. There is no mercy and non grace - only justice.
Universalism: everyone goes to heaven. No one goes to hell, though you might go to purgatory to suffer for a short time.
Pelagianism: We are not sinners by nature. We have a free will, and we are good people who can freely choose God.
Arminianism: We are sinners by nature and by choice. At some point, God gives everyone a free will opportunity (a moment to choose) that allows them to make a decision toward God. He does this by His prevenient grace.
Double Predestination: before time, God decided to damn most and save come. “These people are going to heaven, and those people are going to hell, and there’s nothing any of them can say or do about it.”
Single Predestination: Everyone chose hell, and God singularly predestined some of us by overriding our decision with His decision. God doesn’t make anyone go to hell - we make ourselves go to hell. He chooses to save some, though not all.
When Charles Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile free will vs. predestination and he replied, “I don’t even try. I never reconcile friends.”
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 PETER 3:9
D.L. Moody
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[a] my kinsmen according to the flesh.
ROMANS 9:1-3
You will be delivered from petty worries if you are concerned about the souls of men… Get your soul full of a great grief, and your little griefs will be driven out.”
Charles Spurgeon
PERSONAL FAITH
The line into the Kingdom of God is single file.
Mark Driscoll
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
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