Romans,
Chapter 9
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
Romans 9:1-5
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the
adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the
service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
As you read the next three chapters, many
theologians believe them to be a Parenthetical aside applicable only to
Israel/Jews.
That is incorrect.
While some within the coming three chapters
does apply to
Please read each verse in its proper
application.
It may seem odd to our understanding, but it
was considered normal in Paul's day, using both a positive and a negative to
affirm, "I tell you the truth, I am not lying."
He goes on to say that one job description
for the Holy Spirit is to confirm the Truth in us.
We also begin a study of Paul's great love
and burden for the Jewish people.
That burden was normal.
“Accursed” (Gr. anathema-anaqema) means just that.
Paul would have gladly taken the curse of
unbelief in place of his Jewish brothers, but that is impossible.
However, the choice was not Paul’s to
make! The choice was God’s! Man’s choice
is extremely limited, but God choice is the result of His truly free will!
Each of us comes to Christ at a predetermined
time and place, and no substitutes are allowed.
Christ took our sins and He is the only
substitute sacrifice that is adequate.
We are living in a time of awakening within
the Jewish population.
More and more, we see Jews coming to the
knowledge of Christ.
However, many still cling to tradition rather
than God's Anointed.
All during his ministry, Paul struggled
against blinded Jews.
Because of their blindness, Paul admitted
that he had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart.
Paul loved the Jewish people.
Today, many Jews have taken up Peter’s
mission to preach to the Jews.
They tell their Jewish brothers of God’s love
as expressed through Christ Jesus.
Thank God, the Jewish blindness is
temporary.
Their salvation comes about just as ours
does.
Salvation is through Jesus, Yahshua, God’s Messiah!
Romans 9:6-13
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none
effect. For they are not all
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham,
are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Not all of those born as Israelites are godly
descendants from Jacob.
Most are just physical descendants.
Abraham’s special “seed,” Christ Jesus, came
through Isaac, not Ishmael.
Romans 9:8 That is, They
which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the
children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Did you realize that this was so plain in the
Bible?
The children of the flesh, natural Jews are not children of God!
Children of God come through the
promise.
They may be Jew or Gentile, but they come
through the promise.
Only those that proclaim "Jesus is
Lord" are counted as God’s children.
Romans 9:9-13
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I
come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or
evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works,
but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Paul refers now to the story of Sarah.
He calls the prophecy to her concerning the
birth of a son to be the word of promise.
God promised that, at the proper time, He
would "visit" her.
At the proper time, Sarah would become
pregnant and give birth to a son.
It happened just as God said, but not in
man's timing. It happened in God's timing.
Not only do we have Sarah's story, we also
have Rebecca's story.
Her children were also unique in that while
they were not yet born, having done neither good nor evil.
God performed His work of grace within her
womb so that the purpose of God call according to election by grace may be
affirmed.
God said that the elder [Esau] shall serve
the younger [Jacob].
Verse 13 is an unfortunate translation.
It should say, "I have loved Jacob, but
I have less regard for Esau."
God did not hate Esau.
Romans 9:14 What
shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Is God unrighteous because he chose one over
the other?"
Were God's actions against Esau unrighteous?
Paul's answers, "God forbid!"
Romans 9: 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion.
"I will have mercy" (Gr. ele-eesoo-elehsw) means God
will have mercy!
"I will have compassion" (Gr. oiktireesoo-oiktirhsw) speaks
of God’s pity.
Like it or not, it is God who chooses the
ones on whom He will have mercy.
We are the chosen, not the choosers.
Far too many Church members want to be in
charge of the salvation process.
God say, “I will have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whomever I
choose!”
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth,
but of God that sheweth mercy.
So much for
freewill!
Our freewill or lack
of freewill has no effect on the outcome of God’s plan, because it is His plan!
Romans 9:17-18
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for
this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew
my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
We must understand is that nothing can stop the Plan of God!
If you learn nothing else, remember this
phrase, "Nothing can stop the plan of God."
From our view, His plan is not always
apparent.
I want you to learn that, "NOTHING can
stop the plan of God."
Some will disagree with that.
Some will hedge.
However, it remains a spiritual fact that nothing
can stop the plan of God from coming to fruition.
Let's start with the Children of Israel.
For years the Children of Israel were subject
to
However, the Egyptian phase was always God's
plan. God had told Abraham that the enslavement would take place.
From that we know that time cannot stop God's
plan.
It is part of the Plan.
