To help us understand the context of chapters 9-11, I’ve put together a simple chart. The apostle Paul, while speaking about Israel and their failures, also helps Gentiles see how God is working in history and in their lives. The chapters can be summarized in the following chart:
Chapter 9
God’s Sovereignty In history and Salvation
Chapter 10
Man’s responsibility in salvation
Chapter 11
Sovereignty/responsibility in salvation
Paul has a sincere concern for the salvation of Israel (Romans 9:1-5)
Paul imagines a person asking one of four questions about Israel’s rejection of Christ, which will lead Paul to explain four important truths about God’s sovereign freedom.
- God works out his sovereign in history.
Has God’s promise to Israel failed?
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, (Romans 9:6-7a)
Isaac over Ishmael (7-9)
Jacob over Esau (10-13)
2. God is always and his salvation is always based upon .
Isn’t God unfair in his sovereign choice?
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! (Romans 9:14)
Romans 9:15-18
If therefore God hardens some, he is not being unjust, for that is what their sin deserves. If, on the other hand, he has compassion on some, he is not being unjust, for he is dealing with them in mercy. The wonder is not that some are saved and others not, but that anybody is saved at all. For we deserve nothing at God’s hand but judgment.
If we receive what we deserve (which is judgment), or if we receive what we do not deserve (which is mercy), in neither case is God unjust. If therefore anybody is lost, the blame is theirs, but if anybody is saved, the credit is God’s. This antinomy contains a mystery which our present knowledge cannot solve; but it is consistent with Scripture, history and experience. John Stott
3. God has the sovereign over his creation.
If God sovereignly chooses, then why does he find fault in those who don’t respond to his grace?
Romans 9:19-23
4. God’s sovereign plan includes the .
Romans 9:25-29
Practical Applications
- Worship God for his amazing grace.
- Remind yourself that you don’t deserve such grace.
- Embrace the mysteries of God even though you don’t understand them.
- Ask God to give you a burden for the lost.
- Never get over the wonder of God’s saving grace.