26-0621sc - Detailed Summary

Steve begins the class on Romans 9 with a prayer to the Heavenly Father. He expresses gratitude for God’s love, care, grace, and mercy, which provide reconciliation, forgiveness of sins, and access to God through Jesus. He requests blessings on the study for understanding and insight into Paul’s writings inspired by the Holy Spirit, particularly the book of Romans. The prayer concludes in Jesus' name. Amen.

Steve reads from Romans 9:1-5 (New American Standard Version), where Paul declares his truthfulness in Christ, supported by his conscience in the Holy Spirit. Paul expresses great sorrow and unceasing grief for his countrymen, the Israelites, wishing he himself could be accursed and separated from Christ for their sake. He lists their privileges: adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, covenants, giving of the law, temple service, promises, the fathers, and the Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed forever.

Paul states that the word of God has not failed, explaining that not all descended from Israel are Israel, nor are all Abraham’s descendants true children. The children of the promise through Isaac are regarded as descendants, not children of the flesh. Steve reads the promise to Sarah about having a son, then moves to Rebecca conceiving twins by Isaac.

Before the twins were born and had done anything good or bad, God’s purpose according to His choice stands, not based on works but on Him who calls. It was said the older would serve the younger, as written: "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

Steve reads Paul’s rhetorical question about injustice with God, answered emphatically no. God tells Moses He will have mercy and compassion on whomever He chooses. It depends not on human desire or effort but on God who shows mercy. The scripture about raising Pharaoh demonstrates God’s power and proclaims His name. God has mercy and hardens whom He desires.

Paul anticipates objection: why does God find fault if no one resists His will? The response challenges the one questioning God as foolish. The molded thing does not question the molder. The potter has rights over the clay to make honorable and common vessels from the same lump. God, willing to show wrath and power, patiently endures objects of wrath prepared for destruction to make known His glory on objects of mercy prepared beforehand for glory, including called Jews and Gentiles.

Steve reads from Hosea about calling those not God’s people as His people, the unloved as beloved, and them called sons of the living God. Isaiah cries out that though Israel is numerous as sand, only a remnant will be saved, as the Lord executes His word thoroughly and quickly. If the Lord had not left descendants, they would be like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness attained it by faith. Israel pursuing a law of righteousness did not arrive at it because they pursued by works, not faith, stumbling over the stumbling stone. As written, the stone in Zion causes stumbling and offense, but believers in Him will not be put to shame.

Steve explains Paul is defending and explaining God, helping understand His nature. Paul demonstrates God’s power over the world, mankind, and creation, with complete control, divine intervention, providence, and preservation.

Steve turns to Matthew 6 to show Jesus teaching dependence on God and freedom from anxiety. He reads verses about not worrying about life, food, drink, or clothing. Birds of the sky are fed by the Father; humans are more valuable. Worrying adds no time to life. Lilies grow without labor yet surpass Solomon’s glory. God clothes the grass, so He will clothe people of little faith. Seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness; needs will be provided. Do not worry about tomorrow.

Steve references his morning reading of Psalms 104, highlighting God’s provision for creation and mankind. He notes the 24-hour creation days, as longer periods would cause destruction. The psalm blesses the Lord, describing His greatness, clothing in light, stretching heavens, establishing earth, controlling waters and mountains with boundaries post-flood (referencing Noah’s rainbow promise of no future water destruction and consistent seasons).

Steve reassures that man will not destroy the world (e.g., via atomic bombs from his youth) or run out of resources; God controls it all. Humans can live simply as Adam and Eve did without modern things. God provides everything needed.

Steve continues reading Psalms 104:10 onward, detailing God’s provision: springs in valleys for animals, watering mountains, grass for cattle, vegetation and wheat for humans, wine to cheer hearts, oil, food, trees for birds, habitats for animals like wild goats and hyrax, moon and sun for seasons, day and night cycles, provision for forest animals and lions, human labor, sea creatures including Leviathan, all waiting on God for food. God renews the earth by His Spirit.

