34 Israel’s Rejection of Christ – Part 2

In the earlier section of chapter nine, Paul began showing how the nation of Israel had been so privileged by among other things, were the recipients of God’s Word, promises and covenants.

Paul also used examples from some of the patriarchs of the Jewish faith, to show that God’s election is based upon His foreknowledge of who would accept and reject Him.

But because Paul understood the Israelites, He anticipated they will still have questions, and would be prone to misunderstanding some of what he’d taught. For example, knew that some might suggest that God was being unfair or unrighteous.

1 Is God Being Unrighteous?

Romans 9:14-16

Paul was very direct by stating “Certainly not” regarding any possibility that God was unrighteous in His actions.

The word righteous means: “The quality of being morally justifiable, without cause or fault.”

That definition would make it an impossibility for God to be associated with any unrighteousness.

Next, Paul used an Old Testament scripture, that his Jewish audience would have certainly been aware of:

Exodus 33:19

While some might suggest that passage points to a degree of unfairness, whereby God determines those whom He would render His mercy.

That argument is dismantled, when one comes to understand that mercy means “not getting what one deserves”. In context, we all deserve God’s wrath, since we are all sinners. Therefore, the fact that He is merciful toward anyone, is a testament to His great love.

That is amplified in verse 16, where Paul showed that God’s mercy is dependent upon anything done or desired by man, but the Lord’s will alone.

2 Example of Pharaoh

Paul used another Old Testament example to show God’s election:

Romans 9:17-18

Once again, the passage highlights God’s foreknowledge, in that the Lord use Pharaoh in the role as He did, because He knew that the Egyptian king would reject. As a matter of fact, because Pharaoh continually rejected the Lord, God eventually “hardened” the king’s heart, essentially furthering the desire to reject the Lord and His will.

3 God’s Plans and Purposes

Next, Paul desired to show, both how the Lord has specific purposes for everything He plans:

Romans 9:19-24

Some might still be inclined to question how God could attach blame to those who have resisted His will. Yet, this goes back to what Paul had already asserted earlier in the epistle:

Romans 3:23

Therefore, because all are sinners, and therefore guilty, the Lord is absolutely justified in finding fault with those who’ve resisted Him.

However, once one comes to faith in Christ, they are deemed “justified” and therefore, no longer guilty:

Romans 3:24-25

In verses 20 and 21, Paul then asked how those who’ve been created, might question the plans and purposes of the Creator. He used the example of how unimaginable it would be for a lump of clay to question the purposes of the potter. Paul’s illustration was obviously based upon another Old Testament passage Paul’s Jewish audience would have been familiar with:

Isaiah 29:16

In verses 23 and 24, Paul showed how those who accept and submit to Christ, are vessels of honor, and recipients of God’s mercy, and therefore, those He’s prepared for glory:

Romans 9:23-24

Paul also spoke to the Ephesian church, showing that there is no longer any separation between Jewish and non-believers:

Ephesians 2:14-16