Welcome back to season 2 of Perspective For Today.
It’s hard for me to believe that we have been faithful to this ministry for over a year now. I’d like to thank those of you that have been faithful to listen to this podcast. I pray that in some small way it has blessed you. So let’s pick up with Romans chapter 9
Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit-
Paul is speaking to the Jews and he’s insisting that salvation is not just for the Jews, but for the gentiles as well.
He is trying to drive home his point by taking a solemn oath. It is his conscience in fellowship with the Holy Spirit that attests to this truth.
Romans 9:2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
Paul is totally distressed at the Jews rejection of the Messiah.
He has this continual anguish in his heart. The Holy Spirit that dwells in Paul fortifies his position with Christ. He has the conviction of the Holy Spirit that causes him to reach out to his Jewish Brothers.
As we go about our day we should be fortified and convicted by the Holy Spirit to reach out to the lost.
It should grieve our heart to see those we care about reject the gospel message.
Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Paul was willing to forfeit his own salvation in order to save his Jewish Brothers and sisters.
No greater Love than a man lay down his life for his brother. Paul loved Jesus so much and yet he was willing to be eternally separated from Him in order to bring others to Christ. Moses made a similar statement when God’s chosen made an idol out of a golden calf.
Exodus 32:32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.
In this next verse Paul expounds on all that God had bestowed upon the Israelites.
Romans 9:4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
The Israelites were adopted in a national sense. They were God’s chosen people.
Exodus 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son,
The glory of God had been revealed to them, especially during the time of Moses.
The Israelites held a special place in God’s heart. When we think back about our firstborn we tended to be more attentive to his or her needs. We doted on them. Not that our second child was loved any less but our first born always has a special place in our heart.
Exodus 16:10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
The next thing that Paul mentions is the giving of the law of Moses, the ten commandments in Deuteronomy 5:1-22.
The worship that Paul mentions is the requirement of Temple worship and the sacrificial system.
Finally, Paul ends with the promises of God, which are expounded on in the Old testament, including His protection, peace, prosperity and the coming Messiah.
Romans 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Paul is expounding on all the blessings that the Israelites have had as God’s chosen people.
Not only have they been adopted and have seen the glory of God, not to mention the ten commandments that were set in stone for them. But now he reminds them of their lineage and that their ancestry can be traced back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God had placed Jesus Christ within that lineage.
It was not mere coincidence, but rather His love for his chosen people. God was honoring the Israelites by making Jesus not only a Jew, but a descendant of David. This shows the overwhelming love that was extended to the Jewish people.
We may not be God’s first born as a nation, but we are no less loved.
Jesus was offered as a sacrifice not only for the Jews but for all mankind.
Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
God’s promises to Israel have not changed.
Just because an Israelite claims his birthright as an heir to God’s promises, does not automatically give him that entitlement. Just because a person is born into the nation of Israel does not mean that he is an heir to the promises. Within the nation of Israel God has a true, believing remnant.
Romans 9:7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.
God’s plan for Abraham was that his descendants and heirs would come through Isaac.
But Abraham tried to circumvent God’s plan for him by having a child with Hagar, his wife’s handmaiden. So those descendants of Ishmael Hagar’s son, are not the true offspring of Abraham. In other words those Israelites who are the descendants of Ishmael are not the true heirs.
Romans 9:8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
It is not the physical lineage that counts.
The true Israel consists of those Jews who were selected by God and to whom he made some specific promise, marking them out as his children.
Romans 9:9 For this is what the promise said: About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son.
That is the promise of God. Not any sons before or after but the one child Isaac. That was God’s promise. That was the miracle child of the supernatural birth.
Romans 9:10 And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
Just as God had foreordained Isaac to be the true lineage of Israel, God had foretold of His sovereign will concerning the twins that Rebecca was carrying.
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 his call—
So these twins who were not even born yet, through no fault of their own, were predestined for their respective lot in life. Nothing these twins could do could change God’s calling on them. In other words, their good works could not change their destiny. It was God’s calling upon their life and no self righteous motivation could alter that.
Romans 9:12 she was told, The older will serve the younger.
In the culture of that time it was customary that the firstborn of twins would have the honors and the privileges associated with that position. Yet it was not to be. Esau who was the firstborn would be subservient to Jacob who was born after him.
Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
This is not to be taken in a literal sense. It is just an emphasis of God’s love for Jacob, moreover his love for Israel. Paul quotes this scripture from Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 I have loved you, says the LORD. But you say, How have you loved us? Is not Esau Jacob’s brother? declares the LORD. Yet I have loved Jacob
Malachi 1:3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.
This passage refers to the two Nations Israel and Edom.
The Israelites were to be the recipients of the Messiah and the Messianic Kingdom. Edom had received no such promise. Hence the harsh language. It is not that God hated Esau, but rather that he loved Esau less than Jacob, as seen by his sovereign selection of Jacob.
So we’re just going to wrap all this up with these last three verses. This pretty much sums up what it’s all about.
Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!
Romans 9:15 For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
Romans 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
No Nation or individual can say or do anything to alter their destiny. It is only the mercy of almighty God toward us that ultimately decides our fate.
I think this is a good place to stop for now.
I’d like to thank you for listening and as always may you have a week full of opportunities to share this good news with those that need to hear it.