Context No. 3887 of 4322 · Romans

Romans 9:6-13: in context

6But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel. 7Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.” 8That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs. 9For this is a word of promise: “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10Not only so, but Rebekah also conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 11For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls, 12it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.” 13Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Paul wrestles with why not all of Israel had received the Messiah, and he answers with a principle that runs back through their own history: not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel; it is not the children of the flesh but the children of the promise who are counted as offspring. God's true people are not defined merely by physical descent, but by his gracious promise and call.

To make the point, Paul recalls that God chose Isaac over Ishmael, and Jacob over Esau, before the twins were even born or had done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose of election might stand, not because of works but because of him who calls. This is a hard and humbling truth: our belonging to God rests not on our natural birth or our achievements, but on his gracious purpose and call. We do not put God in our debt by our lineage or our works; those who belong to him are the children of promise, called by grace. There is deep humility in this, and deep security: since our belonging rests on God's gracious call and not on our own works, it is as sure as he is faithful.

Do I rest my belonging to God not on my heritage or my achievements but on his gracious promise and call, finding both humility and security in a standing that depends on his faithfulness rather than my works?

Sources

Romans 9:8: "It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs."
Romans 9:11: "That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls."
Romans 9:16: "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy."