Romans 9 God's Got a Plan to Bless Believers

Romans 9  God's Got a Plan to Bless Believers © 2014 WF Cobb Truthbase.net DailyTruthbase.Blogspot.com

I. Heritage does not equal Blessable Holiness; Election is corporate and to Blessing (not individual forgiveness).

9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all ek Israel who are of Israel (Gal 3:7-9). 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham (Jn 8:39); but, "In Isaac (vs Ishmael) your seed shall be called." 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." 10 Rebecca also had conceived 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." (Mal 1:2-3; Gen 26:27)

APP: Most of Israel missed the blessings and promises of God, despite God's choice of them. Not all children of Abraham obey.

II. God has mercy/hesed (loyal covenantal relations) with whomever He chooses and confirms the sinful choices of others.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses (Ex 33:19), "I will have mercy/hesed on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have exalted/raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (sets up for judgment as a result of their choices {cf 1:28} -Ex 7:3,13; 22; 8:19; 9:12, 35; 10:20,27;11:10,14,4, 8,17; Acts 19:9; Heb 3:8,13, 15; 4:7) Ex 9:27 “I have sinned this time, the Lord is righteous?

APP: God can harden/fix people in their bad choices to display His glory/power in justly judging them; so be quick to obey (Rm 11:20).

III. God will Honor those who do His will, and Dishonor those who don't. He patiently endures sinners to show mercy to all.

19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20..."Why have you made me like this?" (Isa 45:9; 29:16) 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand (Eph 2:10) for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 "I will call them My people/beloved, who were not My people, 26 "in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." 27 "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved.

APP: The fact that God does find fault with those who resist His will should cause us to strive to enter life at the narrow gate (Mt 7:13-14)

IV. Righteousness (careful to do what is right in God's sight) must be sought by faith in God's revelation, not ritual/tradition.

30 What shall we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness...righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

APP: We need to know and do what God requires, submitting ourselves wholeheartedly to God's plan, to be righteous and rewarded.

V. God always keeps His sovereign promises, especially that of Blessing the whole world through the descendents of Abe (Gen 12)

11:1 has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite...2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. 11..have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But thru their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

20 Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in goodness/virtue. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

APP: Justified believers will be cut off from blessing if they don't continue in goodness; those who repent and return will be blessed.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How and why did the majority of Jews miss the promises of God in the OT? In the NT? Was it their choice or God's?

2. Since it's possible to resist God's will, persist in unbelief, and refuse to be His people, how do we make sure we are not cut off from blessing?

3. What makes you think you're on the difficult narrow path, rather than the broad road to judgement and loss of blessing?

4. If God has plans to bring Israel back into the Vine and save them (fulness 11:12; 26), what do you think of those who say Israel is the church?

5. How are you continuing goodness/virtue (Rm 3:12; Gal 5:22; Col 3:12)? Are you fitted for honor or dishonor?