As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and the one believing on Him will not be put to shame." Truth to Learn To the Jews Jesus is merely a stumbling stone in the pathway of life. To Christians He is a...
Romans 9:32 – Seeking God’s Favor?
Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Truth to Learn Works don’t produce God’s favor, only faith can do that. Behind the Words “Stumbled” is from the Greek word proskoptō,...
Romans 9:31 – Faith, not Obedience
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to a law of righteousness. Truth to Learn God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith. Behind the Words The word “pursuing” is diōkō, the same root word as was translated pursue in the previous verse. “Attain” is phthano,...
Romans 9:30 – Not Attained by Pursuing
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, not pursuing righteousness, have taken on a righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; Truth to Learn Righteousness comes as a result of faith, not works. Behind the Words “Pursuing” is from the Greek verb diōkō, meaning “to actively and intentionally go after...
Romans 9:29 – General God the Merciful
And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have become like Gomorrah." Truth to Learn The leader of Heaven’s army chooses to save only a few. Behind the Words The words “said before”...
Romans 9:28 – God’s Determined Actions
For He is finishing the work and has cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth." Truth to Learn God has already determined what He is going to do with regard to mankind. Behind the Words “Is finishing” is from the...
Romans 9:27 – His Choice, Then and Now
Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved. Truth to Learn God chooses who will be saved from spiritual death just as He chooses who will be saved from physical death. ...
Romans 9:26 – Everywhere His Children
And it will be in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there they shall be called sons of the living God. Truth to Learn God chooses people from around the world to be His children. Behind the Words “People” is translated from...
Romans 9:25 – His Beloved Children
As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved." Truth to Learn God chooses people, not nations, and all of His chosen ones are His beloved children. Behind the Words The word “people” is...
Romans 9:24 – Jews and Gentiles
even us, whom He also called, not only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles? Truth to Learn God chose us, Jews and Gentiles alike, to be His holy children so that He will receive praise and glory. Behind the Words “Called” is from the Greek word kaleō,...
Romans 9:23 – Undeserved Glory
and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, Truth to Learn God chose some to know the glory of heaven for eternity. Behind the Words “Riches” is from the Greek word ploutos which refers...
Romans 9:22 – Unfair Grace
But if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, Truth to Learn God endures the sinfulness of sinners so that His wrath and power will be seen and understood. Behind the Words “Show”...
Romans 9:21 – The Master Potter
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Truth to Learn God made us, we did not make Him. He has the right to make us and use us however He sees fit. Behind...
Romans 9:20 – It Is Fair!
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Truth to Learn We have no right to tell God who should be saved and who shouldn’t. Behind the Words This...
Romans 9:19 – No Fault Sovereignty
You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" Truth to Learn It is completely fair for God to do as He decides. Behind the Words The Greek verb translated “find fault” is memphomai, meaning “to find fault, to blame,...
Romans 9:18 – God and God Alone
So, then, He has mercy on whom He determines, and whom He determines He hardens. Truth to Learn God makes the decisions regarding whom He shows mercy to. Behind the Words The word “mercy” is from eleeō, which we looked at in verse fifteen. It refers to God’s action...
Romans 9:16 – All His Doing
So then it is not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of God who shows mercy. Truth to Learn God deserves all the praise and glory for our salvation. Behind the Words The word translated “willing” is a form of the Greek word thelō, which...
Romans 9:15 – Sovereign Over All
For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." Truth to Learn God’s compassion and mercy are based on His choice, not ours. He is sovereign over all. Behind the Words “I will have...
Romans 9:14 – The Righteous Choice
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.”...