Paul has spent the first eight chapters of Romans detailing the need of salvation; because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  He has described the means of salvation; the righteous man shall live by faith.  And He has detailed the purpose of salvation; which is to bring many sons to glory by their adoption as sons of God. 

And then in chapter 8, he summarized the process of salvation by saying in vs 29 and 30, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Now in that summary, we can see that God has a plan and a purpose in which He orchestrates man’s salvation, from the beginning to the end.  He foreknew, that means that He knew from eternity past who would be saved, and He predestined them, which means He predetermined those who would be saved.  And then He called those who would be saved, and He justified them by faith, and those who are justified by faith will be and are being glorified. 

In this summary we see not only the plan and purpose of God, but we see the sovereignty of God.  What God wills, will happen.  What God plans will be accomplished.  How exactly that all works is a mystery which cannot be answered.  My feeble attempt to explain it is that God is outside of time and space and as such He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  He is eternal.  He is infinite.  According to Hebrews 12:2 He is the author and finisher of our faith.  So as the infinite, eternal God He is able to predict, predetermine and produce His will in the world and His will is to bring many sons to glory.

But in saying all of that the question arises, then what about the Jews?  Did not God promise that they were the children of God?  Did not Jesus say that salvation came through the Jews? Did not God call Israel His chosen people? Is it possible that the plan of God and the predetermination of God come to naught because the Jews rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah, and thus forfeited salvation and their promised inheritance? 

And if that is true, then from our perspective, can Christians in the 21st century really be assured of our salvation? If the plan and purpose of God was thwarted and unsuccessful in regards to the Jews, then how can we then trust in God’s plan and purpose for our salvation?  

Well, these hypothetical questions had undoubtedly been on Paul’s mind as he was writing this epistle.  Because though he was writing to the Gentiles, as the Apostle to the Gentiles, yet he was by birth a Jew and one who had studied the law under the greatest teachers of Judaism and excelled in the law as a “Pharisee of Pharisees.”  In every respect, he was an Israelite who was proud of his heritage and who understood the significance of his heritage.

So while it may seem somewhat unnecessary or even a matter of overkill to us today, Paul is going to spend the next three chapters tackling various issues concerning the Jews and God’s plan for them.  But at the same time, in addressing these issues, we can gain valuable insight into our own salvation, which should serve to greatly strengthen and establish our faith.

So somewhat abruptly, after reaching the heights of joy in the closing paragraphs of chapter 8 in talking about the wonders of God’s love for us, Paul admits in chapter 9 to having great sorrow in his heart.  And the source of that great sorrow is the spiritual condition of his own people.  He says he has great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart for the Jews, his fellow country men.  He goes on to say that he is so anguished over their plight that he could wish, if it were possible, that he would be accursed and cut off from Christ if it meant that they might be saved.

This is quite a remarkable statement.  Especially due to the fact that even though they were his countrymen, the Jews considered Paul their enemy and were trying to have him put to death.  And by all rights, Paul might have considered them his enemies as well.  Because the Jews were certainly enemies of the gospel.  But even as Christ died for His enemies, Paul says he would be willing to die in the place of his enemies, because he so loved his country and his people.  

Folks, this should be our attitude towards the lost as well.  Especially in our culture today it is possible to feel that society hates us as Christians and wants to see us shut down, or at least to shut us up.  We are threatened by the increasing attacks on the church and on our religious liberties.  We feel that our Christian values are under attack more and more every day.  But our response should not be antagonistic.  Our response should be to mourn over our countrymen’s spiritual condition.  It should move us to be more compassionate, even more evangelistic, as we seek to win them to Christ.  Christ is the only hope for America.  And we are only going to be able to truly change society if we have compassion for the lost.

Paul’s language is the exemplary language of a Christian. If a person is unconcerned or has no compassion for the unsaved they really should examine their own Christianity.  But that doesn’t mean we have to condone their sin and rebellion.  But it does mean that we are to have compassion for them and be willing to even sacrifice our lives for their sake that they might be saved.

What makes the situation with Israel even more tragic though is the fact that the Jews had every advantage and yet it did not help them in their unbelief. It should be remembered that an advantage is not necessarily a virtue, and a privilege is not a merit.  Paul lists 9 advantages that Israel enjoyed, that made them the most favored nation in the world in God’s eyes.  The first advantage is found in their name; they are Israelites.  That means they were the descendants of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. God changed the name of Jacob  to Israel after he wrestled with the angel.  Israel means, “he struggles with God.”  Israel’s sons became the 12 tribes of Israel, with all the attendant blessings that God had promised concerning the descendants of Abraham. 

Secondly, Paul says theirs was the adoption.  Back in chapter 8 vs 15 we are told that Christians have been adopted into the family of God.  But our adoption came after the adoption of the Israelites.  God called them His firstborn, His own possession, His son, His people, HIs chosen people.

The third advantage was what Paul calls the glory. The word used there refers to the divine radiance, otherwise known as the “shekinah” glory which was the pillar of cloud and smoke that stood over and filled the tabernacle in the wilderness and then later filled the temple.  It was the same glory which rested on the top of Mt. Sinai when Moses went up to the Lord in the sight of the people.  This divine radiance in the center of the camp of the Israelites was a daily, visible evidence that God dwelled among His people.  What a great advantage it must have been to see that every day and know that God was with them.

I don’t have the time this morning to give a detailed exegesis of each of these nine advantages.  But suffice it to say they had the covenants which God had made with their fathers.  Promises, which God who cannot lie made to their ancestors concerning His plan for them. Fifth, they had the word of God, the law which God had delivered to Moses on Mt. Sinai in thunder and lightning while they waited in the wilderness.  They had the worship, which God had detailed concerning the tabernacle and the sacrifices and feasts and Sabbaths.  Ceremonies and rituals that were inculcated into the very fabric of their culture to teach them and instruct them in the knowledge of God. And the promises, dozens and dozens of promises that God made to Israel down through the centuries by the mouths of His prophets, all of which were fulfilled.

And Paul says, theirs were the fathers. We call them the patriarchs.  Men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David and many more.  All the ancestors who passed on the traditions to their children.  Perhaps let this be my concession to a Father’s Day message which of course we observe today in our culture.  It is the father’s responsibility to make sure that the truth of God’s word is observed and honored in the home. Far too many fathers have relinquished that responsibility to the mother.  God has appointed fathers to be the spiritual leaders in their homes.  And I hope that is a responsibility that you fathers take seriously.  Because God will judge you for how you handled that responsibility.  May you fathers be like Joshua and declare; As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

And then the greatest advantage of the Jews, Paul says in vs 5, “from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”  This is the epitome of their advantages, that from their nation came the Christ.  Christ is the Greek word for  Messiah.   Jesus’ human nature was Jewish. What an advantage this should have been for the Jews. 

Paul adds though that in addition to His human nature was His divine nature. Christ is over all.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  John 1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.”  

So Israel had many great advantages over every other people on the face of the earth.  And yet in spite of this, as a nation they failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.  They failed to respond in faith to God.  And though America’s advantages are much different than that of Israel, I sense that we too have failed to reciprocate according to the measure of the grace given to us.  There has never been since the fall of Israel a nation so fairly situated with the blessings of God as the United States.  We have had freedom of religion that is unsurpassed in the world.  We have had unparalleled access to the word of God.  There is hardly a house in America that does not have a copy of the Bible available. There are practically churches on every street corner in America.  We have been home to some of the greatest revivals the world has ever seen.  We have had the blessing of many great preachers and religious leaders.  And yet barely 200 years since our founding, we have never as a country been further from the truth.  

I’m afraid the prophecy of Isaiah 59 has come true in our day, in our country.  “Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom. …  For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And we know our iniquities: …  Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, And uprightness cannot enter.” (Isaiah 59)

As I said a few minutes ago; It should be remembered that an advantage is not necessarily a virtue, and a privilege is not a merit. Our nation, much like Israel, have spurned our advantages and we have not lived up to our potential.

But Paul wants us to know in vs 6 that God’s plan for Israel has not failed. He says, “But [it is] not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are [descended] from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”

God’s promises have not, and will not fail.  They did not fail in regards to Israel, because though God chose Israel to be the recipients of His promises and covenants, those promises were not intended for the entire nation but for the true children of Israel.  For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel, nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants.  You will remember that Abraham had another son, born before Isaac.  It was the son of the flesh, the offspring of his efforts, who was Ishmael. But God had not chosen Ishmael, rather He had promised Isaac. And from that seed, the child of promise, would come the true children of God.

Therefore, vs 8 says, “it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” Both Ishmael and Isaac were born of Abraham, but one was of the flesh and one of the promise.  And the children of the promise are regarded as true descendants. 

So Paul says in vs9, “For this is the word of promise: ‘AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.’” This verse proves that Abraham’s natural children are not necessarily God’s children, but only those who are the product of God’s sovereign grace.  

I’m sure you remember the story; Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100, and God’s promise came that the next year she would have a son.  The promise came true the next year just as God had said, proving that Isaac was the son of promise.  So the ability to trace one’s lineage from Abraham was not the determining factor for inheriting what was promised to Abraham, but only to that son which was according to the promise.

And what Paul says that is teaching is that salvation is not a matter of human merit.  Salvation is not a matter of heritage or lineage.  It’s not a matter of man’s will, but it’s a matter of God’s sovereign purpose. If you look at the life of the patriarchs, it’s evident that they were not always the best of characters.  They sometimes acted wrongly.  Sometimes they sinned.  They certainly weren’t perfect.  But God chose to shed His grace upon them so they might be declared righteous by faith and not by works.

But that illustration does not sufficiently convey all the conditions of our salvation.  And so Paul gives another in the form of Jacob and Esau.  And in so doing, Paul adds some distinctions concerning God’s sovereignty that many of us find difficult to accept, and perhaps may even cause some to harbor some ill feeling towards God.  Let’s look at verse 10 through 13.

Vs10 “And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived [twins] by one man, our father Isaac;  for though [the twins] were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to [His] choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,  it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”  Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”

When I was a kid, I remember my mother always rebuking me for saying that I hated anyone.  No matter what they did, I was never allowed to say I hate so and so.  I could say I didn’t like what they did, but I wasn’t allowed to say I hate.  So I have always had a little bit of a problem with the language in this verse because it says God hated Esau.

I think that another way of interpreting that which may be more palatable to our ears is that God is speaking of those He accepts and those He rejects.  I think of Cain and Abel and the day when they brought their offering to the Lord.  And Genesis 4:5 says, “And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.”  The principle of God accepting one and rejecting another.  It is God’s choice, God’s prerogative. 

Salvation ultimately comes from God’s purpose, God’s plan, and God’s call.  In the final analysis the reason why some people are accepted and others rejected is that God has so willed that they might be saved and He uses divine means to obtain it.

The point though that needs to be understood is that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  God has rejected everyone on the basis of their offering.  There is only one offering that God accepts, and that was typified in Abel’s offering; a lamb that was slain. It was a picture of Jesus Christ who would lay down His life for His sheep. Abel was exhibiting faith in the promised seed of Eve who would crush Satan’s head.   So all men are already condemned, they are already rejected, they are all sentenced to death.  God has rejected everyone on the basis of their merits.  Only one sacrifice is acceptable, and that is Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross.  And for those who believe in Him and HIs sacrifice on their behalf, God accepts them and declares them as children of God, righteous by the blood of Jesus.

Now how God determines who He will call, and who He will choose or elect to salvation, is a mystery that we cannot understand.  Because Jacob and Esau were twins, and when they were still in the womb, before either had done evil or good, God chose to bestow upon Esau, who would be known as the scoundrel, the supplanter, upon him God bestowed His sovereign grace.  And I believe God did so that He might illustrate the principle found in vs 11, “so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls.”  The same principle is stated another way in vs 16 “So then it [does] not [depend] on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Salvation is not by our merits, but by the grace of God.

But whatever evil motives we might feel inclined to count towards God for such prerogatives as election and predestination, we must also be sure to balance our inadequate understanding of God with what we also know to be true of God.  As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” So God loves the world and provides a way for the world to be saved at a tremendous cost of His own.  

We must balance election with this statement from Peter about God not acting impudently but  patiently waiting for men to come to repentance so they can be saved.  2Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  So though we don’t fully understand how election works, it must work within the framework that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

So the point of Paul’s argument for election is not to ostracize people that are rejected as if to say that God capriciously counts off “ene me ne mi ne mo, I’ll keep this one and let this one go.” But the point of trying to teach us about election and predestination is so that we might have MORE confidence in our salvation, because it is not given on the basis of our good deeds, or on the basis of our merit, or on the basis of nationality or pedigree or lineage.  But it is given to the least of these, to the sinner, to the ungodly, on the basis of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.  So that we might have a more sure hope because we are saved by God’s mercy and not by our merit.  Our security is made immeasurably more secure by God’s grace than by our own merit. 

We cannot understand election.  Neither can we understand eternity.  You cannot comprehend how God has always existed – He had no beginning.  Not even Einstein could understand that.  And yet we believe in God and we believe that He is eternal.  And in the same way we believe in election.  And without any contradiction, we believe that God said He is not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 

So even though we cannot understand these things, we can still say Amen at Paul’s question and answer in vs 14; “What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!”  God is a merciful God.  Paul says in vs15 For [God] says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  The emphasis is on His mercy and His compassion, not on condemnation. John said in the verse following John 3:16, in vs17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

And I am going to leave it there for today.  We will finish this chapter next Sunday.  But I will close by going back to that prophecy in Isaiah 59 I quoted earlier as a way to summarize this message today.  Isaiah 59:14-16 says, “Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, And uprightness cannot enter.  Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the LORD saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.  And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.” 

God so loved the world, that even though man was in darkness, man was a sinner, and justice had stumbled in the street, sins had multiplied and there was no one to intercede on man’s behalf, God was merciful and sent Jesus to be the substitute for sinners, and to bring about salvation for everyone that would call upon the name of Jesus.  Salvation cannot be obtained by your own efforts, by your own merits, but only by trusting in what Jesus has done for us through His death, burial and resurrection.  God has provided salvation for you, if you will simply trust Him as your Savior and Lord. It’s a free gift to all.  Don’t delay.  Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Whosoever means you.Call upon the Lord today and He will give you the righteousness of Jesus Christ that you might have life in Him.  Let’s pray.