The purpose of this work is to guide you in Spirit Filled interpretation of the Book of Romans. As necessary we will provide outlines, historical backgrounds, note the purpose and focus of the text, and also provide the original Greek language definitions for the key words in the highlighted text. The English translation used is the King James (Authorized) Version, not because it is the best translation available, but because I just plain prefer it for study!

All Scripture text will be presented in normal cased lettering, and all notes within the text will be in TRUE TYPE FONT, as shown. This (I hope) will allow you to avoid confusion between God's Word and my notes. As I update this web site, I will continue to embellish the text so that anyone using NETSCAPE 3.0 or MICROSOFT 3.0 will be able to read the document easier. Greek tenses are abbreviated as follows:

• GREEK TENSES:
• PR= Present Tense: Shows action in present time. When used with Active Voice, and Indicative Mood, often shows linear or continuing action.
• AO= Aorist Tense : Simple, undefined action. The time of the action is undefined, except in the indicative mood.
• FUT= Future Tense : Shows action of the verb as defined in the future.
• PER= Perfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, but has lasting and continuing results into the future.
• IMP= Imperfect Tense: Used only in the indicative mood, and refers to continuous or linear action in past time. As in "I was having".
• PLPF= Pluperfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, with continuing results in the past.
• GREEK CASES:
• GEN= Genitive Case: Usually indicates possession, though it can denote source of the action.
• INST = Instrumental Case: Usually denotes action on the object of the verb.
• DAT= Dative Case
• NOM= Nominative Case
• ACC= Accusative
• PL= Plural
• SG= Singular
• GREEK VOICES:
• AC= Active Voice: Action was completed by the subject of the verb.
• PAS= Passive Voice: The subject receives the action of the verb.
• MID= Middle Voice: The subject acts in some way upon itself or to itself.
• GREEK MOODS:
• IND= Indicative Mood : Makes an assertion of fact, and is used with all Greek tenses. Example: they will go, she saw.
• OPT= Optative Mood: Rarely used, it usually expresses a wish or desire.
• IMP= Imperative Mood: A command to do something.
• SUBJ= Subjective Mood: Makes an assertion about which there is some doubt, uncertainty, or indefiniteness.
• OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:
• PART= Participle : A verbal adjective, such as "having gone, receiving the gift".
• ABL= Ablative of source: When something is out of something. Example, The Spirit out of God.
• INF= Infinitive: A verbal noun, examples = to see, to go, to throw.

9:1-4

Romans 9:1-4  "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,  That I have great heaviness (LUPE, which refers to "sorrow, pain, grief") and continual sorrow ((ODUNE) is "a consuming grief, as in the loss of a Loved One") in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed (ANATHEMA, or to be cast into perdition) from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:  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;"
 

(Related Sermon here) 1. Why did Paul have such anguish in His heart over the Jews? _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2. Do the Covenant Promises apply to the spiritual, or to all regardless of their spirituality? _____ _________________________________________________________________________

In Paul's earlier discussions he has proven to the reader that neither works, nor circumcision, nor the Law has in any benefit toward salvation.  Driven by the Holy Spirit of God he has topple the old Jewish traditions and beliefs, and has shown that these things are insufficient to save.  Several thoughts have probably  been running through the Jewish mind, the foremost of these now being "This man does not care for us!  He has been destructive in his teaching, and has destroy to all of the joy that we once had.  We are lost!".

Yet the Lord knows the opportune times: the time to chastise and the time for giving love.  The Jews, whose false beliefs have been shattered, should now be open to the gentle calling of the Spirit.  Paul begins chapter 9 by declaring his love for his brethren in the flesh, the Jews.

Paul begins by asserting that he has a great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart.  The depth of his anguish is only felt when it is viewed in the original text.  The word heaviness here is the Greek LUPE, which refers to "sorrow, pain, grief".  The word sorrow (ODUNE) is "a consuming grief, as in the loss of a Loved One".  Paul speaks as if he is mourning  for a loved one who died, and says that this state is continual, without end.  Though Paul was recognized as the Apostle to the Gentiles, he was without a shadow of doubt a Jew in the flesh.  He declares this at the introduction of Romans Chapter 11 by stating that he is a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin.  Because these were his people he felt for their loss, though this loss was due to their hardheadedness. He was not gloating because they would not accept Christ, but was in continual mourning hoping they would repent.

