What Went Wrong? (Romans 9:1-13)
This week at Grace we're starting the next big section of our year-long series in Romans. Romans 9-11 raises some questions we might have, but be uncomfortable talking about, such as:
Why don't more people respond to the gospel?
Why doesn't God just save everyone?
Why did God invest so much into Israel throughout the whole Old Testament, only to have them reject the Messiah? What does that say about God?
What is our role in announcing the gospel to people who might not want to hear it?
What is the future for Israel?
I've got to be honest: these chapters don't match the soaring prose of Romans 8 or the direct personal application of Romans 12.
Perhaps because of that, they're often skipped over in sermon series or in personal Bible reading. Let's not do that! Everything in Scripture is useful for us, and while these questions might be uncomfortable, they are honest and important. I hope that as we wrestle with God's word together, it can shape our mind and hearts to love Jesus more.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
- Romans 9:1-13