Rom 9
Vs 1 "I say the truth in Christ I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost." Paul wants us to know just how this matter concerning his own kinsmen is with him. He goes on to say that he himself would suffer the curse if only they could see what he is able to see. He also uses as his witness the Holy Ghost to express this concern. Paul knew the attitude of the brethren, for he was, before his conversion on the road to Damascus, liken unto them, zealous of the law. Paul continues on through verse five, with this heartfelt plea for his own kinsmen. He tells them to look at the advantage you brethren have: you were included in the natural adoption, close kin (Jer 31:32) to God, having access to the old law, with all of the sacrifices which was designed to let you know of the coming of the Messiah. Yes, Jesus came first to his own, the Jews, who in a large part rejected him (Mt 21:32; Lk 7:32; Acts 13:46). Paul knew this first hand, for he too had persecuted the followers of Jesus. (Phil 2:6)

In verse six he informs them that even though they had rejected the Messiah, it would not make null and void the redemptive work (2 Cor 5:19) accomplished on the cross. (11:2) God would not castaway his people which he foreknew, even though they were enemies of the gospel (Rm 11:28). Why? Because (11:29) the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Having told them this, he then informs them that the new covenant was not based upon being the natural seed of Abraham. God has expressed his sovereignty throughout the Old Testament: calling Abram out from the idol worshipers of Ur, and giving him a son in his old age, choosing Jacob, a liar and deceiver, over Esau. He preserved Joseph in the face of all odds, through his providential care, raising up Pharaoh for the very purpose of expressing his power, etc. Paul then relates this sovereignty of God in his choice of calling a bride for his son, first with a seed out of Judah (Is 65:8) wherein he placed them in a fruitful hill (Col 1:10), the church. From this seed he then brings his bride out from the ungodly Gentiles (Ep 2:12). As he raised up Pharaoh, even so he appointed (Mi 6:3-9) this rebellious nation (Judah), wherein (1Pt 2:8) tells us that ‘being disobedient where unto they were appointed.’ Again demonstrating his sovereign will (Dan 4:35). Esau, having the birthright, despised it and sold it (Ge 25:34). The Jews having the birthright of the firstborn (Ex 4:22), likewise despised it (Am 2:4) for their lies caused them to err. We see this also taking place with those who having once tasted (Hb 6:4) the goodness of the blessings of the firstborn (Rm 8:29, Hb 12:23) and now despite the new covenant of grace (Hb 10:29).

Vs 18 "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." ‘You say unto me, then why doeth he yet find fault with us? For who hath resisted his will.’ If God is condemning those who are attempting to hold to the old law, having hardened their hearts, (Jh 12:40) how is it they are resist his will? Paul then sends a sharp rebuke to these self-righteous Jews, ‘Who art thou that repliest against the sovereign God?’ Do you not know that it is he who has formed you out of the dust, and your say what hast thou made me thus?

He made the first man Adam and he mired in his hand; therefore from the same lump he also made the second man Adam, Jesus. Both were made without sin. The first failed to keep his commandments, and the second kept it to a jot and tittle. If I have suffered (Acts 14:15) the first to fail and have keep the second from falling, to show my sovereign power, then you as dust in my hands cannot reply against me.

Verse 22 "What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels (Jewish Nation) of wrath fitted to destruction: that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels (Gentiles) of mercy, which he has afore prepared unto glory." Paul then humbles himself, saying even us who he hath called, not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles also. He then quotes Hosea chapter two, wherein he tells of the betrothed bride of Jesus (19). Yes he has taken a remnant (Isa 65:8) of the Jews and planted them in a fruitful hill, and through them brought the Gentile church unto himself, there to lean up their husband breast (Jh 21:20).

(Verse 23) "Thou art my people, and they shall say, thou art my God." When the new covenant is written in the hearts of those called to the wedding feast, they will say, ’thou art my God.’ And a remnant of these shall not bow to the image of Baal (Heb 8:13, Rom 11:5)..

How is it that we cannot see the way in which the sovereign God works? He is not obligated to any of the race of Adam; but to have a witness in the earth, designed to express his, not our righteousness. Having been grieved with the old generation (Ac 2:40, Hb 3:10), it pleased him to call out of the ungodly race of Adam, a seed (Isa 1:9, Rom 9:29). This seed would be accounted for a generation (Ps 22:30; Isa 65:8; Mt 19:28, Ac 8:33), which he has betrothed unto the son of man, Jesus. Having translated this seed out of the darkness of the spiritual womb (Ps 110:3; Col 1:12) of the old covenant, as he did Paul (Gal 1:13), he would plant them in a fertile field of good ground (Mt 13:23), which he himself had prepared. This field is the Gentile world, which before had not followed after righteousness, yet by the tender mercies and purpose of God to show his power, have found righteousness, inasmuch as the Holy Ghost has administered, dealt unto them the measure of faith, found in the new covenant. (Rom 2:14, & 12:3).

Verse 31 Natural Israel, who verily thought they were following after the old law, hath not attained unto righteousness. Why is it they failed to be able to attain unto it? Because they sought it by attempting to keep the old law, which was a stumbling block unto them, not having been administered the measure of faith found in the new covenant. God simply chose not to administer the dealt faith found in the new covenant, therefore Jesus became a rock of offence, and they stumbled over his doctrine of grace, which was in contrast to the old law of works.

Allen Cook 9/26/07 Rev 12/09/09