Romans 9

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Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

• Verses 1-5 Paul's sorrow regarding Israel's failure.
• Paul says he speaks the truth and he is addressing his brother of Israel.
• He is speaking from the heart, directly and earnestly to you.

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

• Or, his sorrow is caused because you won't accept Christ. 

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

• And therefore he would rather be accrued, or separated is a better word,  from Christ than that you were.
• Notice he says my kinsmen indicating natural brothers born into Israel. 

4 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;

• Who are Israelites = the elect that we have just talked about?
• God's promises pertain to them. 

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

• Through this very same flesh, Christ came.
• Christ was an Israelite. 

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

• Verses 6-13 God's purpose had respect only to a portion.
• Now this is translated awkwardly in the English.
• It means these Israelites won't believe.
• They haven't accepted Christ salvation, and so the question is: have God's promises failed, and his answer: they are not all Israel which are of Israel. 

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

• The promise was made to all of Abraham's seed but to those of Abraham and Sarah's issue.
• "In Isaac shall thy seed be called". 
• I'd like to make a point here.
• Understand that you do not have any choice in the election.
• God does the choosing.
• But know this! If we have ears to hear, if we are part of that elect, God brings us to whatever destiny He has chosen for us in His plan.
• He will guide you and lead you, because He has a purpose for you, and this world is not going to continue much longer.
• He has certain of His elect that are going to bring His plan into action.
• He moves you, if you are part of that elect, and Paul is speaking directly to you in the chapter . 

8 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.

• In Genesis Abraham had a bond wife, Hagar, with his wife Sarah's blessing because she was barren, and he had a son by Hagar, who was an Egyptian and not an Israelite.
• This happen before God promised Abraham a son by Sarah which was Isaac.
• Therefore, Isaac is the seed of promise: not through the issue of Abraham and Hagar, but through Isaac, the child of Abraham and Sarah. 
• Understand as regards salvation, Hagar's issue has an opportunity for salvation, but  the point Paul is making here is that through Isaac is the destiny of being of true Israel and of the elect.
• Genesis 17:16 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

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

• This verse spells it out quite clearly. 

10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

• Now Rebecca conceived by one, our father Isaac.
• Note that word one, and in her womb, she carried twins.

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

• So before the children were born, having done neither good nor evil, God chose above the other.
• This is explained as we go along, but I'd like to notice the destiny that is implied here.

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

• In the Greek this is better translated, the greater shall serve the lesser.
• Genesis 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
• Genesis 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
  25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
  26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
  27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
  28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

• What kind of God would love one and hate the other even before their birth?
• It was the soul that God put in Esau from the first earth age
• This is truly not difficult to understand.
• It was not what they were, as innocent babes about to enter the flesh in this world that is, that God (YHVH) judged.
• It is the same as the election .
• Those chosen were not chosen for anything they do in this world that is.
• It is because judgment took place in the world that was.
• Each soul earned its place during the spiritual battle when Lucifer first fell away in the world that was, or before Adam was.
• There were 7,000 that held the line firm and remained with God and at that time they earned the right to be elect.
• We have a fair and loving God.
• Now it would appear unfair to say I hate a child that is yet in the womb, but you see it was from what happened before.
• This is a spiritual thing, and actually God does not concern Himself too much about our flesh body.
• It is our spiritual body that concerns Him most.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

• Verse 14-29 God's purpose regarded only the remnant.
• God put the soul into each of the flesh, so He knew the soul He put into Esau, it's what he did in the first earth age.

15 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.

• This is the Father speaking. 

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

• The point Paul is making here is that, as far as the elect are concerned, this was all decided long ago.
• It isn't up to anyone who wishes or works for it.
• God decided. God did the choosing.  

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.

 

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

• Pharaoh was a Gentile and we see God will show mercy to a Gentile if he so wishes.
• He will also blind whom so ever He wishes.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

• Paul says you're going to argue this point, and in the next verse, he sets up his explanation. 

