Salvation is an act of God’s mercy,

not a reward for human obedience.

TOW Project

Romans chapter 9 (listen here) is titled: God’s Sovereign Choice

Over the next 3 chapters 9-11, Paul seems to shift gears. He has told us how complete Jesus’s work on the cross is for those who believe. That gift is available for all. He has showed how we have been set free and given power to overcome. Now he pivots to take a deeper look at the question of “what about the Jews?”

Remember Paul was one of the best of the best of what the Jews had to offer and still the law was just a revealer of his inability to keep the law and his need as a sinner for a savior. He is looking to the past and the promises of God that were given. His heart is heavy and he would love to help his people. He expresses that God has so much for them. Romans 9:4-5 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

But he remains resolute in the truths he has revealed in this book:

Romans 9:6a But it is not as though the word of God has failed.

Paul must have heard the arguments that those who are not Jews can not be partakers in the promise, only the people of God can really do that. Only the Jews. God’s chosen people. But Paul makes argument for God’s divine election. God can choose whom He chooses. Like how God chose Abraham out of Ur. How God chose Isaac over Ishmael. How God choose Jacob over Esua. God holds the right to choose for He is the Sovereign God. God even choose Paul, who was the persecutor of the church to become one of His elect to spread the gospel of Jesus.God choose before any works were done. Romans 9:11 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-

God reserves the right to give mercy and Paul has been showing how God has chosen to bring mercy through the person of Jesus Christ to all who believe not by worsks. Romans 9:15-16 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, but on God, who has mercy.

 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

Roman 9: 25-26

We know from our former study through the book of Jeremiah that God said that He would turn the hearts of the people to Him. He also said that He would save His people. We showed how longsuffering God can be to bring about His purposes. He will do it. Romans fully expressed how God has made a way through Jesus Christ but Israel still refused to believe. Romans 9:30-33 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, ³³ as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Salvation is by grace through faith …

Thanks for Listening,

Starla