Before coming to a clear understanding of the doctrines of God's free grace in election, Romans 9-11 is one of the passages that I would avoid. I did not understand it at all. I used to skip reading it because it did not fit my theological framework.
When my eyes were opened to the sovereign election of God, I remember reading Romans 9-11 for the first time with tears flowing from my eyes. I could not comprehend how such a glorious God could keep on loving His own people even though most of them have failed loving Him.
Moreover, I was, and am still, overwhelmed by His great love and unfathomable wisdom in choosing unto salvation such a bunch of undeserving Gentiles, including me.
No wonder the apostle Paul would exclaim at the end of Romans 11 saying, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).
In studying further this section of Paul's letter, one pressing issue that the apostle addresses is the alleged unfaithfulness on God's part in keeping His covenant to Israel. This issue came up because of Israel's present rejection of God's salvation.
This problem was first raised in Romans 3:3 where Paul asks, "What if some [Jews] were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God" (ESV)?
This supposed unfaithfulness of God was occasioned not only by the "trespass" of Israel (11:11a), but also by the fact that salvation has come to the Gentiles "who did not pursue righteousness [but] have attained it" anyway (Rom. 9:30). If in the past Israel has experienced the privileges of being the chosen people of God, why is it that many of them are now in unbelief?
God did promise to Abraham and his descendants that He will bless them and He will make them a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12; 15; Ex. 2:23-25; Ps. 105:8-11). Why is it, then, that many of them are under God's judgment and are not enjoying the promised blessings anymore?
It may be asked, "Did God's word for them [Abraham and his descendants] now fail? Has God then thoroughly rejected His covenant to Israel (Rom. 11:1)?"
This is the kind of question that should be asked, I think, in order to better understand Paul's intention in writing this section of his epistle to the Romans.
In understanding the issue involved, we need to clarify, first of all, that God's promised salvation in the Old Testament was not only limited to ethnic Israel but also, through them, to all the peoples of the earth.
Psalm 22:23, 27 and Psalm 67, for example, are quite clear in saying that the blessings Israel was to receive from God shall result to the coming of the nations to the saving knowledge of God and to their coming in worship before the God of Israel.
The prophet Isaiah also said that the announcement of salvation to Zion would take place in the sight of all the nations. This was so in order that "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isa. 52:7, 10; cf. Isa. 60:1-3).
Dr. Cornelis Venema affirms this observation when he writes, "The Lord's promise to Israel was that through her, not apart from her, the promise would be extended to all peoples.
"This promise," Venema continues, "was confirmed throughout the history of the Lord's dealings with his old covenant people, whenever non-Israelites or aliens were gathered into and numbered among the people of God. However particular and limited the Lord's dealings may have been with a special nation, Israel, his purpose was never limited to this nation" ("The Promise of the Future," 128).
There's another important material we need to see from the Old Testament related to this. In dealing with His covenant people, God has warned them that should they fail to keep their covenantal responsibilities, the curses of the covenant shall befall on them.
The word of the Lord testifies that God Himself will send them from their land to a nation they have not known (Deut. 28:15-68, especially verse 36). This is the threat of the exile.
However, God also has said several times in the Old Testament that, as Dr. Venema points out, "[H]e would restore his people Israel to favour and salvation after a period of judgment and disfavour, provided they turned to him in repentance and faith (see Deut. 10:10, 1 Kings 8:46-52, Jer. 18:5-10; 31:31-34; 29:12-14, Ezek. 36:33, Hos. 11:10)."
These are some of the important points that need to be presented at the outset that would help us better understand Paul's arguments in Romans 9-11.
In reading this section of Paul's letter, the reader must keep in mind that God and His word did not fail. God's word never fails even in the face of Israel's unbelief for "not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel" (Rom. 9:6). God's word of promise is received and believed by those who are the Lord's, Jew and Gentile alike.
Only those who put their trust in Jesus, the Christ of God, whether a Jew or a Gentile, are the true Israel and therefore be saved. If you are in Christ through faith, "then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:29). This is all for the glory of God!
Comments