16. Israel & God’s Sovereignty

2. 16. Israel & God’s Sovereignty Romans 9:1-29 p. 1044 - 45

3. 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?

4. 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 • NOT characterized by “obedience of faith in Christ” • What has God promised? To whom?

5. 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. 9-11. • If we don’t understand ch 9-11, won’t understand ch. 12-16 ! ! !

6. 1. Issue: God’s Faithfulness . . . • Questions NOT being answered: • Must approach passage from 1st not 21st 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)

7. 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.

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

9. 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 !

10. 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 (750-715 BC) • Taken to captivity in Assyria in 722 BC. Never returned ! • Fulfilled in the inclusion of Gentiles in the people of God.

11. 3. Action: Sovereign Choice . . . • The idea of a faithful Remnant: (V 27-29, Is 10:22-23) • From the prophet Isaiah (also 8th 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.

12. 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)