Chapter Nine
A Parenthetical People Part I
Remember as you study this chapter that the idea of the chapter does not begin with verse one, it begins in chapter eight so be sure to re-acquaint yourself with it. Chapters nine through eleven are a parenthetical portion about God’s dealings with the nation of Israel in their past, present and future.
In chapter nine we are introduced to a new word in the Bible, Election. It is used six times in the Bible, once in this chapter, three times in chapter eleven, once in First Thessalonians and it is also used once in Second Peter.
Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Its root is the word Elect which is mentioned in chapter eight. God is very clear that Israel is considered as God’s Elect as well as one time when the Son of God is called God’s elect in Isaiah 42:1. The doctrine of Election as you will see by a simple study of the word in scripture has to do with service and not salvation.
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
There is no doubting the love that Paul had for his kinsmen. I can only imagine the heartache that Paul must have felt when he returned from Damascus to witness to his fellow countrymen and God told him to leave Jerusalem for the Jews would not hear his testimony. Acts 22:18
It has never ceased to amaze me that the whole nation was in an uproar against the Church in Jerusalem but only as long as Paul was around. For it was not until Paul left that the churches in Israel had rest. God had to get Paul out of Israel so that he could go and be the Apostle of the Gentiles as God had called him to do.
Paul is the great expounder of doctrinal truth for the body of Christ and he knew better than any that there was no way he could take Israel’s place of punishment by wishing himself accursed.
To do so would make God unjust in allowing a sinner to die for other sinners. Christ is the only one that can die for another person and make the payment for their sins.
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; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
The adoption is a reference to God’s adopting Abraham’s descendants for the specific task of being the nation that he would use to reclaim the earth with.
The glory refers to the glory that God receives by the world when the few (believing Israel) manifest forth his glory by obedience tohim.
The covenants are of course the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenantsas well as the New Covenant that is made with the nation of Israel.
The service of God is a reference to the duty and calling to service that was given to Israel by God. It is what they as a nation were called and elected to do.
Who did Christ come to according to verse five? Israel! Who is over all? Christ. He came unto his own and his own received him not. John 1:11
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
God chose Abraham to be the Father of the Jewish nation but he had two sons, so God again had to make a choice, not for one to be saved and forthe other to be lost, but for one to serve God in a specific capacity that was different from the other.
Jacob (who later became Israel) had twelve sonsmost of which were a bunch of rascalsbut God is referring to the believing remnant in Israel as the true Israel in his eyes. What else matters?
There will be no boasting in Hell by lost Jews claiming, “I am Israel”. What a stupid thing to brag about in Hell for others would ask why didn’t you listen to your own prophets then?
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. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 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;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Three Patriarchs are mentioned here in identifying the children of God, Israel, Isaac, and Abraham. Rebecca and Sara are also mentioned to help further narrow down exactly who it is that God is referring to here and yet the Calvinist somehow places himself and all believers in Israel’s place.
What is meant by verse six where God says through Paul that they are not all Israel which are of Israel? God is simply telling us that just because you slept in the garage once it does not make you a car. What I mean is that just because you have been circumcised on the eighth day into a Jewish home does not make you an Israelite at heart.
Circumcision is a matter of the heart. Trusting in the Messiah of Israel however makes the Jew both physically and spiritually of Israel. Obviously, Abraham is the Father of the Jewish nation through Isaac.
It was to him and Sarah that the promise was given of a son. He is also the Father many others through the flesh orthrough his carnal relationship with Hagar which bore Ishmael.
Rebecca is mentioned because she bore two sons to Isaac, and God chose only one to be the one through whom the Messiah would come and that was Jacob. Nowhere in the story do we ever see Esau serving Jacob, they do however fight a lot.
Esau will indeed serve Jacob when all nations serve the Messiah during the Millennial Kingdom. Election is always about service never salvation.
Calvinist run to the verse that Paul said, Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated, to teach that God hated Esau before he was ever born. Not so!
In what book of the Old Testament are we introduced to the story of Jacob and Esau? The first book of the Old Testament. In what book do we find the death of Jacob and Esau?
Also, the first book of the Old Testament. In what book of the Old Testament would you then expect the verse about God hating Esau and loving Isaac to be found? The first book as well, but it's not.
The verse that Paul is quoting is written thousands of years after Esau had already rejected God in the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi 1:2 & 3
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 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. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Mercy is a positive act of God and yet people blame God if he shows mercy to one, they think he should show mercy to all. Why? God can show mercy to whomever he pleases.
Can you do whatever you will with what is yours? Does a stranger have the right to expect you to give to him the same gift that you gave to your child? No! Of course not.
