Romans, Session 16: Romans 9.1-29

Read the passage: Romans 9:1-29 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Recap

Briefly re-visit Romans 8.29-30 and 38-39. These verses tell us that our salvation and perseverance are all down to God’s grace, calling, power and mercy. But… what question/s does this raise about God’s ‘chosen’ people – the Jewish people? And why does this explain the subject Paul tackles next in Romans 9?

Read Romans 9.1-29

Verses 1-2

How does Paul feel about this issue? Why is this startling?

Verses 1-5

What could Paul wish for and why?

Verse 3

How is Paul’s attitude a reflection of Christ’s?
- What does this tell us about what drove Paul and his proclamation of the gospel?
- Given v4-5, why is the rejection of Christ by the Jewish people so surprising?

Verse 6

What reason for the rejection of Christ by the Jewish people does Paul immediately rule out?

Verses 6-8

In these verses, what point is Paul making?

Verses 10-13

What was the basis for God’s choice of Jacob over Esau? (Was it to do with their own choice or actions?)

How does v11 rule out the idea that God’s choice is based on Him ‘foreseeing’ how people will respond to Him?
In considering v13 – ‘Esau I have hated’, look at Luke 14.25-26. How does this help us understand what God is/is not saying?
If you struggle with the biblical doctrine of election, what are the problems with any other ideas as to why some people are saved and others not?

Verse 14

What questions is Paul pre-empting? Have you ever wondered this yourself?

Verses 15-16

What does God’s choosing depend on?

Exodus 33.18-22

Compare v15 with Exodus 33.18-22 from which Paul quotes. What does this tell us about God having mercy on those He chooses?

Verse 17

Why does Paul use the example of Pharaoh?

Look at Exodus 4.21, 8.15 & 9.17

What do these verses tell us about divine sovereignty and human responsibility? How does Romans 1.24 help us understand what is going on?
- What was the reason behind God raising up Pharaoh?

Verse 19

What questions is Paul anticipating? Do you find yourself asking the same?
- How does Paul answer these questions? (v20)
  - If someone resists this as an answer, what does it demonstrate?
  - Why is thinking we can create God into a more acceptable version of God dangerous?

Verses 22-23

What characteristics of God does He display in election, predestination and salvation?
- If God condemned everyone, or if He showed mercy to everyone, would we see as full a display of His character?
- What does it say about us that we are often ok with Him displaying the riches of His mercy but not His wrath and power?

Verse 22

Does God treat people as they deserve?

Verses 24-29

Paul returns to the question of Israel and the Jewish people. In v24-26, from whom is God redeeming a people for Himself?
- What does this say about God and about salvation?
- Considering v27-29, what do these verses tell us about who in Israel will be saved and why?

Take it deeper

How does the God of Romans 9 differ from our frequent preconceptions about God?
- Why should this stimulate us to worship?

Leader’s notes

Recap

Briefly re-visit Romans 8:29-30 and 38-39. These verses tell us that our salvation and perseverance are all down to God’s grace, calling, power and mercy. But… what question/s does this raise about God’s ‘chosen’ people – the Jewish people? And why does this explain the subject Paul tackles next in Romans 9?
The OT tells us that God chose and called the Jewish people – but they have largely rejected the gospel and God’s saving purposes in Christ. So does that mean that God’s promises and/or power have failed? It is to that question that Paul turns in Rom 9.

Verses 1-2

How does Paul feel about this issue? Why is this startling?
Paul was clearly a very brave man, who could have been hardened by his own experiences at the hands of his Jewish compatriots. Yet rather than bitterness he feels intensely for their salvation.

Verse 3

How is Paul’s attitude a reflection of Christ’s?
Christ was cut off and cursed for us. Paul is saying he would experience that for himself if it meant his own people could experience Christ’s saving power and mercy as he has.
- What does this tell us about what drove Paul and his proclamation of the gospel?
  It was a genuine and sacrificial love for others. A desire that other’s experience Christ’s mercy – and thus a desire for God’s glory (this display of His mercy) above his own.
- Given v4-5, why is the rejection of Christ by the Jewish people so surprising?
  All the things Paul lists laid the ground work for the coming of Christ and should have opened their minds and prepared them for Him.

Verses 6-8

In these verses, what point is Paul making?
Paul’s point is that we need to be careful to correctly define what we mean by ‘Israel’ – who God’s people are – and to whom the promises were made. Not everyone who is a physical descendent of Abraham is a member of ‘true’ Israel. In v9-13 Paul gives historical examples: Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, but only Isaac was a son of the promise. Isaac also had two sons, and only one of those – Jacob and not Esau – was chosen as the descendent to carry the promise.

Verses 10-13

What was the basis for God’s choice of Jacob over Esau? (Was it to do with their own choice or actions?)
God’s choice was literally that – His choice. It had nothing to do with anything they had done, or would do. They contributed nothing to His choice. This is the doctrine of election.