Being a Jew, Paul was also a inheritor to the Abrahamic promises, those promises that gave him and his descendants the land of Canaan.  Wuess states:

"The Abrahamic Covenant, promising Israel the possession of the land from the Nile on the  Southwest to the Euphrates on the Northeast and East, actually, from the Mediterranean Sea on the West to the Euphrates on the East; and the Davidic Covenant, promising to Israel and eternal dynasty of kings of whom the last one would be an eternal person, had never up to the time of the writing of Romans, been fulfilled.  Paul explains this by calling Israel's attention to the fact that these Covenants were designed for a spiritual people, whereas Israel at the time a was apostate..".

Paul's love was so great for his brethren that he stated: I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren.  To be accursed is ANATHEMA, or to be cast into perdition.  Paul stated that if it were possible (though this was only a hypothetical statement, and utterly impossible) he would except the fate of Hellfire, if only his brethren would come to Christ.  Such love is hard to envision, for I would not give up my salvation for anyone or anything here on earth.

.."to whom pertaineth the adoption.."

In the Old Testament Israel, as a nation, was considered by God to be His "son" (though, not in the same sense that Jesus is the Son of God):

Exodus 4:22-23 "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:  And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn."

Hosea 11:1-2 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images."

The glory refers to the shekinah glory of God that was present with Israel in history, particularly seen in the pillar of fire and the cloud that led them out of Egypt, and the fire seen at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Law.

Exodus 13:21-22 "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

Deuteronomy 5:24  "And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth."

The covenants refer to the covenants or promises that God made with Israel, particularly the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants:

Genesis 15:18  "In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:"

2 Samuel 7:15-17 "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David."

The term giving of the law is self explanatory.  Israel had the distinct honor of being chosen as the first steward of the Gospel of God.  The Law was an important forerunner of Christianity, for without it man would not have been convicted of sin.  The law made it impossible for humanity to delude themselves into believing that they were basically good.  As the first stewards of God it was impossible to serve God outside of Israel, thus the term the service of God.  The term the service is the Greek HE LATRIA, which means "the rendering of religious service (as in the Tabernacle, the priesthood, the offerings)".  A parallel can be made between Israel in the Old Testament and the Church in the New.  The stewardship of the Gospel has been turned over to the Church and removed from Israel.  All religious service acceptable to God is performed through the assembly of the Church Age saints.  It is impossible to serve God outside of the spiritual body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).

9:5

Romans 9:5  "Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."
 

3. Who did Christ come for initially? How can we know this through the genealogies? _______ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 4. What was Israel's folly? ____________________________________________________ 5. How did God maintain His Plan and correct Israel's folly? __________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

The fathers  refers to the patriarchs upon which Israel as a nation was built: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David.  From these came the major Covenant promises that would establish Israel as a nation and a steward of God.  Christ came out of the Israel: He was fully Jewish in the flesh.  This is evidenced by the genealogies of Matthew and Luke.  For a long time theologians thought that the genealogical accounts of Jesus as shown in the Gospels were in conflict, till they researched and determined that:

1. The genealogy in Matthew 1:1-16 shows the lineage of Christ from the perspective of Joseph's side of the family.
2. The genealogy in Luke 3:23-38 was the lineage of Christ from the perspective of Mary's side of the family.

Paul does make a distinction in the lineage of Christ: It was  as concerning the flesh.  Only in His humanity did Jesus come out of Israel as a Jew.  The statement who is over all recognized that Jesus is God, as omniscience is an attribute of Deity:

Psalms 50:10-12 "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.  If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."

Psalms 59:13  "Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah."

Psalms 75:6-7 "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."

9:6-7

Romans 9:6-7 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. (EKPIPTO, which means "to fall out of, to fall down from, to fall from a place which one cannot keep, to fall powerless") For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."
 

