Romans - Part 5: ELECTIONSample

Children of the Promise

Promises, promises…we often become cynical about them as they are so frequently broken, but the promises of God demonstrate throughout history that He is Sovereign and NEVER breaks His promises. As physical descendants of Abraham, the Israelites thrived on the promises of God to His Children. The part they missed was God’s purpose. God did not give promises to His children solely for their benefit, but to share and influence those around them, in order to redeem them and bring them to Him. Time and again, Israel was supposed to influence a nation, but instead, they embraced the very idols and godless practices they were supposed to remove.

A Pharisee before his conversion, Paul knew how the Israelites coveted their position as the ‘chosen people.’ After meeting Christ, He understood that God’s promises were not only for the blood descendants called Israelites but for ALL who will make Him Lord. They were originally given the privilege of keeping the Law in service to God. However, their focus on keeping God to themselves caused the ‘seed of Abraham’ to miss Christ and His sacrifice entirely. The Children of the Promise gave up their relationship with God to become fixed on the Law and how it served them rather than God. Paul still loved the Jewish people AND the Gentiles. He wanted them to see how God is Sovereign and makes choices that are not understood but are always best to fulfill His plan.

Romans 9 reminds everyone that God does not do what is expected; He does what He wants. Yet, what God truly wants is to reveal Himself to everyone so they, WE, will choose Him and come to Him. According to the letter of the Law, the firstborn should have the birthright, and there is a set pattern, according to the bloodline. Paul uses examples in this chapter that the Israelites would recognize, examples that show how God can and does do what He wants. As we recall, at the beginning of this book of Romans, Paul already established that all sin, whether under the Law or not, breaks the Law and man is, therefore, under judgment, but it was God’s choice to provide salvation through His Son. The choice, the call, and the Promise were not to the expected group of people, through physical connection, but through the spiritual understanding of following God in a relationship.

Am I in a relationship, recognizing God’s Sovereignty and sharing His purpose?

-Gaylyn Mott