Rom 9:1-8 NASB I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, (2) that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. (3) For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, (4) who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, (5) whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. (6) But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; (7) nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” (8) 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.

• What does it reveal about Paul that he is willing to be separated from Christ for the sake of his brethren?
• If Israel, God’s chosen people, reject Jesus, what does this mean about God, Israel, and those in our lives that don’t accept Jesus?
• What does it mean that descendants of Abraham are also not all children of God? (Gen 21:10-12)

Rom 9:8-18 NASB 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. (9) For this is the word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.” (10) And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; (11) 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, (12) it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” (13) Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.” (14) What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! (15) For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” (16) So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. (17) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” (18) So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

• How does God’s work through Abraham and Sarah from Gen 18:11-14 apply to Paul’s theme of God will have compassion on those He has compassion?
• What does it mean to you that God favored Jacob over Esau before either was born? Aren\t parents supposed to love their children equally?
• The next step – what does it mean to you that God would harden those whom He desires to carry out his will?
• What character of God is revealed in verses:
  • 8-9
  • 10-16
  • 17-18
• Does this character of God seem fair? How can God judge people if He is the one who sets them up for judgment?

Rom 9:19-33 NASB You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” (20) On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? (21) Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? (22) What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? (23) And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, (24) even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. (25) As He says also in Hosea, “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’ AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.'” (26) “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.” (27) Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED; (28) FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.” (29) And just as Isaiah foretold, “UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH.” (30) What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; (31) but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. (32) Why? Because they did notpursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, (33) just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

• What rights does God have in forming us and in judging us?
• What 4 attributes of God are revealed in verse 22-29?
• What is Paul teaching us in these verses about God?
• What is Paul teaching us about us?
• What is your response to God? (Take time to pray and praise)

REFERENCES

Gen 21:10-12 NASB Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” (11) The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. (12) But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.

Exo 33:17-19 NASB The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” (18) Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” (19) And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

Gen 18:11-14 NASB Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. (12) Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (13) And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ (14) “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”