Romans 9:1-29 – “God’s Sovereign Plan”

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My notes for Wednesday night, May 29th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. Our study over the next few months will be “The Roots of the Faith.” This study will focus on key biblical truths that will transform our thinking and allow us to faithfully live out the Christian life. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Romans 9:1-29 – Our 3rd study on election.

THE TRAGEDY OF ISRAEL’S UNBELIEF – vv. 1-5

Paul’s Sorrow

  • Even though God had blessed them so.
  • 8 blessing bestowed upon them
    • Adoption, glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, the promises, belong to the patriarchs, Christ will come from their race.

THIS UNBELIEF IS PART OF GOD’S PLAN – vv. 6-13

God’s Sovereignty

  • God’s sovereignty = the fulfilment of His purpose and plan
  • We often think, hear or say:
    • Why did this happen? What is the good in this? This in not fair. God is too loving to allow things that this to happen.
  • Yet, when we consider that the Bible teaches us ALL THINGS work together (Romans 8:28 specifically but throughout Scripture) we see God’s hand in all of the affairs of life.  Then we can understand that ALL THINGS pertains to God’s eternal purpose and plan.  The small details of life fit perfectly together in the Big Picture of God’s eternal plan and purpose.
  • Our mind in not capable of processing the eternal plan and purposes of God.

The Word of God has not failed – Ishmael and Isaac – vv. 6-9

  • God chose Isaac (Abraham’s son through Sarah) over Ishmael (Abraham’s son through Hagar)
    • Ishmael – First born of Abraham and viewed as a patriarch of Islam.

In order that God’s purpose of election may continue – Esau and Jacob – vv. 10-13

  • He chose Jacob the second born twin over Esau. (Blessed one and passed over the other)
    • He made this decision long before they were born. (vv. 11-12) He did it to show that His sovereign decrees are not based on what yet-unborn human beings might or might not do.
  • Hate/Loved less. He rejected Esau. (Malachi 1:2-3 & Deut. 23:7 – You shall not abhor an Edomite)
    • Matt. 6:24, Luke 14:26, John 12:25
  • Someone asked Spurgeon “I cannot understand why God would say that He hated Esau.  He replied…That is not my difficulty.  My trouble is in understanding why He loved Jacob.
  • “When the Scripture speaks of God’s hating, it means that he did not bestow favour upon Esau. God did not give to him grace and the benefits of salvific love. It doesn’t mean that God hates in the sense that human beings hate.” (R. C. Sproul, The Gospel of God: An Exposition of Romans (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 1994), 166.)

GOD’S PLAN FOR ISRAEL’S UNBELIEF IS NOT UNFAIR, PUT PERFECTLY JUST – VV. 14-29

God’s mercy – Moses and Pharaoh – vv. 14-24

  • I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. Ex. 33:19
    • I raised you up, that I MIGHT SHOW MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED IN ALL THE EARTH. Ex. 9:16
    • He has mercy on whomever He wills and hardens whomever He wills.
    • Has the potter have no right over the clay?
    • To make known the riches of His glory.

God’s grace – Hosea – vv. 25-26

  • Hos. 1:10
    • God’s grace not limited to Israel only.
    • Gentiles “sons of the living God”

God’s remnant – Isaiah – vv. 27-29

  • Isaiah 10:22
    • A remnant will be saved.
    • Isaiah 1:9
    • By God’s grace a remnant will be saved!

Questions we tend to ask:

Is God unfair to choose some and not others?

  • Focus on His mercy. (not getting what we ALL deserve. We are all sinners.)

How can people be blamed for rejecting God, if He in some way determines who will accept Him?

  • Who are we to answer back to God? Has the potter no right over the clay?
    • The creature has no grounds to question the creator.
    • Trust His Word.  The whole counsel of God.
    • Everything God does is for the riches of His glory.
    • EVERYTHING FITS PERFECTLY INTO HIS PURPOSE AND PLAN.

Can we really/truly understand God?

  • We cannot put God into our mind. We will struggle because we cannot know His ultimate ways and purpose.
    • Run to the WORD.  BE IN AWE OF THE GOD OF SCRIPTURE!
      • God of mercy and love. He is fair and just in everything He does.

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