Israel’s Past Rejection
15 September 2013 AM – Romans 9:1-33 – Romans – Scott Childs
Introduction: When you look at this chaper as a whole, you will find that it is not talking about election to salvation as many people claim. It is explaining why God requires faith for salvation rather than Jewish heritage.
When I was a boy, I used to like making BIG hamburger sandwiches. I started with two slices of homemade bread and loaded the sandwich with a big hamburger, lettuce, pickles, tomato sauce, mustard, and cucumber relish. They were great sandwiches!
This chapter is like a sandwich. Paul’s longing for Israel to be saved is the bottom slice of bread. God’s offer of salvation by faith alone is the top slice. The content in between is God’s offer to Israel, His just conditions, and His right reasons.
Transition: Though God loved Israel, the nation chose to reject His salvation. As Paul describes God’s dealings with Israel and with Gentiles, we find four lessons we need to learn about God.
I. God’s Offer is Always Generous (Ro 9:4-7)
A. God offered Israel many blessings (Ro 9:4-5)
1. The adoption – God offered to make them His children
2. The glory – they saw God’s glory and miracles
3. The covenants – God’s special promises
4. The giving of the law – God’s expectations
5. The service of God – the tabernacle
6. The promises – of the Messiah and Kingdom
7. The fathers (ancestors of Christ) – a privilege
B. All Israel could be true Israel (Ro 9:6-7)
1. The name “Israel” means, “God prevails” or “a prince of God.”
2. Paul points out that being born an Israelite does not make a person a true “prince with God.” The name in a true sense refers only to saved Israelites.
3. All Jews could be true Israel, but only by faith in God, as we will later see. Many in Israel rejected God’s generous offer to them.
II. God’s Conditions are Always Just (Ro 9:8-18)
A. God has chosen to be merciful to those of faith
1. Jewish history pictures this condition.
a) Isaac was the child born from faith (Ro 9:8-9) (Ge 18:10, Ge 21:12)
b) God knew in eternity past, before Jacob or Esau had done good or bad, that Jacob’s family would have faith and not Esau’s. God chose to be merciful to those of faith.
(1) Ro 9:12 records God’s prediction before Jacob and Esau were born. These verses are speaking of nations not individuals.
Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
(2) Ro 9:13 verifies God’s prediction nearly 1400 years later (Malachi 1:2-3). It does not say that God hated Esau in the womb. It says he hated the lack of faith and rejection of God that followed.
2. God’s choice to be merciful to those with faith in Him is truly just and right (Ro 9:14).
3. God has the right to set the conditions (Ro 9:15). Here Paul quotes from Exodus 33:19.
B. God’s mercy is not offered to those who want it or work for it. (Ro 9:16)
1. God was not saying that man has no duty. He was saying that His mercy is only offered to those of faith (cf. Ro 9:32).
2. Paul uses Pharaoh to illustrate (Ro 9:17).
Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
Ironside states: The words have no reference to the birth of Pharaoh; they have to do exclusively with the outstanding position that God gave him in order that he might be a lesson to all succeeding generations of the folly of fighting against God.
3. Read Ro 9:18. Paul does not mention the fact that in Exodus Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart. God did not force Pharaoh to do wrong. He simply let him have his own way by withholding mercy that prolonged Pharaoh’s stubbornness.
Constable adds that Paul’s point was simply that God can freely and justly extend mercy or not extend mercy to those who deserve His judgment.
III. God’s Reasons are Always Right (Ro 9:19-29)
A. God’s reasons are based on His knowledge.
1. God did not force Pharaoh to sin nor does He force anyone else to sin. Every man is responsible for his own actions.
Jeremiah 18:3-6 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
2. In the OT example, Israel turned away from God and God (as the Potter) remoulded Israel. God was not to blame for the sins of Israel that spoiled the pottery.
3. God’s reasons for showing mercy or judgment are based on man’s heart responses.
B. God’s reasons are based on man’s choices.
1. Sometimes, to show His wrath and make known His power, God chooses to endure the folly for a long time of those fitted to destruction (Ro 9:22).
a) The word “fitted” means “to prepare” or “to frame for one’s self”.
b) By their ungodly actions, the wicked prepare themselves for destruction.
2. Other times God makes known the riches of His glory on believers He prepared for glory.
Ephesians 1:5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
3. He has done this for both Jewish and Gentile believers (Ro 9:24).
a) Paul quotes Hosea 2:23 (Ro 9:25), and Hosea 1:10 (Ro 9:26) to explain this.
b) Paul also quotes Isaiah 10:22-23 (Ro 9:27-28) and Isaiah 1:19 (Ro 9:29) as support.
IV. God’s Requirement is Always Faith (Ro 9:30-33)
A. Faith saves contrary to heritage.
1. Gentiles, who are not part of Israel by birth, receive righteousness by faith in Christ (Ro 9:30).
2. Israelites by birth who seek righteousness by keeping the law, fail to receive it (Ro 9:31).
B. God’s requirement of faith can cause stumbling
1. Many in Israel do not have faith in Christ and stumble over this requirement.
2. Christ is a stumbling stone, but all who believe on Him, Jew or Gentile, will not be ashamed or disgraced. They will receive life eternal. Here is what God tells us in John 1:12-13.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Conclusion: We have found four lessons about God in this chapter. 1) God’s offer is always generous, 2) God’s conditions are always just, 3) God’s reasons are always right, and 4) God’s requirement is always faith.
These lessons apply to us as well. Salvation from hell is God’s gift to man. God said the requirement is faith in Him. If you have not placed your faith in Jesus alone to save you from hell, you can today.
If you have found this chapter confusing, I hope that todays sermon will make it more clear. It is like a sandwich. The “bread” and the beginning and end of the chaper helps to explain the content in between.
Song: Let Jesus Come Into – 244