Romans 9 Lessons to Remember

Nov 22, 2015

 

Romans 9, God’s Promise and Israel

  1. Romans 9 is not about choosing individuals for everlasting salvation. God called, chose, and formed the nation Israel through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be the nation through whom he will redeem the world—the redemptive nation. (Romans 9.1-13; 11.1-2)
  2. God is free and sovereign. He can do what he wants to do. He is the creator and king over all creation. A free person can choose to limit himself in order to accomplish his good will. Human free will does not intrude upon that. God has planned that people may freely choose him and this honors God more than He making all choices for them. Our choices will either honor God or bring dishonor to him (Romans 9.6, 14-27).
  3. God formed the church, a unique spiritual body made up of Jews and Gentiles, not to replace Israel in His plan, but to prod Israel to realize that righteousness is only gained by faith (Romans 9.23-24; 10.19; 11.11).
  4. Israel’s present unbelief did not annul God’s purpose for Israel. She continues to hold her redemptive purpose in God’s plan. Romans 9-11 teach that Israel will be grafted back into their root. There is a remnant that will accept the Messiah in the future. We ought to pray for Israel and witness to them (Romans 9.27; Romans 11.1-2, 11.23-32).
  5. Eternal salvation (justification) is by faith for both Jew and Gentile (Romans 9.30-33.