GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION - ROMANS 9:19-33

God’s Rights Over His Creation

9:19-26

Having established God’s sovereignty over salvation, Paul anticipated the next question: why does he still find fault, for who can resist his will? (19) In other words, if God shows mercy to whom he wills, and hardens whom he will, how can he hold people accountable for their unbelief?

There is a fallacy in this claim, as everyone who rejects the gospel resists God’s will. Everyone who sins resists God’s will, refusing to do what God says to do. 

Paul does not explain that conundrum, however. Instead, he said who are you to talk back to God? Human nature, especially our rebelliousness against God, causes us to question his actions and his nature. 

An example of this occurs when a mother tells a child to do something and the child demands to know why. It is not that the child knows he or she is ignorant and seeks enlightenment from the mother. Rather, it is the child questioning the mother’s authority to command the child and the reasonableness of the command. If you have ever read the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes”, you have seen some examples of this.

The most common response of mothers to this question is “because I said so”. By that the mother means I have the authority to command you and you do not have the right to challenge me.

Paul does that very thing here. He gives two examples. First, the object molded does not question its molder why he made them like this. This is an argument “ad absurdum” or reductio ad absurdum - showing that the opposing argument results in absurdity. 

Did you ever make a candle as a craft when you were a child. One way is to cut down a milk carton, pour in paraffin, and insert a wick. You get a square candle out of it. The candle does not puff up and demand that you explain why you did not make it round instead. 

Second, a potter has a right to make whatever kind of object he wants of his clay. If he wants to make a vessel for honorable use, he can. If he wants one for dishonorable use, he can do so. In this metaphor, the honorable stands for the saved and dishonorable for the unsaved, unbelieving. God has the right to choose which sinner he will save. 

You might remember that Job questioned God, saying if he had sinned, he would understand his suffering, but, since he had not sinned, he wanted God to explain himself (“let the Almighty answer me”). (Job 31)

Instead of explaining himself, God stated, with multiple examples, why Job had no right to question him. (Job 38-41) God summarized his statements  with the rhetorical question: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?”. (Job 40:2). Job got it. He repented in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)  

Third, God had the right as God to show his wrath and power. He exercised much patience toward those who do not believe. He called them “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”. (22) He did this to make known the riches of his glory for undeserving vessels of mercy (those he saved.) (23) (Ephesians 1:6) 

Paul again spoke of predestination, saying he prepared the vessels of mercy, those whom he saved (prepared for glory), “beforehand”. We are reminded of Ephesians 1, which says God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world and that he predestined us for adoption as his sons, all according to the purpose of his will. ( Ephesians 1:4-5) 

Paul also referred to believers as those he called. (24) This refers us back to 8:30, where he said that those God predestined he also called. 

Those he called, believers, are not just from the Jews but also from the Gentiles. (24) In support of this idea, Paul cited the Old Testament book of Hosea. (25) There God foretold that he would call those who were not his people, i.e. not Jews, his people, beloved, and sons of the living God. (Hosea 2:23) Paul those shows the Jews that it was God’s purpose and intention to bring the Gentiles into “his people” in addition to the Jews. He will develop that idea further in chapter 11. 

The Jewish Remnant Saved

9:27-29

As further proof that God’s word had not failed, Paul shows us that God had previously said only a remnant would be saved. He cited two passages from Isaiah for proof. 

First, Paul cited Isaiah 10:22, saying that Israel may have many people, but only a remnant of Israel will be saved. The original context was the invasion of Israel by Assyria. Paul gave it an second fulfillment regard the unbelief of the Jews.

The second citation is from Isaiah 1. There, Isaiah, speaking for the Lord,  decried the spiritual state of Israel. They rebelled against God, despising him and becoming estranged from him. He told of the desolation that God had brought upon the nation because of their iniquity. Things were so bad that, if God had not let some survive, they would have been completely destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9)

The idea of saving a remnant appears in several places in the Bible. Noah’s family was a small remnant God saved as he destroyed the world with a flood. (Genesis 6) Only Lot’s family were saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19) During the time of Elijah, all of Israel served Baal except a remnant of 7,000 God had preserved for himself. (1 Kings 19)

Jesus also spoke of a remnant of humanity being saved. He said: “"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

 

The Great Contrast

9:30-33

Paul pointed out the reason for the failure of the Jews to be saved. They did not pursue righteousness by faith, but by works. They came to believe they could observe the rituals and rules outwardly without believing and trusting in God inwardly. Jesus often criticized the Pharisees for this. 

Because of this, Jesus became a stumbling block for them. They were offended by his claim that they were sinners who needed to repent. They were offended by his claim to be the Son of God in whom they were to believe. And these things were foretold by God through the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 28:16; 8:14; 49:23)

It is good news for us, though, that the last line of the quote is that whoever believes in Jesus will not be put to shame. 

 When it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority. 

