Sunday 11.00am
Wednesday 7.00pm
(childcare provided)
Overview
We now begin a new section in this great letter that will continue through chapter 11. Paul, after stressing God’s sovereign work in the context of suffering and the security of our relationship through grace, turns to the issue of God’s relationship with ethnic Israel.
In verses 1 through 5, Paul expresses his agony over how many of his fellow Jews have rejected Jesus. Later, also in verse 5, Paul describes the essence of Christ. He is fully human, an Israelite. He is completely God and worthy of all worship.
Romans 9:6-13 addresses the effectiveness of God’s unconditional promise to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3). Many must have been skeptical of God’s covenant keeping with the Hebrew people as the church was becoming predominantly non-Jewish. Paul argues the point that not everyone who is physically descended from Abram is in right relationship with God (verse 6). He then gives the reader two examples. First, Isaac’s role in God’s redemptive plan instead of Ishmael (who also was a son of Abraham) illustrates not all who trace their lineage to Abram receive covenant blessing. Second, God’s choice of Jacob over Esau (twins not only from the same parents but also conceived in the same act of intercourse) without any merit on behalf of the boy’s magnifies the freedom and power in which God makes good on His promise.
Applications
1) Do you consider yourself right with God simply because you were born into a Christian home? Do you see the danger in this perspective?
2) Do you resonate with Paul in agonizing over those who don’t know Jesus? Do you see this as a work of the Holy Spirit in your heart?
3) Do you live your life with Christ as God over all? In which areas of your life are you not submitted to Him?
4) Do you worship God as the one who unconditionally chose you in eternity past?
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