Romans Chapter 9

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

This chapter starts out with Paul in great heaviness, lamenting over the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel. He calls them his kinsmen according to the flesh. He says we wishes he could go to hell for them. That is serious love. Paul knew the horrors of hell, and that is why he couldn't deal with what was going to happen to these people. These were God's chosen people who the Messiah came to rule, who the promises were made. They messed up bad and Paul knew severe judgement would come upon them.

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

He goes on to say that not all Jews were Godly people. They all believed because they were the seeds of Abraham that they were going to heaven. Most had little to no concern for God. He says that these fleshly sin filled people are not the children of God. The children of God, obey God and fulfill the promise. God wanted Israel to be an obedient people whom he could bless and rule over. That did not work out.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

It then says that God is always righteous. God can have compassion on whom ever he feels like, in order to serve his purpose. For instance, he raised up Pharaoh, to show his power. It was in Egypt that God first put himself on display for the world, so that they would all believe. He did the same with the little nation of Israel. He raised them up and made them a mighty nation, and blessed them richly. He wanted all the world to see who he was and believe. All is done according to his will.

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

It goes on to say, that we should not question God. He is the potter and we are the vessels. Some are made to honor, other to dishonor. Some believe and obey, others disobey and believe not. This reaffirms the previous verses, about how God reveals himself to the world. He can show his wrath, after putting up with disobedient people and show his glory through obedient people. Don't confuse the potter analogy with predestination. He did not predestine anyone. These people made their choices, he knew they would and allowed it.

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

This passage deals with who God's people really are. The Jews laid claim to being the chosen people of God, but this section rebukes that. Saying that both Jew and Gentile are the children of God. It says that, God will call them his people, which were not his people. This refers to the gentiles, and how salvation by grace applies to everyone. Praise the Lord!

27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

28 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

It then talks about how Esaias warned about how God would deal with Israel. Saying that though they be a great many only a few would be saved. He says that God will make short work of them. If God would not have sent Jesus to pay for the worlds sins, Israel would have been burned up like Sodom and Gomorrah. What other use did he have for them at that point. He could not show his glory through them. Instead he used them to bring forth the savior of the world.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

It says that the Gentiles have achieved righteousness by faith, even though they did not follow the law. Israel which followed the law had not achieved righteousness (salvation). They did not seek it by faith, but by works. It says God laid a stumbling stone, a rock of offensive, for them to stumble at. That rock is Jesus Christ, and whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. Everyone that puts their faith in Jesus shall be saved. The Jews could not grasp this, they stumbled at the idea. They were slaves to the law. Unfortunately this remains true to this day. Pray for Israel.

I hope this was a blessing to you, and I will leave you with the Gospel.

I Corinthians 15

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our ins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: