Romans 9
Note: If you want to find out a man's doctrine very quickly, then read this commentary on Romans 9-11. Many commentaries skip chapters 9-11, because either they think that they are not important, or if taken literally, it disagrees with their theology.
Israel’s Rejection Considered
1 I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit –
So far, Paul has proven in an imaginary court of law that all Jews and Gentiles are guilty of meeting God's standards. All of them will burn in the Lake of Fire, unless they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ were justified in the past, sanctified in the present, and glorified in the future. God proved that there is nothing that can separate the believer from the love of God. However, what about Israel? Most of the Jews are scattered in different nations of the world in unbelief. If God is finished with Israel, then how do the believers know that God will keep his promise to the Gentiles? Chapters 9-11 answers this question. Since most denominations teach that the church has replaced Israel, then they tend to ignore these chapters, and even omit them from commentaries, or from their teachings.
Since Paul was a saved Jew, he needed two witnesses to confirm that he was speaking the truth over the issue of Israel's rejection of their own Messiah. His first witness was his conscience and his second witness was the Holy Spirit.
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
Paul had a great sorrow in his heart which caused physical pain.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed – cut off from Christ – for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,
The Greek word for "accursed" is ἀνάθεμα (anathema), which comes from the Hebrew word חֵרֶם (cherem), meaning to devote to divine destruction. The Canaanites were so evil, that the entire race of men, women, children, livestock, and all belongings were declared חֵרֶם (cherem) by God. Paul desired so much for the salvation of Israel, that he was willing to burn in the Lake of Fire forever. This intercessory prayer by Paul was similar to that of Moses praying for Israel.
4 who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
Israel was the only nation in the world adopted by God. Israel was the only nation to have the Shechinah Glory living in their camp. Israel was the only nation in the world who was given covenants directly from God. Israel was the only true theocracy of God. Israel was given the Mosaic Law, which was their national constitution. Israel was the only nation who had the true temple of the Living God. Israel was the only nation who received messianic promises from God. The point is that with all of this divine revelation, Israel should have believed in their own Messiah. All of these divine revelations were given to Israel. All of these divine revelations pointed to the Messiah, yet they rejected him.
5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.
Israel was given Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as their patriarchs. The definition of a Jew is not one who follows Judaism, but one who is descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Israel was also given the Messiah. Paul mentioned three things in this verse about the Messiah. The Messiah came from Jewish human descent, emphasizing his Jewishness and his humanity. The Messiah is also God, emphasizing his deity. The Messiah is sovereign over all things.
6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,
The problem was not the Word of God. The Word of God did not fail. The rejection of the Messiah of Israel was all part of God's plan, as prophesied in Isaiah 53 and many other verses.
Jews will not get into heaven just because they are God's chosen people. Only the true Israelites will get into heaven. The true Israelites are the Jews who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Amillenialists like to spiritualize this passage and claim that the true Jew is the church. This verse has nothing to do with the church. This verse is comparing the non-messianic Jews to the messianic-Jews. Only the messianic Jews are the true Jews. Onlt the messianic Jews will enter heaven.
Theologically, there are two Israels. "All Israel" refers to all of the Jews who are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "The Remnant" are those Jews who believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This Remnant is also called "the Israel of God" in Galatians 6.
7 nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”
Only the Jews through Isaac are true Jews. The descendants who came from Ishmael are not Jews, but they are considered as Arabs.
8 This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.
The children of the flesh are the Arab descendants of Ishmael. The children of promise or the Jewish descendants of Abraham.
9 For this is what the promise declared: “About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.”
The promise was given to Sarah, not Hagar. The children of Abraham and Sarah are the Jews. They are recipients of the Abrahamic Covenant. The children of Abraham and Hagar are the Arabs. They are not recipients of the Abrahamic Covenant.
10 Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac –
The first example dealt with the same father but different mothers. This next example deals with twins who were born of the same father and mother. Rebekah had conceived twins by her husband Isaac, who was a recipient of the Abrahamic Covenant.
