Description

What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—  even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
    only the remnant will be saved.
For the Lord will carry out
    his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”

It is just as Isaiah said previously:

“Unless the Lord Almighty
    had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
    we would have been like Gomorrah.

-Romans 9:13-23

When we see so many across history of man rejecting the Gospel, we find ourselves asking: Has God’s plan failed? This week, we look at Romans 9:24–29 to see why the answer is a resounding "No"—and why our only hope is that God is the one who keeps a "remnant" for Himself.

In this episode we learn...

• The Sovereign Call (vv. 24–26): Paul utilizes the Prophet Hosea to explain that God's mercy extends to the Gentiles. Those once called "not my people" are brought into the covenant by the effectual call of God, proving that salvation is governed by His will alone.
• The Remnant (vv. 27–29): Quoting Isaiah, Paul clarifies that while the visible people of God may be numerous, it is the remnant—the elect—who are saved. This distinction ensures that God’s promise has not failed, as He always preserves a seed for Himself.

Key Takeaways:

1. Grace: Verse 24 reminds us that it is God who calls. Our standing as His children is the result of His sovereign initiative, not our merit. This is Good News!!
2. Covenantal Faithfulness: The existence of a remnant proves God is faithful to His word, even when the majority fall away.
3. Total Depravity: Verse 29 humbles us with the truth that without God’s intervention to "leave a seed," we would all justly face the same judgment as Sodom.