How does v11 rule out the idea that God’s choice is based on Him ‘foreseeing’ how people will respond to Him?
His choice is made before people do good or bad, and it is not based on works but on God who calls. So it has nothing to do with what someone has done, is doing, or will do.
In considering v13 – ‘Esau I have hated’, look at Luke 14.25-26. How does this help us understand what God is/is not saying?
When Paul says of God , ‘Esau I have hated’ (a summary quote of Malachi 1:2-3), this is not the kind of emotional hatred we might feel. It is a choosing of one over the other – a putting of one first.
If you struggle with the biblical doctrine of election, what are the problems with any other ideas as to why some people are saved and others not?
If we reject the idea of God’s sovereign election, we are forced to say that our salvation depends on our choice, or moral effort, or strength of faith. This means we are the authors of our salvation, whereas the Bible clearly teaches we are saved by God’s grace, not our effort. It is only the doctrine of election that truly leaves salvation as an act of God’s undeserved grace.

Verse 14

What questions is Paul pre-empting? Have you ever wondered this yourself?
That it’s unjust for God to choose people and it not be based on their choice or conduct

Verses 15-16

What does God’s choosing depend on?
His mercy. And the nature of mercy is that we don’t deserve it. So it is not unjust for God to withhold mercy from some. It would not be unjust for Him to withhold mercy from all! If He treated us fairly – as we deserve to be treated – we would all be condemned. But He does not deal with us as we deserve – according to His justice – but according to His mercy. Salvation is God’s gift to us – it is not something anyone deserves or earns. What we deserve, what we have earned is death – Rom 6:23.

Exodus 33.18-22

Compare v15 with Exodus 33.18-22 from which Paul quotes. What does this tell us about God having mercy on those He chooses?
This is at the very core of God’s glory, of His character: He is absolutely sovereign and displays that sovereignty through Him being merciful to those He chooses to be merciful to.

Verse 17

Why does Paul use the example of Pharaoh?
Because, having talked about God showing mercy to whom He will show mercy, now Paul gives an example of someone (Pharaoh) who’s heart God hardened – the opposite of mercy.

Look at Exodus 4.21, 8.15 & 9.17

What do these verses tell us about divine sovereignty and human responsibility? How does Romans 1.24 help us understand what is going on?
Pharaoh was not an innocent ruler. He was an enslaver of people and someone who wanted to eradicate an entire people group through having their newborns systematically murdered. He was guilty of hardening his own heart and bore full responsibility for that. However, it is also absolutely true that God hardened his heart. Rom 1:24 tells us that God gives us over to our desires – and so in the case of Pharaoh, he chose to harden his heart and in response God said, ‘well, if that’s what you want, if that’s the way you want things to be, I give you over to that.’ God hardening Pharaoh’s heart is God giving him what he wanted. So when God hardens someone He is hardening the heart of someone who wants to be hardened – who wants to resist and rebel against God, who wants to decide their own fate. God hardens those He wants to harden, and all who He hardens want that.
- What was the reason behind God raising up Pharaoh?
  That God’s power and glory might be displayed in the rescuing of His people from slavery in Egypt and defeating the gods of Egypt. This display of God’s glory is achieved through hardening Pharaoh’s heart.

Verse 19

What questions is Paul anticipating? Do you find yourself asking the same?
- How does Paul answer these questions? (v20)
  God is the Creator, we are His created beings. It is not for us to question our creator.
  - If someone resists this as an answer, what does it demonstrate?
    That we are just as Paul is saying we are – we think we should be able to dictate to God how He should behave. We think we are the potter and He is the clay, that He should do our will.

Verses 22-23

What characteristics of God does He display in election, predestination and salvation?
His wrath, power, patience, riches of glory, mercy

Verse 22

Does God treat people as they deserve?
Paul says that God treats vessels of wrath with patience. He doesn’t give them what they deserve immediately. He patiently bears with them. He says they are prepared for destruction, but he doesn’t tell us by whom, whereas in v23 he says God has prepared others for glory. So it seems that this is, once again, God giving people over to the eternal destiny they have chosen. He shows mercy to some and passes over others. He chooses some, softens their heart and they respond to the gospel, while others He passes over and hands them over to the life and destiny they have chosen.

Verses 24-29

Paul returns to the question of Israel and the Jewish people. In v24-26, from whom is God redeeming a people for Himself?
From Jews and Gentiles
- What does this say about God and about salvation?
  He is not ethnically biased. He is not racist. Salvation is not a product of ethnicity. God has always been a God of bringing strangers to Himself and making those who are not His children, His children.
- Considering v27-29, what do these verses tell us about who in Israel will be saved and why?
  Experience from the Exile and Sodom and Gomorrah tells us that only a remnant will be saved, and that only because God intervenes in His mercy; that those who think they deserve God’s blessing, or take it for granted will face judgment.

Download the complete study: Bible study on Romans (PDF) and leader’s guide (PDF)