6. Some Jews assume they will enter Heaven without Christ. How is this similar to the errant teachings of Universalism? How does God show both Universalism and Jewish Universal Salvation as errant? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Hath taken none effect is the Greek EKPIPTO, which means "to fall out of, to fall down from, to fall from a place which one cannot keep, to fall powerless".  The word given to Israel embodied in the Covenants and the Glory was not a lie because of the One who gave them.  The Scripture teaches:

Hebrews 6:18  "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"

If Israel interpreted the Covenant promises as "the nation would be saved", and this is not a true statement, and since God cannot lie, then it was Israel who misinterpreted the promises, not God who lied.  Paul taught that physical birth into the nation of Israel does not entitle the seed to the children's inheritance. Just being physically born is not enough to inherit the Kingdom of God.  Paul makes a distinction between Israel the nation and Israel the saved, spiritual remnant.

".. In Isaac shall thy seed be called .."

Genesis 21:10-12 "Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bond woman and her son: for the son of this bond woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.  And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bond woman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called."

Galatians 4:23-31 "But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bond woman and her son: for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free."

Abraham's physical seed was both Isaac and Ishmael, yet of the two only Isaac was the seed of promise.  Isaac was the child characterized by faith.  Ishmael was born because of the faithlessness of Abraham and Sarah in the power of God, whereas Isaac was the child of promise.  Paul uses this illustration because both Ishmael and Isaac were equally the seed of Abraham, but the child of faith, Isaac, was the only one which the promises pertained to.  Ishmael describes the unsaved nation Israel, Isaac the faithful remnant to whom the promises pertain because they accepted Christ as Savior.

9:8-9

Romans 9:8-9 "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. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son."

Genesis 18:14  "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

In this text Paul re-emphasizes that the children of the flesh are not the spiritual heirs of the promises of God.

9:10-14

Romans 9:10-14 "And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose (PROTITHEMI, which means "to purpose to oneself, to determine") of God according to election (EKLOGE, which means, "to pick out or choose from among a number") might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid."
 

7. Why did God choose Jacob (the chisler) over Esau? ______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 8. Why does God often choose the weaker over the stronger? _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

We see the Doctrine of the Sovereignty of God taught again in this Scripture, yet it's purpose is not to establish the election of an individual but of a nation.  The word purpose is the Greek PROTITHEMI, which means "to purpose to oneself, to determine".  The word speaks of God's will in following a  chosen path, and the determination to follow that path to the end.  The word election is the Greek EKLOGE, which means, "to pick out or choose from among a number".  When God chose the elder to serve the younger, choosing Jacob over Esau, he was not choosing one individual over another individual.  Both Jacob and Esau were tribal heads.  The tribe often took the name of its founder: Israel the patriarch was the tribal head of Israel the nation.  In this text Paul shows how God ordered the stewardship of the Gospel through one nation as opposed to another one.  Jacob was chosen over Esau to hold this stewardship; his tribe would be the one which would carry on the work of God.  When Jacob was chosen over Esau one path was taken as opposed to the other, God alone determining which pathway He would allow.  God chose the pathway that He would order according to His own purpose, based upon His Sovereign will.

2 Chronicles 20:6-7 "And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?  Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?"

Psalms 93:1-2 "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting."

Even though we believe in the free will of man (and this is a concept taught in Scripture), at no time should we forget that God is Sovereign.  There are certainly Biblical areas that we do not understand as pertaining to the mind of God.  For instance, before either Jacob or Esau were born (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil) God determined that the stewardship would be passed on to Jacob and his tribe.  Jacob was chosen not of works, but according to the purpose of God.  If we are remember our Old Testament history we know that Jacob stole the birthright and the blessing from Esau.  Even so, in Romans Paul teaches us that this action happened in accordance with the will of our God.  Was God party to the deceit?  No! The Scripture teaches that God cannot sin, nor can He be party to sin.  Yet God allowed this action to take place.  I cannot comprehend this, within myself, any more that I can fully comprehend the Doctrine of the Trinity, or the Doctrine of Predestination.  But I can accepted it as valid because the Scripture teaches it.  I can recognize that I have a finite mind, and may not be able to understand the infinite Plan of God.  As the Reformers have said, the discrepancy lies not with God but with our finity.

