Chapter 9: The Sovereignty of God

v.1–3 Paul continually sorrowed that the Jews didn’t accept Jesus as the Messiah.

v.4 God adopted the children of Israel as His special people. The glory of God’s presence filled the tabernacle and the temple. God made a covenant with the people that He would be their God and they would be His people. God gave the law and the order for service to Him (Leviticus). God gave numerous promises to Israel, some that are still in effect today.

v.5 The great patriarchs belonged to Israel.

This text should read “...Christ came, who is God over all, blessed for ever.” Jesus is God (Titus 2:13).

v.6–9 Paul here demonstrates that not all of the children of Israel were acknowledged by God as His people.

v.10–13 God had chosen Jacob, because He knew that Jacob would be a spiritual man and Esau would be a fleshly man.

v.14 The choices God has made haven’t closed the door to one individual. He loves and accepts all who come to Him.

v.15–18 Since God is supreme, He can choose and act as He pleases. His ways are beyond our human understanding.

v.24 God has called us (the church) out from among the Jews and Gentiles that He might display His mercy through us.

v.27 Only a remnant of Israel will be saved, so being Jewish doesn’t guarantee salvation.

v.30 The Gentiles, who didn’t follow the law, gained righteousness through faith.

v.31–33 Jesus was the stumbling stone. The idea of righteousness by faith was difficult for the Jews to accept after the years they’d spent seeking righteousness by the law.