– A.W. Tozer –

THE SOVEREIGN CHOICE OF GOD - ROMANS 9:1-18

 

Paul’s Lament For The Jews

9:1-5

Continuing his discussion of God’s faithfulness in salvation, Paul deals with the lack of belief among his fellow Jews. He begins by expressing his sorrow over the situation. He had so much sorrow and anguish over their rejection of Jesus that he was willing to be cut off from Christ if it would bring them to belief. 

We will also see that he wanted to develop this compassion among the Gentile believers. 

This is a lesson for us today also. We do not look down on, or disdain, non-believers. Rather, we have compassion on them, knowing the consequences of their unbelief. That drives us to witness to them and live in a way that speaks of Christ’s work in us. 

Too often in history, Christians have embraced anti-semitism as a response to the Jews’ rejection of Christ. 

The tragedy of the Jews’ rejection of Christ is compounded by their spiritual history, their legacy of blessings from a faithful God. Paul recounts these blessings: they received adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, and the promises. (4)

Israel’s adoption refers to God treating them as his children and his inheritance on the earth under the old covenant. For example, God spoke through Moses to Pharaoh, saying: Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”(Exodus 4:22) 

While giving Israel the law, Moses said: “You are the sons of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 14:1). 

The glory refers to the glory of God dwelling in the Tabernacle and Temple. It is sometimes referred to as the Shekinah glory or presence. The glory of God appeared on the mountain with Moses. (Exodus 24:16) It entered the Tabernacle (Exodus 40: 34) and then the Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). 

The covenants refer to the covenant with Abraham and the subordinate covenants with Israel through Moses and the covenant with David. The Jews were also promised the New Covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34) 

The law referred to God’s covenant law given through Moses to Israel. 

The worship included the sacrifices and the procedures to be used at the Tabernacle and Temple to worship God.

Additionally, the Old Testament patriarchs were theirs. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were Jews as were all the subsequent kings and prophets. Even more so, Jesus Christ, was born a Jew in his human nature. He was given first to the Jews before being presented to the Gentiles.

Notice the insertion here of a statement of Jesus’ deity. Paul calls him “…Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever”. (5)

God’s Word Did Not Fail

9:6-13

In light of this, did the Jews’ rejection of Christ mean that God’s word failed? By “God’s word”, Paul means God’s words, promises, to Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham to be the God of him and his decedents. (Genesis 17) Did God’s word fail toward his elect\chosen nation? 

Paul’s answer is no, the word of God did not fail. (6) The reason is that not all of the physical descendants of Israel (Jacob) are Abraham’s true offspring. Paul distinguished between children of the flesh and children of the promise. (7)

The children of the promise are now those who do receive Jesus as savior. Paul will later call them the elect, or chosen, remnant. (Romans 11:4-5)

For example, Abraham’s first born son was Ishmael, who was borne by Hagar, Sarah’s servant. But, Ishmael was only a child of the flesh, not the child of the promise, for God said the covenant promise would continue through Sarah’s son, who would be called Isaac. (7) (Genesis 17) (Galatians 4:23)

Paul then gave a second example. This may be because a Jew could argue that Ishmael was rejected because his mother was not Jewish. 

Isaac’s wife Rebekah conceived twins. (10) Esau was the oldest. Jacob was the youngest. 

Normally, the first born would be the child who would inherit the blessing and estate of the father. But, before the sons were born, God chose the younger, Jacob, to be the child of the promise. (12)

God made this choice before the boys were born. (7-8)He did not make the choice on the basis of anything either child would do. And they had done nothing at the time God made his choice. (11) Rather, God chose the younger child, Jacob, to continue his purpose of election. It was not because of works, but because of God’s will. (see also John 1:11-13)

God’s choice, or election, of Jacob is reinforced by God’s declaration in Malachi 1:2-3: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated”. The word “hated” troubles some people. However, almost every Bible version uses it. It carries a sense of rejection. 

Is God Unjust?

9:14-18

The next question Paul anticipates is “is God’s election injustice? (14) Again, Paul answers that it is not. God has always asserted his sovereignty over man. Paul refers us to God’s encounter with Moses where he said he will have mercy and compassion on whom he wills to do so. (15) 

This occurred when God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites on from Mount Sinai where the law was given. Moses asked to see God’s glory. God made his goodness pass before Moses and proclaimed his name, The LORD (Yahweh). He also declared his sovereignty by saying the words Paul quoted. (Exodus 33:19)

So, again Paul states that God’s election does not depend on human will or exertion, but on God and his mercy. (16) He backs that up with a reference to Pharaoh. God told him he raised him up in order that he might show his (God’s) power and cause his name to be proclaimed. (17) 

God did not choose Pharaoh to be a child of the promise. He chose him to demonstrate that God is sovereign even over the most powerful human king on earth. Since God is sovereign, he may choose to show mercy to one and harden another. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. (Exodus 7:3-4)

When Pharaoh failed to heed the word of God and refused to release Israel from slavery, God imposed the plagues, broke Pharaoh’s resistance, and glorified himself in the process. Then Paul reiterates that God will have mercy on whom he will and hardens whomever he wills. (18) God is sovereign in all things, including salvation. 

