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Safety Ropes for Romans 9
Safety Ropes for Romans 9
I have often labeled Romans 9 as "God's Right to Choose" as I have taught. I understand this chapter as God's right to choose whom He will use for service. God not only chooses His purpose, plans, and ends but also makes choices about who to use in accomplishing these. This is not a choosing unto salvation as often alleged.
Many years ago I heard Bro. Frank Puckett talk about studying Romans 9. He emphasized the need to hang on to the "safety ropes" that one should have already learned from the first eight chapters. Chapter 9 would not be contradicting what has been taught in these earlier chapters. Such safety ropes should include:
· The gospel is God's power to save all who believe: (1:16; 3:22).
· All people WILL be judged according to their deeds (2:6; 11-12; 3:19).
· God's wrath is revealed against all who sin (1:18; 2:9).
· God is shows no partiality in His judging of people (2:11; 10:12).
Paul also concludes chapter nine using these same concepts: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame" (9:32). Paul then ends this whole first half of Romans saying: "For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all" (Rom. 11:32). Thus everyone who calls on the Lord receives His riches (10:12); everyone who calls on Him will be saved (10:13), every knee will bow to Him and every tongue shall confess to God (14:11). Whoever serves Christ is acceptable to God (14:18).
Even in this section (chapters 9 – 11), Paul writes that those of Israel that are lost are lost because of their unbelief and disobedience (10:3, 16, 21; 11:20), NOT because of some unalterable decree of God that refused to take into account what they had done.
The bottom line is that these safety ropes run all the way through the letter. Thus there is hope for everyone but ONLY if they will put their trust in Jesus. Hold on to these safety ropes as you work your way through Romans 9.
Hugh DeLong
