16. Israel & God’s Sovereignty Romans 9:1-29 p

God’s Sovereign Promises  Two purposes for writing Romans:  Encourage the church in Rome to Mission  Encourage unity between Jew and Gentile  The Benefits of Salvation belong to Israel –  Has God forsaken them?  Could he forsake us too?

God’s Sovereign Promises...  Modern Day Relevance –  What has God promised us?  Who is the “Israelite” today?  In church today groups who are like religious Jews:  Thought they had a special relationship with God  Knew the moral requirements of the Law and upheld them  Knew how to behave at religious ceremonies o NOT characterized by “obedience of faith in Christ”  What has God promised? To whom?

1. Issue: God’s Faithfulness  Two important Points set us on the right course:  From Heartache to Praise  Starts – strong affirmation of sorrow and anguish (v 1-3)  Ends – Effusive outburst of praise (11:33-36)  These chapters he moves from grief to joy –  We should do the same  Centrality of Mercy  12:1 “... in view of God’s mercy, offer... living sacrifices”  God’s mercy not mentioned once in Chapters 1-8 ! ! !  Occurs 11 times in ch  If we don’t understand ch 9-11, won’t understand ch ! ! !

1. Issue: God’s Faithfulness...  Questions NOT being answered:  Must approach passage from 1 st not 21 st century  Not for theologizing and philosophizing about Divine foreknowledge and human free-will.  These things are a mystery! (11:33-34)  Writing to explain how God has worked in History.  Mal 1:2-3 (v 13) refer to nations of Israel and Edom  Pharaoh had a hard heart and hardened it more (Ex 8:15; 9:34)

1. Issue: God’s Faithfulness...  Has God forsaken Israel? NO ! ! ! (Rom 11:1)  God’s word has not failed (v 6a)  Not all descended from Israel are Israel (v 6b)  Abraham’s descendants share his FAITH, not his GENES (Ch 4)  God’s Promise to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 15:4-5; 17:3-6)  Isaac is the child of “promise” (not Ishmael)  His descendants would be as the “stars in the sky”  Through him all nations would be blessed.

1. Issue: God’s Faithfulness...  The promise is about blessing and descendants – NOT salvation.  The channel of mercy to the nations

2. Purpose: Mercy  Centered around God’s purpose to show mercy  E.g. V 15, 16, 18, 23  We are all guilty before God! (1:18 – 3:20)  God, full of mercy, offers salvation freely to all !  Paul’s argument: “Who are you to talk back to God?”  It is our good fortune that God is loving and merciful !

3. Action: Sovereign Choice  Choice not based on their suitability:  Not because they were more numerous (Deut 7:7)  Not because they were righteous (Deut 9:6)  Two points from the story of Israel:  Ten Lost Tribes of Israel  The prophet Hosea: God calling people outside his favour (v 25-26; Hos 2:23, 1:10)  Spoke to the Northern Kingdom ( BC)  Taken to captivity in Assyria in 722 BC. Never returned !  Fulfilled in the inclusion of Gentiles in the people of God.

3. Action: Sovereign Choice...  The idea of a faithful Remnant: (V 27-29, Is 10:22- 23)  From the prophet Isaiah (also 8 th Century BC)  A common idea amongst Jews (e.g Pharisees, Qumran)  The real faithful remnant has faith in Christ !  Paul acknowledges that only a remnant would be faithful and receive the inheritance of Sons.  The balance of “stars in the sky” come from Gentiles.

God, Humans & History  God is faithful. His word is true.  What about us?  God is faithful and loves to show mercy  Am I part of the faithful remnant? (Matt 7:21)  Do I share Abraham’s faith? (4:16)  We are part of God’s work in the history of our generation (Isa 60:1-3, Matt 5:14)