One last thing to note about this text is the use of the words loved and hated.  These are only Eastern idioms which designate one thing chosen over another thing without any sense of emotion as we perceive hate and love.  A better rendering would be:

".. Jacob have I CHOSEN, but Esau have I NOT CHOSEN ... "

This choosing was not based on merit nor nationality, but solely on the predetermined plan that God established before the  foundation of the earth.

9:15-16

Romans 9:15-16 "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. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
 

9. Is God obligated to offer mercy? _____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

God is absolutely Sovereign in the disposition of either his mercy or compassion.  It is neither by the will or works of men that we receive the mercy of God, but it is based on God's own purpose according to His own plan.  Vincent states:

".. God is laid under no obligation by a human will or a human work .."

Daniel 9:18  "O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies."

Often we forget, while on the throne of our human free will, that it is God who is God, and not we ourselves.  The Jews, after reading Paul's previous lesson, were probably in a state of uproar.  They had been told all their lives that the nation would be redeemed.  They felt that perhaps God was unfair in changing His plan in mid-stream.  But Paul asserts that the Plan was never changed,  that the Jews in their apostasy had misunderstood the Scriptures.  They forgot that Sovereignty precludes fairness, knowing only justice and mercy.  Fairness is an issue only between equals, and we are certainly not equals with the righteous God.  God determines who He will show compassion on, and at all times controls human history so that His plan will emerge triumphant.  To have no control is to have no certain plan.  With no plan there is chaos.  God is Sovereign over all.

9:17

Romans 9:17  "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."

Exodus 9:13, 16 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth."
 

10. The same God who created my free-will allows me the privilege of using it in His Plan. Yet, is He obligated to my free-will? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

There are two things that should be pointed out in Romans at this point.  The first is that this Romans text, when paralleled to the Exodus passage, confirms the inerrancy of the Scriptures.  In the Romans passage it states the scripture saith unto Pharaoh whereas in the Exodus passage it is recognized that the LORD God is the Author of the statement.  The early Church fathers considered the Scripture to be the very Word of God, not just the random writings of men.

The second thing that should be pointed out his that the verse very definitely emphasizes the sovereignty of God over the free will of men.  What of the free will?  Did not God create man with a will?  I can hear the arguments now, and I do not disagree: man does have freewill.  Yet when God's plan determines a certain set course of action, then that plan will be fulfilled, even if God has to indirectly move humanity to compliance.  This is not an isolated text:

2 Kings 19:25-28 "Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.  Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.  Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest."

Job 12:16-24 "With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.  He leadeth counselors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.  He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.  He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.  He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.  He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. "

Proverbs 21:1  "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. "

There are many such texts in the Old Testament that show God's control over the lives of men.  I have only listed a few.  We must remember that in the light of the context, God only uses control when necessary to fulfill His plan.  He will exercise his sovereignty when needed for its fulfillment, regardless of the freewill of men that we so jealous guard.

9:18-20

Romans 9:18-20 "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest (ANTAPOKRINOMAI which means, "to render a judgment against") against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"
 

11. Do I have the right to argue with or judge God as concerns my free will and His sovereignty? _____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

Repliest in this text is the Greek ANTAPOKRINOMAI which means, "to render a judgment against".  When Paul brought up the Doctrine of the Sovereignty of God it was not a new truth.  It was a teaching that had been well illustrated throughout the Bible, while the Jews over emphasized the free will of man.  Paul seeks to bring back  the full Biblical truth concerning the sovereignty of God.  He emphasizes the freedom of our Sovereign Creator God. The Creator has the righteous authority to exercise control  over that which He created.  Man has become arrogant in his free will, forgetting that the same free will was given to him by the Creator, who has every right to suspend it as He sees fit.  The point that should be made is twofold:

1. God definitely controls humanity when necessary to allow for the fulfillment of His Plan, and
2. The created has no right to judge the Creator, when the Creator suspends something that He gave them in the first place..