Time-wise, God's plan is more accurate than
the best watch you can buy.
You may not know that from time to time the
Bureau of Standards adds one second to the WWV Universal standard Time, because
the best clock we can build is no match for the universe.
Time cannot stop the plan of God, because, nothing
can stop the plan of God.
The children of
No human being can
stop the plan of God, because, nothing can stop the plan of God.
Moses finally secured the Israelites release.
He took them straight to the edge of the
There was no human planning in Moses’ plan,
but God had a plan!
Did Moses ever think about how he was going
to get all those people across?
No boats, no bridges, not even a very good
plan.
As a matter of fact, it really did not
matter.
The sea parted and they walked across on dry
land.
That brings us to the next point.
Natural barriers cannot stop the plan of God,
because, nothing can stop the plan of God.
As the Israelites were standing there on the
edge of the
Pharaoh’s humans plan did not work!
The strength of Pharaoh's army could not stop
God's plan, because, nothing can stop the plan of God.
Next, the Israelites reached the Promised
Land, and somebody had the brilliant idea to scope out the territory.
They sent in twelve spies.
Ten of them came back and said, "We are
in deep trouble! That place is a natural recruiting ground
for the NBA They are REALLY TALL.
The shortest one of them could play Power
Forward for the Celtics."
However, two of the spies came back and said,
"It's okay boys. We can take it."
Did you know that God plus nobody is a
majority?
God had two votes to spare on that one.
Now you may be thinking, "Ah ha...gotcha
they did not go in."
I could say that concede ten men slowed them
down.
But, that's not what happened and in a few
moments you will understand.
Those ten men who brought back a bad report
were the first to die in the wilderness.
You have a Bible, look it up.
Bringing back a bad report is not in your
best interest.
Besides, the fact remains that the Israelites
did eventually enter the Promised Land.
That indicates that man's fears cannot stop
the plan of God, because, nothing can stop the plan of God.
Many people teach that the Israelites 40
years of wandering was wasted time....Not so!
The Israelites had to be at a certain place
at a certain time.
The 40 years was just a hold, or built-in
time correction.
NASA uses them all the time on missile launches.
You will soon understand.
So, they wandered around for 40 years.
It must have really been boring....except for
the cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night...hearing the voice of
God...seeing the tablets of stone with the Law written on them...the
manna...and birds flying in...not to mention Balaam's
attempt at coursing them.
There was one really big drawback---no new
clothes for 40 years.
Then, Moses died and Joshua took over.
Again we see the water part.
This time the Jordan River.
Again natural barriers cannot stop God's
plan, because nothing can stop the plan of God.
So, they went across, and the first thing
they ran into was a walled city,
Keep in mind that they may not have seen a
walled city in quite a while.
How would you tear that wall down?
Would you walk around it?
I wouldn't, but then I have never had to tear
a wall down.
They probably thought Joshua was one french fry shy of a happy meal.
That brings us to the next step.
Man-made barriers cannot stop God's plan,
because nothing can stop the plan of God.
The Israelites rushed in and killed every
man, woman, dog, cow, cat and butterfly in that city.
EXCEPT for ONE family in ONE home.
One woman had helped them, so they did not
harm her, or her family.
Turn to Matthew 1:5. "And Salmon
begat Boaz of Rachab;....."
I feel it happened this way.
God the Father looked down on all His
creation and asked Jesus, "Who do you want in your family tree, Son?
Jesus replied, "I think Rachab should be one."
The Father said, "Good choice."
It is quite possible that Rachab
had not even been born when the Children of Israel started on the wanderings.
Now we get to the heart of this matter.
When God decided to make Rachab
part of Jesus' family, He did not send a soldier to retrieve her that from
sinful society.
He did send a platoon of soldiers...or even a
company.
When He decided to get Rachab's
freedom He did not send an Army to get her.
WHAT????
NO!
He did not send an army.
When God, in His power and love, decided it
was time to establish Rachab as part of HIS
HE SENT AN ENTIRE NATION to free ONE
WOMAN!
And, when it was time to free you, GOD
sent His SON IN PERSON!
Paul offers the story of Pharaoh as proof of
God's sovereignty over man.
Pharaoh was raised up, given a kingdom and
great human authority just to prove a point.
Pharaoh's ego demanded that he ruin his
nation just to prove who was in charge.
As it turned out, God was in charge.
There is another story I want you to read concerning
God's plan for an individual.
John 9:1-3
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind
from birth.
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
parents, that he was born blind?"
