Why Do Some Believe And Others Don't? Romans 9

 

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

In chapter 9 Paul again addresses his Jewish brothers and sisters, another example that his letter to the Romans is primarily written to the Jews. In fact, the whole chapter is concerned with the status and fate of Israel.  For the Jews who had become Christians their question was, "Would their relatives and friends who did not accept Jesus be saved? Does being a child of Abraham save one because of the original covenant God made with Abraham?" 

Paul shows his deep love for his fellow Jewish brothers and sisters by stating that he would even be cut off from Christ, if his fellow Jews could be saved.  Paul then cites all the ways in which God revealed himself to the Israelites.  They received the covenant God gave to Abraham, which stated Abraham would be the "father of all nations".  They received the Law from Moses.  They were given the first opportunity to worship the living God in the desert, and then in the temple Solomon built for Yahweh.  Finally, Jesus came through the line of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and David up to Mary, Jesus' mother.   

God’s Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

So the natural question becomes, why aren't all Israelites saved if they were given all the promises of God?  Paul then distinguishes between physical descendants of Abraham and spiritual descendents, which he calls Abraham's children.  The first example of this is even though Ishmael was Abraham's first son, the promise was fulfulled through his second son, Issac, who was born to Sarah at the ripe old age of 90.  The promise was that God would give Abraham a son through Sarah. Even at the age of 100, Abraham in faith believed God would deliver what He promised, and it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.  Notice that Abraham was saved by faith not by works.  Issac became the child of the promise

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

Paul then gives a similar example with Issac and Rebekah.  God's sovereignty is even made more clear when Rebekah becomes pregnant with twins, who would later be named Jacob and Esau.  Even before the twins were born and had done nothing good or bad, God chose Jacob not Esau.  This example makes it clear that there was nothing they did to justify God's choosing. God chose Jacob to be the son of the promise and through his family line Jesus would come.   

Many people find this passage challenging.  In the context Paul is trying to explain why some Jews will believe in Jesus and become true children of Abraham and others don't.  He is making it clear that not all Jews will accept Christ, just as not all Gentiles will accept Christ by faith.  We generally call this theological concept "predestination", meaning God predestines some people to believe in His promises and others to reject them.  This doctrine has been debated in every generation of theologians of all stripes.  The bottom line for me is that God is sovereign and knows all things past, present and future.  God knows who will accept him and who won't.  But we don't.  We are not God.  So at the end of the day I believe in something a previous pastor said, "I believe that God has chosen those who will believe, but I minister and share the gospel as if everybody has a choice."  

Bottom line: if you believe in Jesus, God has chosen you to be his son or daughter. You are a child of Abraham, and a child of God.  The question is how are you sharing the Good News you received as a gift by grace through faith with others that have not heard it.  Although God knows if they will become a believer you don't?  God uses each of us to share the Good News in both our words and deeds.  Are your words and deeds a good reflection of your identity as a son or daughter of God?  Give thanks today that God has called you to be his child now and you will dwell with Him forever in heaven!  Just as you have been given a gift, give the gift of grace to others in your life as a sign of God's love.