Coachlight Bible Study – Romans Chapter 9

God’s Righteousness Demonstrated By His Foreknowledge

 

Chapter seven now switches us from the revelation of God’s righteousness, to the demonstration of God’s righteousness with His handling of His wayward and adulterous people and bringing in many that where not God’s people.

We learn more of God’s character, and learn that God looks at the world much differently than does the carnally minded man.  We find that God’s actions stem from His foreknowledge, even to:

 

1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

The knowledge of God’s righteousness will give us the desire to have the mind of Christ, and know assuredly the promise of our inheritance:

 

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

Overall View Of The Book Of Romans

Focus

Revelation Of God’s Righteousness

Demonstration Of God’s Righteous

Application Of God’s Righteousness

Scripture

1:1

3:21

6:1

9:1

9:30

11:1

12:1

14:1-16:27

Division

Need For God’s Righteousness

Imputation Of God’s Righteousness

Demonstration Of God’s Righteousness

Israel’s Past - Election

Israel’s Present - Rejection

Israel’s Future - Restoration

The Christian’s Walk

Christian Liberty - Principles & Practice

Topic

Sin

Salvation

Sanctification

Sovereignty

Service

Doctrine

Application

Theme

Romans 1:16-17 – The righteous of God revealed in salvation from faith to faith

Location

Written By Apostle Paul – 3rd Missionary Trip – In Greece, Probably Corinth – Acts 20:3-6

Time

About 57 AD

 

The Theme Of Romans Combines Three Important Concepts

1. Salvation  2. Righteousness  3. Faith

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.


I. Israel’s Past – Elected By God And His Foreknowlege

 

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

Romans 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

Romans 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

 

A. Paul’s Sorrow

1. Paul’s burden for his own people was very great

a. Paul was called to be the Apostle to the Gentile

b. Sometimes one could forget that Paul himself was a Pharisee

c. His sorrow came from truth from the Holy Ghost

d. Paul’s conscience also bears witness of his sorrow

2. If Paul could be separated from Christ for his people he would

a. This of course could not take place – Paul is a sinner

b. Reminds me of another Israelite’s plea to God:

 

Exodus 33:30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

Exodus 33:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

Exodus 33:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

Exodus 33:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Exodus 33:34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

 

B. What God Gave To Israel – What pertained especially to Israel

 

Romans 9:4 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; {covenants: or, testaments}

 

1. To Israel was given the adoption – or son-ship

 

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Exodus 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

 

Deuteronomy 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.


Deuteronomy 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

 

2. To Israel was given the glory of the covenants – Abraham, David. etc

3. To Israel was given the giving of the law

4. To Israel was given the service of God

5. To Israel was given the promises

a. Oracles of God

b. Inheritance of the land

c. Promise of the Messiah – the Seed 

 

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

 

C. God’s Righteousness is demonstrated in His sovereign treatment of Israel

 

Romans 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

 

D. Why wasn’t God’s plan evident in all the lives of the Israelites?

 

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

 

E. They are not all Israel which are of Israel

 

Romans 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Romans 9:8 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.

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

Romans 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

Romans 9:11 (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;)

 

1. Just because they are Abraham’s seed – Doesn’t mean they are of Israel

2. The children of the promise are counted for seed

3. The promise was that Sarah would have a child

4. The promise was also that Rebekah would have a child by Isaac

a. The children had not yet been born

b. The children had not yet performed good works

c. The children had not yet performed bad works


5. Israel’s election had nothing to do with the seed’s works

6. Israel’s election was all about God’s Righteousness  - Who called them.

 

F. The children of the promise are those born not after the flesh

 

1. Those born after the Spirit

2. Those who have God’s righteousness imputed to them

 

Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. {covenants: or, testaments} {Sinai: Gr. Sina}

Galatians 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. {answereth to: or, is in the same rank with}

Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Galatians 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

 

G. God’s Sovereign Righteousness Demonstrated by His foreknowledge

1. Both Isaac and Esau were sons of Israel

2. God’s eternal purpose will be accomplished

3. God’s foreknowledge knew the heart of Esau before his actions

4. God’s wrath was directed to Esau and his descendants – judgment of Edomites

a. Not in revenge or unholy judgment

b. But in righteous judgment

 

Romans 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. {elder: or, greater} {younger: or, lesser}

Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

 

II. God’s Righteousness Demonstrated By His Will & Mercy

 

A. Is there unrighteousness in God when He chooses one over the other?

 

Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.


 

1. Even Moses had no claim to any favor from God

 

Romans 9:15 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.

 

Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Exodus 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

Exodus 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

Exodus 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

 

2. It is not man’s will or works – It is God’s Sovereign Will and Grace

 

Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

 

3. Even Pharaoh couldn’t thwart God’s plan

 

Romans 9:17 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.

 

A Quote from:

 

Exodus 9:4 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.

Exodus 9:15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. {raised…: Heb. made thee stand}

 

a. God put the Pharaoh in position to be king of Egypt

b. God preserved the Pharaoh in spite of Pharaoh’s disobedience

1. So That God’s purpose would be fulfilled

2. So that God’s name would be declared throughout the earth

 

Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.


 

B. The Natural Man Would Reject This Teaching Of God’s Will

 

Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

 

1. Paul Anticipates - How could a righteous God judge me – I am His creation

a. This is fallacy – God created man in His own image

 

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

b. This is fallacy – God Predestined man to conform to His image

 

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

2. Paul’s explanation of God’s righteous  will

 

Romans 9:20 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? {repliest…: or, answerest again, or, disputest with God?}

Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

 

3. God demonstrates His righteous judgment in both saint and sinner

 

Romans 9:22 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: {fitted: or, made up}

Romans 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

 

a. Shows His righteous judgment with the vessels of wrath – sinners

b. Shows His righteous judgment with the vessel of mercy – saints

 

III. God’s Righteousness Demonstrated By Israel’s Blindness

 

Romans 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?


 

A. It was through God’s foreknowledge that He revealed to Hosea His plan

 

Romans 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

Romans 9:26 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.

 

1. Story behind the parable

a. Hosea took Gomer to be his wife as God said

b. Hi child was born  named Jezreel

c. Two other children were born – probably not Hosea’s sons

d. He named one – Lo-ammi – “No kin of mine”

e. He named the other – Loruhamah – “To whom no love is felt”

2. Showed God’s Action to Israel at their rejection – whoredoms against God

3. People who never knew God – would have the same relationship with God

 

B. God’s righteousness demonstrated - God will have His Israeli remnant

 

Romans 9:27 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:

Romans 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. {the work: or, the account}

Romans 9:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrha. {Sabaoth: Heb. hosts}

 

C. Only the Lord of Hosts desires the glory

1. There would be a remnant after the Assyrian destruction

2. There is a remnant saved after Israel’s rejection of Christ

 

D. Salvation is only by faith – not by works of the law

 

Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. {ashamed: or confounded}


 

1. Israel’s trust was wrongly placed

 

Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. {doctrine: Heb. the hearing?}

Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: {must be: or, hath been}

Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. {stammering…: Heb. stammerings of lip} {will…: or, he hath spoken}

Isaiah 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Isaiah 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 28:15  Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Isaiah 28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. {trodden…: Heb. a treading down to it}

 

2. Israel trusted Egypt to deliver from the Assyrians instead of God

3. Israel should have trusted God rather than the Law

a. Israel would not have been confounded

b. Israel would not have been dispersed all over the world

4. Israel did not seek God by faith – but by works of the Law

a. They stumbled at the stumbling stone

b. The Rock – Promised Messiah – was their shelter

 

God’s Righteousness Is Demonstrated in His Handling of Israel