The Book of Romans, Chapter 9, Deep Concern for Israel

 

The Book of Romans, Chapter 9

Deep Concern for Israel

The main theme of Romans 9 is God’s sovereignty in His plan of salvation, particularly regarding Israel. In this chapter, the apostle Paul the Apostle explains why many Israelites rejected the Messiah while many Gentiles were coming to faith. He emphasizes that God’s promises have not failed because God has always worked according to His purpose and grace, not merely by physical ancestry.

Romans 9 is the first chapter of a three-chapter section (Romans 9–11) in which Paul explains God’s ongoing purposes for Israel and the inclusion of the Gentiles in His plan of redemption. Different Christian traditions interpret some parts of this chapter—especially those concerning God’s sovereignty, election, and human responsibility—in different ways, but they generally agree that the chapter highlights God’s faithfulness, mercy, and the central importance of faith in Christ.

(Because of the historical and doctrinal complexities of this chapter, I recommend Biblehub.com commentaries (Calvinist) or Enduring Word (David Guzik – Provisionist).

Deep Concern for Israel

Romans 9:1, I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, verse 2, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. Verse 3. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen according to the flesh, verse 4, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises; verse 5, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

(Commentary Break): It is favorably odd to hear Paul’s emotional humility poured out over Israel and the Jew’s failure to recognize God’s provision of salvation and of being adopted and elected as His own children, despite their giving of the Law, their temple service and the promises available to them. A tragic failure indeed. Compounded in this tragedy is the global hatred for the Jew and their ensuing suffering because of their stance with God and His Holy standards yet most failed to recognize their promised Messiah and to trust Him by faith. One must ask, ‘how could this have happened?”

First, we as Christians must learn from this and understand that if God will judge the Jew so strictly, how much more will He judge us who fail to live through and by faith in Christ? And secondly, we should be grateful for the sacrifice of the Jews, who preserved the Law, which was the tutor and brought us to see the risen Christ. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; verse 7, nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED.” Verse 8. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. Verse 9. For this is the word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH WILL HAVE A SON.” Verse 10. And not only that, but there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; verse 11, for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, verse 12, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Verse 13. Just as it is written: “JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED.”

(Commentary Break): There is a lot that can be said (and has been said) about these foregoing verses, and I would recommend BibleHub.com commentary. And that will give you an excellent theological view in exhaustive detail. Here, I will attempt brevity and a practical view. (I may use excerpts from BibleHub.com but I will color the text purple and I will put them in quotes).

These matters and Paul’s words are deeply steeped in Jewish (Hebraic) history, tradition and experience, which, for the average reader, complicates matters for a simple understanding.

Paul’s argument (or definition) here is to explain that “God’s promises cannot fail, and genuine membership in His family rests on His gracious call received by faith, not on heritage or human effort”.

What does this mean to the Christian? “God’s promises cannot fail, and genuine membership in His family rests on His gracious call received by faith, not on heritage or human effort”. We walk by faith and not by sight – and that it is impossible to please God without faith. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 14. What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? Far from it! Verse 15. For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO WHOMEVER I SHOW COMPASSION.” Verse 16. So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy. Verse 17. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY REASON I RAISED YOU UP, IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE EARTH.” Verse 18. So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

ßVerse 19. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” Verse 20. On the contrary, who are you, you foolish person, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Verse 21. Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use? Verse 22. What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction? Verse 23. And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, verse 24, namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, verse 25, as He also says in Hosea:

“I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’

AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”

Verse 26. “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’

THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

Verse 27. Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL MAY BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, ONLY THE REMNANT WILL BE SAVED; verse 28, FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.” Verse 29. And just as Isaiah foretold:

“IF THE LORD OF ARMIES HAD NOT LEFT US DESCENDANTS,

WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE GOMORRAH.”

(Commentary Break): This sounds like more of a rebuke from Paul than a helpful explanation. It is reminiscent of God’s rebuke of Job, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and you answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Will the faultfinder contend with The Almighty?”