3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the
works of God should be revealed in him. (NKJV)
Wherever the gospel is proclaimed, the story
of Pharaoh's ego is told.
Along with it the story of God's love for a
blind man is told. Both men represent us.
Our ego demands freewill, and yet we are
blind to the consequences of our actions until those consequences fall on us.
Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Again, Paul is not afraid to meet the opposition
head on.
Paul asks, "If it’s impossible to resist
God's will, why does He find fault in what we do?"
I know that what you are reading seems to
deny "free will."
Let me tell you why.
Man's free moral agency only works one way.
It is like being on a one way street.
Man's "free will" can only reject
Christ!
Man can accept Christ only when his free
moral agency is overcome by the power of God.
John 5:39-40
39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal
life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (NKJV)
The Jews of thought that
knowledge of the Scriptures resulted in salvation.
IT
DOES NOT!
Knowing the words and knowing the Word are
different things.
Today, many believe that our will is the
determining factor in salvation.
IT
IS NOT!
Man's ego will lead him to disaster just as
it did for Pharaoh.
The human will is good for only one thing, to
be subjected to God's will.
Romans 9:20-23
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest
against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to
make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath
fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his
glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Paul continues his proof of God’s
sovereignty.
Who are we to think that we can that argue
with God?
Do you have a flowerpot at home?
How many times have you asked it what type of
flower it wants in it?
In my home, I choose the plants.
Well actually, my wife does.
The flowerpot has no say in the matter.
You may think that I believe we are all just
robots for God.
Do not think of yourself so highly.
We are not robots!
We are just lumps of clay.
God is the Master Potter.
In our home, we have various flowerpots (some
large, some small), and each serves a purpose.
We are doing the same in God’s Kingdom. Each
and every one of us serves a purpose.
Romans 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called,
not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
We sometimes make the mistake of believing
that the Jews always existed.
Abraham was called out from among Gentiles.
Abram first received a promise from God when
he was the Gentile Abram.
Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse
him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed." (NKJV)
Most Christians do not understand that that
promise was made to a Gentile on the basis of grace and grace alone.
There is no covenant agreement attached to
it, no demand for prerequisite works to uphold it.
Romans 9:25-26
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people;
and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them,
Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the
children of the living God.
Let's look at those 2 verses in the New King
James Version.
Romans 9:25-26
25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My
people, and her beloved, who was not beloved."
26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You
are not My people,' there they shall be called sons of the living God."
(NKJV)
At this time, most Jews and Muslims believe
that Christians are not God’s people.
Boy, are they in for a surprise.
Romans 9:27-28
27 Esaias also crieth
concerning
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a
short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
These verses are also better understood when
looking at another translation.
Romans 9:27-28
27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant
that will be saved;
28 for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and
quickly." (NASB)
God’s work is God’s work!
He will do it completely and righteously!
Romans 9:29 And
as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as
"Lord of Sabaoth"
(Gr. Kurios Sabaooth-KurioV Sabawq) is a military title.
It means Lord of Hosts (the army of God).
"Except the Lord of Sabaoth
had left us a seed" expresses God’s sovereignty.
If God had not made provision for
As you recall, those cities were utterly
destroyed---or were they?
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and
the English text does reflect Hebrew idiom.
In English, Ezekiel 16:53, says that God
shall "bring again" the captivity of the daughters of
That is in English.
The Hebrew idiom tells us that the fortunes
of
The problem comes from literal translations.
Idiom in one language cannot be translated
into another literally without losing the meaning.
That point is extremely difficult for many to
understand and accept.
Romans 9:30-31
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which
followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the
righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Gentiles do not pursue righteousness, and yet
we have attained righteousness through faith.
That faith is through the faith OF Christ Jesus.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that
we might be justified by the
faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be justified. (KJV)
Romans 9:32-33
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
For centuries, Jews struggled to gain and
maintain righteousness.
Many Church members are doing the same thing
today.
Why struggle for something that God willingly
gives us?
Today, Jews may become atheists, agnostics,
Buddhists, or any number of other perversions, and still be acceptable within
the Jewish community.
However, if a Jew accepts Christ Jesus as
Messiah, he/she is not accepted into Jewish society.
We know that Some Jews do believe in Him.
Today, there is discrimination in
"Shall not be ashamed" (Gr. ou kataischuntheesetai-ou kataiscunqhsetai) literally means shall not be ashamed.
Will you be ashamed when Christ comes to
gather those that are His?