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

• Don't back-talk the Creator? 

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto

dishonour?

• The potter, as an example, can make one creation noble and another menial. 

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

• So if God puts up with vessels that are bent on destruction, He has every right to show His anger. 

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

• The "vessels of mercy" refer to the elect, and I want you to read that word "afore" with thoughtfulness.
• Vessels = your body
• Clay  = we are the clay
• Potter = Our Father is the Potter
• It means exactly the same as we read in the 8th chapter.
• It means to fit up in advance, to, preordain, or foreknow.
• These vessels were prepared to righteousness and to glory before the foundation of this world.
• Only the very elect can understand this. 

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

• Whom He hath called, makes it clear again that we are speaking of the elect.
• Past teachings generally have led the Christian to think in terms of personal salvation, something that is left up to the individual, yet we are told in definite terms here that "He hath called".
• So then, who so ever be of the elect, he or she has no choice.
• Now there's been some confusion introduced to this particular scripture.
• Instead of "whom He hath called, not of the Jews only". it should read, "whom He hath called from among not only the Jews, but of the Gentiles".
• The word "Jew" here refers to the tribe of Judah or Israelites.

25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

• Verses 25-26 Israel restored to supremacy over the Gentiles.
• Again, you see here divorced Israel included in God's over-all plan.

26 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.

• This refers to the ten tribes that went north, or lost.
• Hosea 1:9-11 You may wish to read the book Hosea in connection with this, as it is all about those tribes, and He gathered them back and did have mercy on them.

27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

• Verses 27-29 Divine election justified by Scripture.
• That remnant is the election, and it is a small number; only seven thousand shall be saved.
• This refers of course to the age prior to the millennium, be cause during the millennium all shall be taught the truth.
• Everyone then will be given the opportunity for salvation.

28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

• And I declare to you that this "short work" to which Paul refers, will come to pass very soon for the Father's honor and glory.

29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabbath had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

• Why would the end times be as Sodom and Gomorrha?
• Those in most churches of today will accept the Kenites messiah, the false one that they have been told is Christ.
• If there were not that small remnant that knew the false christ was going to return to this earth before the real Christ Jesus comes... if it were not for this small remnant, the whole world would worship the false messiah.
• And Again, we would truly have a Sodom and Gomorrha.
• But, the Lord left us a seed.
• You of the very elect will be delivered up when the false christ does appear, and you will avert this catastrophe.
• From your lips will come God's truth, and the world will realize that it has been seduced by the false christ.
• God's very elect are from all races, 7,000

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

• Verses 30-33 Israel's failure in spite of the Prophets

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

• So Paul asks in verse 30, is it true then that the Gentiles who haven't followed righteousness and didn't even know the law should attain salvation through faith, and in verse 31 that Israel who followed the law should be left out?
• Now realize that it's impossible for a flesh person to live up to that law letter-perfect, but Paul poses the question, shall Gentiles be preferred over Israelites, and he gives the answer in the next two verses.

32 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;

• Why?
• Because Israel had no faith.
• They stumbled at that stumbling stone, which was Jesus Christ.
• They didn't accept Him as the Son of God.

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

• As it is written in 1 Peter 2:6, "confounded" is a better translation than 'ashamed".
• Beloved, you shall not be confounded or confused.
• You of the elect shall teach together with Jesus Christ during the millennium and in love bring them to God's full truth.
• As it is recorded in Isaiah 60:22, a small group shall become a strong nation.
• This will be the nation of Israel led by God and established for the purpose of bringing in His Kingdom.

• Exactly 2520 years from the exile of Benjamin, Iceland became an independent nation.

 

•  The first tribe to be conquered by the Assyrians was Manasseh, in 745 B.C. Exactly 2520 years later America became a nation on July 4, 1776.

 

• Study the book: Abrahamic Covenant, (A study outline of the identity of God's people) By E. Raymond Capt - page 25