So, God’s word did not fail because every person in Israel did not come to Christ in faith. The remnant, chosen by God, did come to faith and received the fulfillment of the promise. Likewise, those Gentiles God chose and called to faith in Christ did so. As 8:30 says, “those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified”.

It is this working of the Sovereign God that allows us to experience the assurance given to us in 8:31-39. God has saved us. No one can unsave us. In this we rejoice and worship and have peaceful assurance. 

WAITING FOR THE NEW CREATION - ROMANS 8:19-30

 

Sin And Creation

8:19-25

We have previously seen that sin came into humanity through Adam. (Romans 5:12) But this passage tells us that not just humanity was affected, but the whole of creation. 

As part of God’s judgment on Adam for his sin, God cursed the ground. Thorns and thistles grew on it, making it more difficult to grow food, which was no longer provided to Adam in the garden. Working the ground would be in pain, earned by sweat. (Genesis 3:17-19) 

Paul summarized this by saying God subjected creation to futility. It is in bondage to corruption. (21) Paul personifies creation, saying it longs to be set free. It waits eagerly for it. 

That freeing will come when Christ returns and raises believers, revealing the sons of God. (19) And believers also eagerly await the redemption of our bodies. We groan inwardly. (23) 

Our hope for eternity is not that our spirits will dwell in heaven while our bodies lie buried on earth. Rather, our bodies are made new and glorified. They become imperishable, lasting forever. (1 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:53)

And new, imperishable, bodies need an imperishable place to live. They need a new earth. When we are saved, we become a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is only the beginning. It is completed when God makes all things new. Then there is a new heavens and new earth.

This new creation will be free from evil. All of the enemies of God will have been defeated by Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:25) One of those enemies is death. It will be the last one destroyed, preparing us to live forever.

This creation will be new and perfect. (Revelation 21:5, 27; 22:3). God will prepare it for us, beautiful as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)  John saw it as a beautiful garden or oasis. He saw a river flowing from the throne of God running it through it, the banks lined with trees bearing fruit. 

It sounds a lot like the Garden of Eden, doesn’t it? It had many beautiful , fruit bearing, trees. It had a river running through it to water it. (Genesis 3:8-10) It was a new and perfect creation before sin. And God will make a new creation that is perfect. 

In the first garden, the Lord came and walked with the man and woman. (Genesis 3:8) I believe this was the pre-incarnate Christ. The best part of the new creation is that God the Father and God the Son will dwell there with us. We will be able to see them and worship them. And we will reign over the earth with them. (Revelation 22:3-5)

The Helper

8:26-27

While we wait for Christ’s glorious return, we do not wait alone and helpless. For, God sends us another helper, the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-17) 

One of the ways the Spirit helps us is in prayer. In our weakness, we do not know what to pray for as we should. (26) We do not always know what God’s will is. But, the Spirit knows the Father’s will and intercedes for us accordingly. The Father always grants the requests made in accordance with his will. 

God Working For Our Good

8:28-30

The second reason that we do not wait alone and helpless is that God works all things together for our good. He does this for believers, those who love God and are called according to his purpose. This does not mean that everything that happens to a believer is good in the sense that it is enjoyable. But God works in all things for our good in the sense of our spiritual growth and sanctification. 

How do we know God does this? Because of the chain of God’s actions toward his people. It is sometimes called the “golden chain of salvation”. 

First, Paul calls believers those whom God foreknew. Some people hold the position that this means God knew who would believe on Jesus and acted in saving grace toward them. But, what the verse says is that God foreknew persons, not things about them. It says: “whom he foreknew”.

So, what does “foreknew” mean? The Greek word is “proginosko”. In Greek letters it is: 

προέγνω

It means to know beforehand, choose, or foreordain. This fits with Paul’s statement that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

There are examples of this in the Bible. First, we see God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet and saying to him: Before i formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…”. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) Second is the apostle Paul himself. He said: “But when he who had set me apart before i was born and who called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his Son to me…”. (Galatians 1:15)

So, those whom God foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus, his son. (29) “Predestined” means to be determined beforehand. We are conformed to the image of Jesus by believing in him and working with the Spirit to become holy like Jesus. Again, this is the doctrine of sanctification. This process is not optional. It is God’s plan for us as believers in his Son. 

The reason for this plan to conform us to the image of Christ is that he might be the firstborn of many brothers. The Father wants the Son to have a people who believe in him and strive to be like him. 

Those God predestined, he called. This means, through the work of the Holy Spirit, he drew us to Jesus. Jesus said “no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) The Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8) No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Those whom the Father calls will come to Christ, the Son, and he will justify them because they believe in the Son. He will impute Christ’s righteousness to them. He will save them and give them eternal life. 

Then, those he has justified with also be glorified. They will be raised at the resurrection and receive glorified bodies. 

This is the great statement of assurance for believers. If you believe in Jesus, you are one whom God foreknew, whom God predestined to conform to the image of his Son, whom he called to Christ and justified. And whom he will glorify on the last day. He has done these things and will do the these things. 

Glory to God!