The psalm ends praising God’s enduring glory, rejoicing in works, trembling earth, smoking mountains, and a commitment to lifelong praise. Steve notes the psalmist points out God’s sovereignty. Paul similarly highlights how God is for all in Romans 9.

Steve re-reads Romans 9:1-2, emphasizing Paul’s clear conscience in the Holy Spirit. He explains "conscience" as cleansed (Hebrews) and allowing sincere approach to God. He shares a business story about "sincerely" meaning "without wax," like filling furniture or marble cracks to hide flaws. A clear conscience means no hidden issues when facing others or God. Paul approaches sincerely, willing to be accursed for his Jewish kinsmen.

Paul lists Israelite privileges including adoption, glory, covenants, law, temple service, promises, patriarchs, and Christ from their line. They enjoyed God’s benefits but failed by pursuing righteousness by works, not faith, as explained later in the chapter. Steve invites questions or comments.

Steve explains that Paul shows God acts righteously toward mankind, defining righteousness as the way to justification and right relationship with God for eternal life in heaven. Paul demonstrates God’s righteous dealings. He reiterates that the word of God has not failed because not all descended from Israel are true Israel.

Steve clarifies that not all qualify as true Israelites. Using Ishmael as example, though Abraham’s descendant, he was not a child of promise but of the flesh through Hagar when Sarah offered her. Isaac is the child of promise. Even descent from Isaac is insufficient; one must descend from Jacob to be in the line of promise. Descent from Jacob alone does not guarantee being a true Israelite. Paul justifies and defends God as Creator with sovereign right to call whom He wills.

Steve references Romans 9:25-26, quoting Hosea: God will call those not His people "My people," and the unloved "beloved." In that place they will be called sons of the living God. This reveals God’s purpose in creation to reconcile all mankind to Himself through Jesus, offering eternal life regardless of background.

Steve directs attention to Ephesians 1:3-14 to show God’s pre-creation plan. Blessed be God who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. God predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus according to His will, to the praise of His glorious grace. In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, forgiveness according to the riches of grace. God made known the mystery of His will to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and earth. Believers obtain inheritance, predestined according to God’s purpose. After hearing the gospel and believing, they are sealed with the Holy Spirit as guarantee of inheritance for redemption of God’s possession, to His glory.

Paul in Romans 9 shows God working His plan and promise. Not all Abraham’s descendants are children; through Isaac descendants are named. Jesus comes through Isaac, Jacob, fulfilling promises. Christ is the fulfillment according to the flesh, God blessed forever. It is not children of flesh but children of the promise who are descendants. Steve references the promise to Abraham and Sarah about a son.

Steve recalls Genesis 15 where Abraham questions God about the promised heir despite old age. God shows him the stars, promising descendants. Abraham believes, and God credits it to him as righteousness. Righteous is a label for those walking by faith, following God’s will. The opposite is unrighteous, those committing sin. Christians walking in the light, believing and striving to obey (not sinning willfully or habitually), are credited righteous. "Christian" is also a label for disciples of Jesus.

Continuing in Romans 9, Rebecca conceives twins by Isaac. Before birth or actions, God’s purpose by election stands, not by works but by His call. The older serves the younger. As written, Jacob loved, Esau hated.

Steve reads Romans 9:14-18. No injustice with God. Mercy and compassion on whom God chooses. It depends on God’s mercy, not human effort. Scripture shows God raised Pharaoh to display power and proclaim His name. God has mercy and hardens whom He desires.

Addressing a prior question, Steve explains God did not create Pharaoh to be lost. Pharaoh was an Egyptian rejecting God, with his own gods, enslaving Israelites. God raised him to demonstrate power through plagues showing superiority over Egyptian gods. Israelites contributed nothing; God orchestrated freedom via Passover. Pharaoh hardened his own heart by resisting, which God used. All leaders are ordained by God. Prophecy demonstrates God’s existence as only He fulfills it.

Paul teaches reconciliation to God comes not by wanting or working for it but by accepting God’s merciful offer through grace. God reaches out, providing opportunity under His terms via the promise, not fleshly inheritance. Steve thanks the class for their time.