Romans 9:21-23 "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump (PHURAO, which means "to mix so as to make into a dough") to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,"

Lump is the Greek PHURAO, which means "to mix so as to make into a dough".  The idea of the passage goes back to the creation of man:

Genesis 2:7  "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Paul does not establish a norm in this text, but cites a hypothetical situation signified by the What if  clause.  Paul asks, What if  He who created, created some unto destruction and some to glory? What if  God elected some unto salvation, and then insured that they came to salvation? What if  He did not elect others, then allow them to choose their own way?  When we begin speaking about conditional election of the individual, anger erupts and people fly off the handle.  Yet I am confronted with Paul's question, What if  God did elect?  Does not the Creator have that right to within His sovereignty?  I am convinced by Paul that He who created has the right to do that which He pleases over that which He created.  I am also convinced that if unconditional election is true, then this fact carries with it no sense of fairness or unfairness.  It is a matter of justice.  When mankind fell through Adam, God had no obligation to show mercy unto men. He had no obligation to send a Savior.  That he did so was an act of mercy.  God does have an obligation to show justice to man, this being established by His nature.  The exercises this obligation by sending the children of the wicked to Hell.  But men, for some reason, have come to the state of arrogance where we feel that God owes us mercy. Paul destroys this false doctrine with his What if statement in Romans. Mercy is God giving us that which we do not deserve.

Predestination and the free will of man can be likened to a railroad track that heads toward the horizon. When you see both doctrines up close, they seem to be as far apart as the rails of the track. Yet the closer the tracks get to the horizon, the closer the rails seem to be to each other until they seem to merge as one. Both predestination and man's free will seem to be dichotomous, yet, once we get to the horizon of Heaven, we will see how both blend together inside the Plan of God.

9:24-26

Romans 9:24-26 "Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 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."

Paul's reason for previously discussing election was to show the Jews that both Jews and Gentiles were subject to the merciful calling of God. God, who created all, had every right to choose either Jew or Gentile to salvation.

Hosea 1:10  "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God."

Hosea 2:23 "And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God."

9:27-29

Romans 9:27-29 "Esaias also crieth (KRAZO, which means "an impassioned,  inarticulate cry or utterance") concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha."

Crieth is the Greek KRAZO, which means "an impassioned,  inarticulate cry or utterance".  Isaiah in a great anguish sorrow cried out that though the nation Israel would be great, that only a portion or remnant of that great nation would be saved.   The remnant that would be saved would be believing Israel as opposed to the unbelieving nation Israel.  The doctrine of the remnant of Israel is not a new one, but is taught time and time again in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 4:3-4 "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:  When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning."

Jeremiah 23:3-6 "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Jeremiah 31:7-9 "For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."

There are many Old Testament passages which refer to the remnant of Israel, these are but three.  Of particular note is the Jeremiah passage here the remnant is characterized by weeping and walking a straight pathway.  This is illustrative of repentance and redemption.  The remnant of Israel that shall be saved shall be the ones that believe on the Lord of Sabaoth, Jesus Christ, our Lord in Heaven.

The Greek for work is LOGOS, which does not translate as "work"  but as "Word, utterance, doctrine".  What does the text mean by He will finish the WORD, and cut it short in righteousness?

Daniel 12:4, 9 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. "

Mark 7:9, 13 "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."

John 10:35  "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; "

John 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."
 

There are four uses of  word in relationship to God in the scriptures:

1. The Word of God as it applies to prophecy
2. The Word of God as it applies to the Law of Moses
3. The Word of God as it applies to Scripture in general
4. The Word of God as it is descriptive of Christ

9:30-33

Romans 9:30-33 "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offense: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Paul summarizes why Israel as a unbelieving nation shall not be saved, whereas the Gentiles shall see Heaven.  The  reason is because one group accepted Christ as Savior while the other, the nation that should have known better, rejected the Messiah.

Isaiah 28:13-16 "But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.  Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

The intent of the law was to teach man that he was totally sold under sin, and to teach him that no righteousness could come out living up to the standards of the law.  Even in the Old Testament emphasis was placed on the living your life through faith:

Habakkuk 2:4  "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. "

Yet Israel stumbled under the Law, tried to live by it's precepts while all the time rejecting the life of faith. When you reject God's desire for your life and harden your heart, you have no cause to blame God when your life produces only bitter fruit. The remnant in Israel that accept Christ as Savior will produce fruit unto salvation: all others within that great nation, regardless as to how Jewish they are, shall see only rejection at the Final Judgment.

We will take a short break and resume our study in Chapter Ten. God Bless you all!
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