What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Absolutely not! Truth to Learn God’s choosing of some to be saved is totally right. Behind the Words Paul asks the question, “Is there unrighteousness with God?” However, the Greek text says “Is there not unrighteousness with God?” In...
Romans 9:13 – Love and Hate
As it is written, "I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau." Truth to Learn God chooses whom He loves and whom He hates. Behind the Words The word translated “loved” is from the verb agapaō, which refers to a self-sacrificing love. “Hated” is from the Greek verb miseō, which...
Romans 9:12 – God’s Choice, God’s Reason
it was said to her, "The greater shall serve the lesser." Truth to Learn God’s choice is not dictated by human characteristics. Behind the Words The word translated “older” is meidzōn, which is the comparative form of megas, meaning “great” or “large.” Meidzōn appears in forty-four different passages in...
Romans 9:11 – God Says Election
(for they not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), Truth to Learn The important thing is God’s choice, not our works. Behind the Words “Not yet” is...
Romans 9:10 – Sovereign Above All
And not only so, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, Isaac our father Truth to Learn God is absolutely sovereign. His choices are His alone. Behind the Words The expression “by one man” is translated from ek enos koitēn. Ek means “out of,” and enos is...
Romans 9:9 – The Promise Keeper
For this is the word of promise: "According to this time I will come and Sarah will have a son." Truth to Learn God always keeps His promises to us. Behind the Words “According to this time” is translated from kata ton kairon touton. The word kata means “down”...
Romans 9:8 – Believe the Promise
That is, those who are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Truth to Learn Works of the flesh are ineffective in God’s record book. Behind the Words The word translated “promise” is epangelia,...
Romans 9:7 – Isaac, God’s Choice
nor because they are the Abraham’s seed are they all children; but, "in Isaac your seed shall be called." Truth to Learn God chose Isaac as the promised seed of Abraham. Behind the Words The word “children” is translated from the Greek word teknon, which is the noun form...
Romans 9:6 – No Family Ties
But it is not as though God’s word has failed. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, Truth to Learn Lineage or church membership cannot save you! Behind the Words The word translated “has failed” is the Greek word ekpiptō, which is a compound word made...
Romans 9:5 – God Over All
Whose are the fathers and from whom is the Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Truth to Learn Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Creator of heaven and earth. Behind the Words The word translated “fathers” is pater, which is a...
Romans 9:4 – New Old Truths
who are Israelites, to whom is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; Truth to Learn We can learn a lot about our faith from the Old Testament. Behind the Words The word translated “adoption” is huiothesia, which...
Romans 9:3 – Faith, not Flesh
For I almost wish that I was accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kindred according to the flesh, Truth to Learn We need to pray for the unsaved and witness to them for God’s sake, not our own. Behind the Words Some translations have the...
Romans 9:2 – Continual Heartache
that my sorrow is great and I have continual grief in my heart. Truth to Learn Paul had deep seated and continual emotional pain because of his unbelieving brothers in the flesh (Jews). Behind the Words The word translated “sorrow” is lupē, which means “sadness, grief, heaviness, or sorrow.”...
Romans 9:1 – Oath of Certainty
I speak the truth in Christ, not a lie, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit, Truth to Learn Paul’s concern for the welfare of the unsaved Jews is demonstrated by his passionate proclamation. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “truth” is alētheia, which is...
Romans 8:39 – Eternally Secure
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Truth to Learn There is nothing that can cause us to lose our salvation. Nothing! Behind the Words The word translated “height”...
Romans 8:38 – No One and Nothing
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, Truth to Learn Our salvation is secure! Behind the Words The word translated “persuaded” is the Greek word peithō, meaning “to persuade or convince someone.” This word...
Romans 8:37 – Victorious Suffering!
But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. Truth to Learn Though we suffer for Him, we conquer through Him. Behind the Words Paul starts off this verse with the Greek word alla, which is a contrastive conjunction. In other words, he is...
Romans 8:36 – His Targeted Children
As it is written: "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." Truth to Learn The reason that faithful Christians suffer in this life is not because of disobedience, but because of family lineage. Behind the Words The word translated “it...