Romans 9 introduces a new division in the book. The first section (chapters 1-8) shows the great need all men have for the gospel, establishing the truth that the Jews needed the gospel as much as the Gentiles. The Law could not provide man’s need but Christ did. By His death and resurrection, Christ annulled the Law and in its place made possible the gospel which He universally and freely offered, and which contains God’s power to save all men.
Sadly, the vast majority of Jews rejected that gospel and remained in their lost state. The apostle shows in chapters 9-11 that their rejection of God’s offered gift placed them in eternal jeopardy. Their lost condition greatly grieved the apostle, for despite the fact that his nation persecuted him, sought to kill him, and were the reason that a few months after he wrote this letter caused him to be imprisoned for the greatest part of his remaining life, he wrote, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart for I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:1-3). Such a burden was ever with him. Later in the letter he wrote, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1).
Paul’s genuine love for his nation was intense although he knew that his concern and love for his people, even to the point of being willing to be lost if that would save them, was something which would not occur. Jesus had died to make possible the redemption of all men, and while God loved the world and allowed His Son to die for it, He would not save them unconditionally and He would not allow Paul to be lost to save his people unconditionally, either.
What a tragedy that Israel was lost! Theirs was a high position with God. They were “the adoption; and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the services of God, and the promises, of whom are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever, Amen” (Romans 9:4). Many and noble were men among their ancestry: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others of their forefathers. Yet, as the apostle proceeds to show, fleshly descent was not what mattered with God. God’s Word had not come to nought, for while the vast majority of Israel rejected the offered grace of God, Gentiles in even larger numbers had gladly heard and received the good news of Christ’s death for them. And, as the apostle showed, fleshly descent was not what counted. God’s Word had not failed. They “were not all Israel that are of Israel: neither, because they are Abraham’s seed are they all children, but in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Romans 9:6-8). Abraham had other children besides Isaac. There was Ishmael, the son of Hagar, and was a number of years older than Isaac. And after Sarah’s death, Abraham had married again and had a number of other sons by her. But Isaac was God’s chosen through whom His promised seed should come who would provide the blessing to all the nations of the earth whom God had promised to Abraham when he called him to leave home and country and “go into the land which I shall show thee.” Even then the selection did not cease: God chose Jacob over Esau, the older of twin sons born to Isaac and Rebecca. Before the sons were even born God had told Rebecca “the elder shall serve the younger” (Romans 9:12; cp. Genesis 25:23). Yet in those selections there was not a choice as to who should be saved, or who should be lost; it was God’s choice as to who would be in the lineage from Abraham to Jesus who was the One who was born of Abraham’s seed who provided a blessing to all the nations.
Ultimately, God made another choice who should be Abraham’s children. This choice came not by physical relationship to him, but of those who walk in the steps of Abraham’s faith. Paul explained in Galatians 5:26-29. “For ye are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free; there can be no male and female for ye are all one man in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.” Anyone today can be a child of Abraham if he will chose to walk in Abraham’s faith.
God’s word did not come to nought. Truly, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” has been abundantly fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
Jim McDonald