11 even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling) –
Even before these twins had done anything good or bad, God had already decided their destinies. This is the doctrine of election. God has chosen the destinies of every person who has ever lived. These destinies were chosen before the foundations of the world were even created.
12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”
Paul quoted Genesis 25:23 to show that while these two twins were still in the womb, God had already decided that the younger brother would receive the benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant. The promise was given not on anything good or bad that they had done or would do, but it was based upon God's sovereign choice.
13 just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
The Greek word for "loved" is ἀγαπάω (agapaow), an aorist active indicative verb, meaning divine love. The tense is aorist, meaning that God showed divine love to Jacob as a one-time complete action of the past, even before Jacob was even born in the womb. The verb is active, meaning God, not Jacob, did the loving and the choosing. The mood is indicative, meaning that this completed love happened way back in eternity past, before the foundations of the world was even created. The verb is indicative, meaning this was action was a 100% statement of fact.
The Greek word for "hated" is μισέω (miseow), meaning to choose one instead of another. God did not choose Esau, but he chose Jacob to receive the Abrahamic Covenant. God does not elect or predestine anyone to be damned. He chooses those who are to be saved and leaves the rest of humanity to make their own choice. However, the non-elect will never choose God, because their total depraved nature will not allow them to do so. They reject the general call of God and choose to live in hell rather than heaven.
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!
Paul knew that some Armenians would object to this Bible doctrine. Is God unrighteous that he grants mercy only to Jewish believers and not to the whole nation? The answer is μὴ γένοιτο (may genoito), which is the strongest Greek negation.
15 For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Paul quoted Exodus 33:19 to prove his point. Moses was one of the most humblest of men on the planet earth, but God did not extend him mercy because of his humility. God simply chooses out of humanity to whom he will show mercy. If one is a believer in Christ, he is only in that position, because God showed mercy on him and chose him out of an unbelieving world.
16 So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.
Man does not choose God, as the Arminians falsely claim. God chooses man. If God did not choose man, then no man would ever be saved. Every man would reject God and choose eternal death with Satan rather than eternal life with God.
17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”
God raised up Pharaoh in a specific time of human history and gave him the throne to teach a spiritual principle to his elect. Although Pharaoh was against God and was evil enough to attempt extermination of God's chosen people, God used this person to serve as an example of what divine justice is all about.
18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.
God showed mercy to Moses and chose him to lead Israel into the Promised Land. God hardened Pharaoh and allowed Pharaoh to use his own human personality to try and exterminate Israel. God showed mercy to the Jewish Remnant. God hardened the rest of the house of Israel. Hardening comes by the rejection of divine revelation.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?”
Paul anticipated another question from the Arminians. "If God hardens hearts, then how can it be man's fault when they are doing what God wanted him to do?"
20 But who indeed are you – a mere human being – to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
Paul did not answer the question. It was the wrong question. Believers should never answer the wrong question. Instead of answering this ridiculous question, Payl asked a question to the Armenians. "Why are you human beings questioning God's methods? Is not God the Potter and you are the vessel? Does the vessel question the Potter?"
21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?
The purpose of this question was to humble man and show him his proper relationship to God. If God did not save the elect, then no one would be saved. It is written in Romans 3:10-11, "There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands God, there is no one who seeks God." If God did not use the process of election, then no man would be saved. Everyone would burn in the Lake of Fire forever.
The Potter has the right to use clay to make whatever kind of vessels that he desires. The clay cannot argue with the Potter and say, "I do not want to be made this way or that way." Only God determines how the clay will be used. Everyone else has an opinion, but it is flawed. It is so flawed, that it should not even be asked.
