Romans 9:6-13

                                                                 Romans 9:6-13

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

 

Paul continues to defend the doctrine of justification by faith alone to the children of Israel.  His argument that God loves and saves both Jews and Gentiles is what he is striving to defend in this and the following chapters.  In this passage he wants to prove from the Old Testament and the history of the nation of Israel that membership in the family of God was never about a birthright for being born into a certain family; nor was it about any works that we might do.  He is simply striving to demonstrate that God is consistent in His dealings with mankind and that God’s desire to save all nations should not come as a surprise.

 

GOD’S CALL IS NOT DUE TO BIRTH: The major misconception that the Jews had was that simply because they were from the nation of Israel that they were all saved no matter what they did, how they lived, or what they truly believed.  Paul wants to prove to them that they were wrong as not even all of Abraham’s children were not included in the promise but only Isaac.  This could be explained away by the fact that Ismael was not from Sarah.  However, Isaac’s two sons from Rebekah that were twins were not both included in the promise.  Natural birth is not a guarantee of salvation to any person.  There are many people who grow up in Christian homes as they are blessed to be born into a believing family.  While this truly is a blessing, it does not guarantee that the child is or will be saved.  Salvation is and has always only been by faith and is never simply a birthright.  

 

GOD’S CALL IS NOT DUE TO WORKS: Paul’s second argument is that it is impossible for the call to salvation to be according to works.  He goes back to the children of Isaac to demonstrate this.  He had twin boys, Esau was the first-born and then Jacob was born shortly after.  According to tradition and birthright laws at the time, Esau would have received a double portion of Isaac’s inheritance.  However, God reveals to Rebekah that Esau would serve Jacob.  The text goes as far as to say that God loved Jacob but hated Esau.  This is not hatred as we think of hatred.  It has to do with God’s choosing and His hatred of sin.  The descendants of Esau would end up as the enemies of the descendants of Jacob.  However, Paul’s point is that this calling of Jacob had nothing to do with the works of these twin boys because it was declared before either of them were born. There is nothing that we can do to earn the love of God or to merit salvation.  We are only save by God’s grace through faith.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t trust in the faith of a Christian heritage as a means of salvation.  Don’t even think that salvation can be by works of any kind.  Our salvation is only ever according to faith in Christ and is the work of God in our hearts.  Be eternally grateful for God’s salvation as it is a glorious gift from Him.