EXPOSITORY SERMON: ROMANS 9: 1 - 33

1. Paul was considered a traitor to his nation because:
a. He ministered to the Gentiles
b. He taught freedom from the Law
c. He preached Christ in the synagogues

2. Paul uses these chapters to show his love for Israel - a personal reason.

3. He also had doctrinal reasons for writing these chapters:
a. If the believer is secure in the Lord, as Paul stated in chapter 8, how can God set His chosen people aside now?
b. If God was not faithful to the Jews, how do we know He will be faithful to the church?

B. Highlights of chapters 9, 10 and 11.

1. Chapter 9 : Israel's past election. Paul defends the character of God by showing that Israel's past history actually magnified four wonderful attributes of God:
a. His faithfulness
b. His righteousness
c. His justice
d. His grace

2. Chapter 10: Israel's present rejection.

3. Chapter 11: Israel's future restoration.

II. DISCUSSION

A. God's Faithfulness (1-13)

1. In the past Israel had been blest by God. He had adopted them as His own people. He gave them glory in the tabernacle and temple. He made covenants with them through Abraham, Moses and David. He gave them the Law to govern their political, social and religious life. He guaranteed His blessings to all obedient Israelites.

2. Why did God do all this for Israel? That through them, Christ might come. Israel failed God, they rejected and crucified Jesus. Paul must show that Israel's failure does not mean God failed.

3. God is faithful, no matter what man does. Spiritual Israel's election is guaranteed on the following basis:
a. It was not of natural descent (6-10) - The Messiah's rejection by physical Israel did not nullify the election of His spiritual followers from among Israel.
b. It is not of human merit (11-13) - God loves sinners (Jn. 3:16), so the reference here is to a nation, not an individual. God remains faithful even though His people are unfaithful.

B. God's Righteousness (14-18)

1. If God acted only on our personal righteousness, no one would be saved. We all deserve condemnation.

2. Both Moses and Pharaoh were murderers. Both saw the wonders of God. But Moses was saved and Pharaoh was lost. Moses deified the Lord while Pharaoh defied the Lord.

3. Sin must be punished by God for Him to maintain His righteousness. God made it possible for all men to choose election through forgiveness of sins and obedience to His will. Even Pharaoh was given many opportunities to repent.

C. God's Justice (19-29) - Was God just to have mercy on Moses and condemn Pharaoh? To elect Israel and reject other nations? Paul gives three answers to this charge:

1. Who are we to argue with God? (19-21) - He is the creator, we the creation. He has all wisdom, we are foolish by comparison. We are not literal clay because we have feelings, intellect and willpower. These differences bring with them a responsibility on our part. The responsibility to obey.

2. God has His purposes (22-24) - He endured Pharaoh, just as His people did (Ex. 3:7). He was long-suffering (2 Pet. 3:9). Verse 22 could be translated to mean "Pharaoh fitted himself for destruction," and so he did! God prepares men for glory, but sinners prepare themselves for judgment. God's ultimate purpose was to form His church from among all people.

3. All this was prophesied (25-29) - Paul quotes Hosea and Isaiah to show that God would turn to the Gentiles and only a remnant of Israel would remain faithful. Also the quote from Isa. 1:9 emphasizes that God was merciful in sparing the remnant.

D. God's Grace (30-33)

1. The Jews believed the Gentiles needed to "come up" to their level to attain salvation, when in reality the Jews needed to humble themselves to the level of the Gentiles. Instead of letting their religious privileges lead them to Christ, the Jews used their privileges as a substitute for Christ.

2. Paul's final quote of Chapter 9 is from Isa. 28:16. Christ came as the cornerstone of our salvation, but to the arrogant Jew He was a stone of stumbling. God's grace is applied to those who humble themselves before His Son.


III. CONCLUSION

A. God will not save us based on our birth or solely on our behavior.

1. Instead we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8,9).

2. The offer is made to "whosoever will" (Rev. 22:17).

3. Using our free moral agency, that is our God given right to choose we must trust Christ, and seek forgiveness of our sins to attain righteousness.

B. Where does divine sovereignty end and human responsibility begin? God does not ask us to choose between two or more truths, so there must be harmony between these concepts.

C. Summary of Chapter 9

1. Israel's rejection of Christ does not deny the faithfulness of God.

2. The teaching of Romans 9 does not overturn the teaching of chapter 8.

3. God is faithful, righteous, just and gracious and we can depend upon Him to keep His end of the bargain. Can He depend on us?