God doesn’t have to show mercy on sinners but he does on those today who put their trust in His Son for their salvation. That is the basis today for Him showing mercy. We don’t deserve it just like those who don’t accept His Son but He bestows mercy on us in spite of us on His Son’s behalf.
God had a system of blessing the firstborn and Esau sold his birthrite for some stew and later despised his birthrite and Jacob coveted it. God showed mercy to the one who loved what God loved.
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. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
It does not say here that God “created” Pharaoh to be damned, but that “he raised him up” so his power should be showed in him throughout all the earth. God used Pharaoh and his nation to bring glory unto Himself and to have his name declared throughout all the earth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 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? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Once again salvation is not the issue here but the service or calling of God on a person’s life is. Some have erroneously devised a doctrine of irresistible grace out this passage and a few others, but that is simply not the case.
God who is all knowing knew that Pharaoh would resist him before he was ever born and God still allowed him to be born. He could allow only people to be born that would eventually get saved but he allows all the same opportunity to choose him or not. Don't miss Jeremiah 18:7-12 on this subject a little farther down the page or you will remain confused on this.
Notice that Paul introduces the picture of the Potter (God) and the lump of Clay. Notice that from the same lump of clay (dirt/earth etc.,) God makes two vessels, one unto honour and another to dishonour. These vessels arementioned in Jeremiah 18:
Jeremiah 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
God can make a marred vessel of clay (the house of Israel in unbelief) and make a new vessel out of it unto glory. Israel will be a vessel unto glory in the Millennial Kingdom one day but today for the most part she is still a vessel unto dishonour.
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsufferingthe vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
I want you for a moment to remember what the Bible says about Christ andthe Apostle Paulin 1st Timothy:
1 Timothy 1:15-16This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul was the first person saved in the Body of Christ because under Israel's program he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit and had no salvation there only condemnation but God was longsuffering and he is using Paul first as a pattern of God's long suffering to all who should believe on Jesus Christ to life everlasting.
Paul was a vessel of Wrath but God was longsuffering not pouring out his wrath on him and his nation and he has not done it yet ever since our pattern (the Apostle of the Gentiles) got saved and became the first vessel of mercy. We are also vessels of mercy.
But a Jew today can become a vessel of mercy today because of the Cross because God is not pouring out his wrath today in the dispensation of Grace. but once it is ended the wrath of God will be poured out on the vessels of wrath. That is why it is called the time of Jacob's Trouble.
They have not fulfilled the 70 weeks of punishment/wrath that God has promised he would pour out. They have endured 69 weeks of it but not the last week and that will occur in the Tribulation Period.
God in eternity past had a secret or mystery that he kept hidden from before the foundation of the world that he would bestow his mercy upon the gentiles and make us vessels of glory, this gracious act shows the riches of his glory to all for all eternity.
24Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 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.
In these verses, we see vessels (individuals) of wrath and of mercy both of which God foreknew what their decisions would be to either follow him or the god of this world (Satan).
Those that would one day follow God of course are the recipients of mercy while those that chose not to are of course the recipients of God’s wrath.
God could have chosen not to allow those who would never follow him to have ever been born but he did not. Notice that God endured with much longsuffering over these vessels not “willing” that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
How hard it must be for a loving God who sees the end from the beginning to know they will never believe regardless of all the ways he has shown himself to them over all the years of their life.
At least you and I have the privilege of not knowing someone’s fate. God however never chooses their fate that is up to each individual to decide if they will be a vessel of mercy or of wrath.
What was Paul anyway? The instrument through which God showed the world his longsuffering to the world in saving the CHIEF OF SINNERS and making him his Apostle of the Gentiles. What GRACE!
The house of Israel was called Loammi (not my people) in Osee (Hosea) 1:9 & 10 and the same nation will one day again be called the children (sons) of the livingGod.
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.
This is speaking of Israel not the Body of Christ!
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: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
What is the work that the Lord will make upon the earth that only a remnant of Israel will be saved out of? The 70th week of Daniel or the Time of Jacob's Trouble.
What does Matthew 24:22 and Mark 13:20 teach us about the length of the days of Jacob's Trouble? That God would shorten those daysfor the Elect's (Israel's) sake or they wouldn't survive those days and enter into their kingdom.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
The place where it was said, Ye are not my people: is a reference to Israel in the valley of Jezreel, also known as the valley of Armageddon. The quote is from Hosea chapter one where God literally divorces Israel from himself because of their spiritual adultery.
Paul here alludes to the time of Jacob’s Trouble as only a remnant of Israel endures unto its end which is shortened by God in righteousness so as to preserve the few remaining Jews to enter into the Millennial Kingdom along with the righteous Jews from the Old Testament days. The day is coming when Israel will again be God’s people.