God’s Will and His Sovereignty is supreme – as it was in the beginning, so it is now and forevermore shall be. We can find truth, purpose, direction for our lives and rest for our souls through faith in God and in His Ways. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 30. What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is by faith; verse 31, however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Verse 32. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, verse 33, just as it is written:

“BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,

AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”

(Commentary Break): The irony Paul emphasizes is that the Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness through the Law, found it through faith; while many Israelites, who were pursuing righteousness through the Law, failed to obtain it because they pursued it as though it could be earned by works.

This passage is important because Paul is preparing to explain Israel’s unbelief. Israel’s problem was not that God’s promises had failed (Romans 9:6). Rather, the issue was that righteousness comes through God’s grace and faith in Christ, not through human achievement or keeping the Law.

And Paul continues this thought directly into Romans 10:1–4, where he says that Israel had zeal for God but lacked the correct understanding of righteousness and had not submitted to God’s righteousness.

In one sentence, Romans 9:30–33 teaches that God’s righteousness is received through faith in Christ, not earned through religious works, and Christ Himself becomes either the foundation of faith or the stumbling stone of unbelief. (End Commentary Break). (End Chapter 9).

OPINION: And speaking (as Paul has spoken) of doctrines. When doctrines are formulated and decided upon by certain and various denominations, it can be a good thing or they can be not so good. For example, Denominational doctrines can be a good thing when they clarify important beliefs and help a community live them out, but they can become harmful when they turn secondary differences into tests of faith or barriers to Christian fellowship.

When denominational doctrines are a good thing:

They provide clarity. A denomination’s doctrine can explain how it understands Scripture, baptism, communion, salvation, church leadership, spiritual gifts, and other issues.

They preserve theological convictions. A denomination may emphasize something it believes is particularly important—for example, the authority of Scripture or the importance of baptism.

They create unity within a congregation. Having shared beliefs gives churches a common foundation for worship, teaching, and ministry.

They help guard against serious theological errors. Doctrinal statements can establish boundaries around beliefs considered central to Christianity, such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, His death and resurrection, and salvation.

They encourage thoughtful interpretation. A tradition can give people resources and theological perspectives developed over generations rather than requiring everyone to figure everything out independently.

When they are not a good thing:

When denominational tradition is treated as equal to Scripture. Christians can end up defending “what our church teaches” rather than asking what Scripture actually teaches.

When secondary issues become salvation issues. Christians may disagree about things such as the mode of baptism, predestination, spiritual gifts, or church government without necessarily disagreeing about the core of Christianity.

When they create unnecessary division. Jesus prayed for the unity of His followers (John 17:20–23), so denominational identity becomes problematic when it produces hostility toward other Christians.

When loyalty to a denomination becomes more important than loyalty to Christ. Saying “I’m Baptist,” “I’m Catholic,” “I’m Methodist,” etc., can become an identity that overshadows simply being a Christian.

When doctrines discourage honest questions. A healthy theological tradition should be able to withstand examination and allow believers to wrestle with difficult passages.

When people use doctrine to judge the spiritual worth of other Christians. There is a difference between saying, “I believe this doctrine is correct,” and saying, “Anyone who disagrees with me isn’t a real Christian.”

A useful distinction is between essential doctrines and secondary doctrines. Christians have historically regarded beliefs such as the Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, His death and resurrection, and salvation as fundamentally important. Other disagreements may be significant but shouldn’t necessarily prevent Christians from recognizing one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, denominational doctrine is healthiest when it serves Scripture, strengthens faith, and helps Christians pursue Christ together. It becomes unhealthy when the denomination itself becomes the ultimate authority, identity, or source of division.

“I, (Jesus), am giving you a new commandment, that you (as followers of Me, Jesus) love one another; just as I have loved you (and laid down my life for you), that you also love one another (likewise). By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 – Amplified.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Next: (Coming Soon). The Book of Romans, Chapter 10, The Word of Faith Brings Salvation.

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