Romans Chapter Nine Explained

I don't think that I've complicated Romans 9 nor intellectualized it, as one hyper-Calvinist objected. On the contrary, the observations I've made about Romans chapter nine came to mind very naturally and easily without too much thought at all, simply by considering the chapter in the context of the overall flow of Paul's argument in the preceding chapters.

Paul's objective in the Book of Romans was to teach the legitimacy of his Gospel message - the legitimacy of the Church.

He had just finished proving God's plan to save by faith alone rather than by the observance of the Law (chapters 1-8). He then anticipates an objection which the believers at Rome might feel. If this be so, what will become of the nation of the Jews? Isn't God's promise nullified? Paul addresses this objection, in chapter nine.

Chapter nine therefore was not for the purpose of teaching some additional truth about salvation not previously taught in chapters 1-8. Having proved that salvation is by faith (chapters 1-8), Paul was not now adding some additional idea that God has arbitrarily chosen to save one person and not another without any revealed basis for that choice.

Rather, the purpose of chapter nine was to address an anticipated objection to the truth already explained. Since salvation is by faith, where does that leave the Jews? and what does it say about God's promises?

And Paul's answer to that objection was as follows:

* It had always been God's plan that His promise in regard to the Gospel would not be received on the basis of physical Jewishness (as illustrated by Sarah in regard to Isaac) nor on the basis of the works of the Law (as illustrated by Rebekah in regard to Jacob and Esau).

* It had always been God's prerogative to extend or withold His mercy on His own basis (and that basis, Paul had explained, was revealed to be FAITH, rather than Jewishness or Law-keeping).

* It was already foreseen by the Prophets that God would extend His mercy to believing Gentiles, without the works of the Law, rather than exclusively to Jews who had the Law.

Thus Paul defended God's sovereign prerogative to set FAITH rather than Jewishness or Law-keeping as the basis upon which He would both show mercy or withold mercy.

Paul used Scripture to defend God's sovereign choice to extend the availability of His mercy to Gentiles on the basis of faith.

Paul explained that God's promises to the physical nation of Israel had not failed, for the outcome which emerged in the first century was an outcome already foreseen by the Prophets.

Thus the objection was answered, and Paul's teaching of justification by faith (chapters 1-8) was upheld.

Therefore the Gospel was indeed the legitimate fulfillment of the Prophets. The existence of the Church was valid. Salvation is for all who believe.

To show this was Paul's objective in Romans chapter nine!