This morning’s message included a statement about God choosing to love Jacob and not Esau (Malachi 1:2-3). We saw that neither of them deserved God’s mercy, but that God chose to love one and not the other. You may recall that Paul mentions this in Romans 9:13. However, what he says in the rest of the chapter gives the context for God’s choice. To understand this better, we will look at the whole chapter.
- What does it say? (Romans 9)
Paul was deeply troubled about the Israelites. He thought about letting himself be cursed from Christ for them. They had the adoption, glory, covenants, law, service, promises, the fathers and Christ.
The problem was not the effectiveness of God’s word. The problem was that some of them were not real Israelites just as not all of Abraham’s descendants were the promised seed. The children of the flesh were not children of God; only the children of the promise were counted. These came through Sarah and Rebecca. Of these children God chose Jacob over Esau before they were born. This shows us that God’s choice was not based on their works but because of His calling.
Is God unrighteous to do this? No, He has the right to have mercy on whomever He chooses. His choice is not based on someone’s will or effort but on His own mercy. God raised up Pharaoh to show His power and to reveal His name to the whole world. So God chooses to have mercy on some and to harden others.
Some might question why God would find fault with those who could not resist His will. This is an inappropriate question because God is the Creator not us. Will a piece of pottery question why it was made a certain way? Or does the potter not have the ability to make some for honorable and dishonorable use? What if God endured the vessels of wrath to show His wrath and power? What if God wanted to reveal the riches of His glory to the vessels of mercy which He had prepared for glory—those whom God called from the Jews and the Gentiles.
In Hosea’s prophecy, God promised that some would be called His people who were not previously His people. In Isaiah’s prophecy, God promised that a remnant of Israel would be saved according to His righteous workings. He also said that without God’s intervention they would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.
The conclusion is that the Gentiles who did not seek righteousness attained it by faith. The Israelites who did seek righteousness did not attain it by obeying the law. Instead, they stumbled at the stumbling stone when all who believe in Him are not ashamed. - What does it mean?
God gave many blessings to Israel (Rom. 9:1-5).
Why was it that the majority of the Israelite people rejected Jesus? Paul was so grieved by their rejection of Jesus that he thought about allowing God to curse him so that they could be saved. He saw the many blessings God had given them including being adopted by God, receiving glory from God, the covenants, the law, the service of God, and the promises. The Jewish people had many great people including Jesus Himself. With all of those blessings from God, why was it that they did not believe in Jesus?
God chose Jacob to fulfill His purpose (Rom. 9:6-13).
The Israelites’ unbelief was not the consequence of God’s promises failing. It was a problem with the people themselves. Not all of them were chosen by God. To support this argument, Paul points to the fact that not all of Abraham’s descendants were children of God. These came through Isaac and eventually through Jacob. These were not chosen because of their works. They were those whom God called.
God makes His own choices (Rom. 9:14-18).
Saying that only the called are sons of God may seem unfair to us. But who are we to judge God’s way of doing things? God told Moses that he would choose those whom He would show mercy. His mercy would not be based on their own will or effort but on God’s choice. This goes along with what John said in John 1:12-13. People don’t become God’s children based on their own actions but because of God’s. Even Pharaoh was raised up by God for a purpose. God showed some mercy while He hardened others.
God has a purpose for each person (Rom. 9:19-24).
Even this explanation may seem too much for some. If God only chooses some to be His children and uses ungodly people to fulfill His purposes, how can He find fault with those who reject Him? It is a reasonable question, but not a an appropriate one. God is in charge not us. We are like clay in a potter’s hand. If God is the Potter and wants to make some for honor and others for dishonor, who are we to judge His motives? The fact is that some of us were called by God from the Jews and also from the Gentiles. We should be thankful for that.
God has always worked with a righteous remnant (Rom. 9:25-29).
Paul now quotes from three Old Testament passages. He quotes Hosea to show how God unexpectedly calls people from people whom He had previously not loved or had a relationship. He also quoted from Isaiah to show that God had always worked with a remnant of people. In fact, as we saw in the Book of Judges, the Israelites were becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah except for those whom God called. The truth is that without God we all would still be living in sin.
God gives righteousness through faith in Jesus (Rom. 9:30-33).
Paul concludes differently than what you would expect. He had begun by expressing His grief that many Israelites did not believe despite their great blessings from God. He then explained the difference based on God’s choice to call some and use others for His purposes. You would expect Paul to conclude by saying that many of the Jewish people didn’t receive Jesus because they weren’t called. But he doesn’t say that.
Instead, he says that Gentiles became righteous by faith while the Jews did not become righteous because they tried to earn it. He also points out that they stumbled over Jesus when they should have believed. This is not the conclusion I expected. But it is nonetheless true. Those who try to earn God’s righteousness on their own will always fail. Those who trust in Jesus will be made righteous by God. - How does it apply?
Do you understand why God chose some?
Even after reading through this whole chapter, we don’t understand why God had mercy on some and not on others. This has always been a sticking point with people. When it came to Esau and Jacob, neither deserved God’s choice, but it happened anyway. We may not understand but we were not intended to understand it. Instead of puzzling over it, look at God’s working in your life and thank Him for it.
Will you allow God to do what He wants?
Paul’s illustration of a potter’s purpose for different lumps of clay is good. A potter can make a beautiful vase, and he can also make a pot to carry waste. He makes the choice of how to use each piece of pottery. The clay used has not say in the matter. When it comes to us, we have to allow God to make His own choices. Will you let Him be God? This doesn’t keep us from asking God to work in the hearts of the unsaved. But we must ultimately allow Him to make His own decisions.
Do you understand who God saves?
While we often get hung up on the topic of election, we should not miss what Paul said in his conclusion. The difference between the saved and lost is faith. Those who reject Christ and seek to become righteous on their own will never be made righteous. But those who receive Christ by faith will be made righteous. That is what it comes down to. Trying to figure out who the elect are is not our job. Instead, we are called to deliver the message that has been rejected by many: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
Conclusion
Toward the end of the chapter, Paul ended by quoting Isaiah. He said that without God’s intervention, we would be like Sodom and Gomorrah. This is a true statement. Without God’s help, where would we be? Whenever I think about the doctrine of election, I am amazed that God would choose any of us. Why did He love us? I don’t know but I am glad that He did.
Bibliography
Witmer, John A., “Romans” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, USA: SP Publications, 1983.