26-0628sc - Detailed Summary

Steve begins the class on Romans chapter 9 using the New American Standard Version. He leads a prayer thanking God for grace and mercy that allows believers to call Him Father through Jesus Christ as priest and Savior. The prayer requests wisdom, understanding, insight, and comprehension of Paul’s sometimes complex writings, asking blessings on the students of God’s word in Jesus' name. Amen.

Steve emphasizes that Romans 9 cannot stand alone and requires chapters 10 and 11 for full understanding. He reminds the class of the need to believe God exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him, crediting Paul with Hebrews 11. God’s purpose in creating the world and humanity is highlighted from Ephesians 1: God chose and predestined believers to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ according to His will, for the praise of His glorious grace. This includes redemption through Christ’s blood, forgiveness, and the mystery of His will to unite all things in Christ, culminating in an inheritance sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee. The ultimate purpose is praise of God’s glory.

God revealed this purpose to Abraham, promising land, a great name, and blessing the world through his seed, identified as Jesus. Paul shows God working out His purpose across Romans 9-11. All humanity is consigned under sin in Satan’s clutches to highlight God’s grace, ensuring everyone has the opportunity for reconciliation. Israelites received special blessings and treatment but were not exempt from needing Christ; all must be saved the same way through God’s plan. Paul defends God, stressing reliance on His promises, especially the one to Abraham fulfilled through Isaac and Jacob as instruments of that promise. The first prophecy of Christ appears in Genesis 3 with the seed bruising Satan’s head.

Addressing the Roman church, Paul defends God’s plan and providence in fulfilling promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He declares his truthfulness in Christ, expressing great sorrow and unceasing grief, wishing he could be accursed and separated from Christ for his countrymen, the Israelites. They received adoption, glory, covenants, the law, temple service, promises, the fathers, and from them, according to the flesh, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Steve notes the lineages in Matthew and Luke confirm Jesus' Israelite descent, fulfilling prophecy. Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise through Israel.

Paul clarifies that God’s word has not failed: not all descended from Israel are truly Israel, nor are all Abraham’s physical descendants his children. The promise specifies descendants through Isaac, not Ishmael. It is the children of the promise, not flesh, who are counted as descendants. Rebecca’s twins by Isaac illustrate this—before birth or any actions, God’s purpose according to His choice stood, not by works but by Him who calls. "The older will serve the younger" and "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" demonstrate God working through Jacob to fulfill the plan. Jacob’s name later becomes Israel. Steve stresses this is divine intervention, providence, and preservation, not Calvinistic individual election independent of response; God chose to work through Jacob despite his imperfections.

Anticipating objection about God’s justice, Paul cites God’s words to Moses: "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and compassion on whom I have compassion." It depends not on human desire or effort but on God who shows mercy. The example of Pharaoh shows God raising him up to display power and proclaim His name. God has mercy and hardens as He desires. Steve references John 1 to show Jesus as the true light enlightening everyone, full of grace and truth. Though the world and His own did not receive Him, those who do receive the right to become children of God, born of God. God reaches out first with mercy through Christ.

Paul addresses the question of why God finds fault if no one resists His will. Humans have no right to question the Creator, like clay questioning the potter. From the same lump, God makes vessels for honorable and common use. Though willing to show wrath and power, God patiently endures objects of wrath prepared for destruction to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy prepared beforehand—believers called from both Jews and Gentiles.

Quoting Hosea, Paul shows God calling those not His people to be His people and sons of the living God. Isaiah cries that though Israel be as numerous as sand, only a remnant will be saved; without God’s remnant, they would be like Sodom and Gomorrah. Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness attained it by faith. Israel pursued a law of righteousness but failed because they sought it by works, not faith, stumbling over the stumbling stone.

Steve explains biblical righteousness as a frame of mind—who one serves and obeys. The righteous follow God’s will by faith; the unrighteous pursue self and works. Abraham, initially worldly, believed God’s promises after divine interventions, and it was credited as righteousness. His willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrated faith in God’s power to raise the dead, fulfilling promises. Righteous acts flow from believing in God, His providence, and responding to the gospel through baptism and confession. This contrasts with self-reliant works. Paul notes not all Israel are true Israel because many lack belief. God assured Elijah of 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal.

Gentiles attained righteousness by faith despite not pursuing it, abandoning self-effort for the gospel. Israel stumbled over Christ, the stone of stumbling and rock of offense in Zion, because they sought righteousness by works rather than faith. John 1 reinforces that Jesus gives the right to become children of God to believers. Israelites struggled to accept Jesus as the Christ, fulfilling prophecy. The class ends early after covering Romans 9 and touching into 10.