22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
The Greek word for "prepared" is καταρτίζω (katartizó), a present middle participle, meaning to be in good working order. The tense is middle, meaning that the objects of wrath have prepared themselves for destruction because of their own positive volition. Therefore, it is not God who fitted them for destruction. The vessels fitted themselves for destruction. God chose the elect, which are the vessels of mercy. However, he leaves the vessels of destruction alone, allowing them to choose their own destination. They always choose their own destruction, not divine mercy. God works patiently with these vessels of destruction. He sends them a general call, but this general call is always rejected. Since God has been patient for a long, long time, and since he has made a general call to them to accept his mercy, he cannot be blamed if the vessels of destruction reject him. They make their choice and live with it. God does not create robots. The vessels of destruction choose their own destination.
23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory –
The Greek word for "prepared" is passive, meaning that the vessels of mercy were made fit for salvation. If God would have left then alone, they would have fitted themselves for destruction. However, God showed them mercy and it was God who made them fit for salvation. Those whom God made fit for salvation will be prepared and sanctified by God so that they can become glorified.
24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
God has also called many Gentiles into salvation.
25 As he also says in Hosea: “I will call those who were not my people, ‘My people,’ and I will call her who was unloved, ‘My beloved.’”
Paul quoted from Hosea 2:23. During this time period, Israel fell into deep sin. God told the Israelites that they were still his people, but because of their sin, he was going to remove them from the land. For a period of time, they would be "not his people". Later on, God would restore them to his land, and they would become his people again.
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
Paul quoted from Hosea 1:10. He was about to send the ten northern tribes into the Assyrian Captivity. Peter used this verse as a type of God calling out the Remnant. Paul used this verse as a type of God calling out the Gentiles.
27 And Isaiah cries out on behalf of Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved,
Paul quoted from Isaiah 10:22-23. There will be only a Remnant of Israel who will be saved.
28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth completely and quickly.”
The rest of Israel who disbelieved will be executed completely and quickly. Therefore, the rabbi were wrong when they taught that all Israel would be saved.
29 Just as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of armies had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have resembled Gomorrah.”
Paul quoted from Isaiah 1:9. If God would have not intervened with grace, if he would have left Israel to make their own decisions, then Israel would have been completely destroyed in the same manner as Sodom and Gomorrah.
The only reason that the whole nation of Israel survives is because of the Remnant. The believing remnant is responsible for keeping the entire nation of Israel alive. Jesus will not return until the Remnant cries out, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Therefore, Satan will attempt to exterminate every Jew so that the Remnant cannot make this call. This is the divine reason that anti-Semitism has existed throughout the centuries. Satan is attempting to genocide the Jews in order to prevent the King of Kings and Lord of Lords from returning. Satab is attempting to avoid his coming judgment in the Lake of Fire.
Israel’s Rejection Culpable
30 What shall we say then? – That the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith,
The Gentiles did not have a moral code of law to cause them to want to pursue righteousness. They did not even pursue righteousness. However, they obtained righteousness simply by faith.
31 but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.
At the same time. Israel possessed the Mosaic Law, which taught about righteousness. However, they did not obtain righteousness. Israel pursued righteousness, but did not obtain it.
32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
The reason that Israel did not obtain righteousness is because they did not pursue it by faith. They thought that they were good enough to keep the Mosaic Law and enter God's rest.
The Gentiles obtained righteousness by faith. The Jews attempted to gain righteousness by their works, but failed.
33 just as it is written, “Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Paul quoted Isaiah 8:14. Zion is Israel. The Stone is Yeshua, the Messiah. Israel stumbled over the stone and fell down flat on their face. Instead of standing on the Stone, which was their foundation, they tripped over the stone, causing their spiritual death.
Paul then quoted Isaiah 28:16. The ones who believe will not be ashamed of the Stone. The ones who believe are the Jewish Remnant. They are not ashamed of believing in the Stone of Salvation, which is the Messiah.
In conclusion, this chapter is not about Israel and the church. It is about the whole Israel and the Jewish Remnant. Beware of theologians who attempt to spiritualize these passages. If taken literally, these passages deal with the two Israels.
