Romans 9
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.
Paul is letting us know The Truth with a clean, clear conscience.
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
It's for what he perceives as a loss because Christ was hung on the cross and isn't physically with him.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Paul would do about anything to bring his tribe, the tribe of Benjamin to The Truth. He is willing to separate himself from Christ if they would seek Christ. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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;
God promises you follow Him, you become His. The choice has always been ours and it's an everyday choice. satan would love nothing more than to have you follow him.
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Christ came in the flesh, part of adopted tribes of Israel. Manasseh and Ephraim Joseph adopted as his own. Where Christ would come through Judah and Levi all part of the twelve tribes and of the "fathers" of this verse.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
There are non believers within every nation. God will always be there for those who seek Him no matter where they are.
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Isaac being the only son of Sarah and Abraham would be the promise seed of Christ.
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.
Everyone can become part of Christ through repentance.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
The promise is given and she's near 100 years old, Ref. - Genesis 17
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
This seed continues through Jacob but she had conceived another Esau Jacobs brother.
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Not yet born of this flesh. Remember our last study were we talked about the ages of time. Note here, still in the womb, they haven't done any good or evil in this flesh as of yet. There is a reason were being told this. God's going to call one of them for His purpose.
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Within custom, the younger always serves the older, but this younger will be served by the older for a reason. Genesis 25:23 And the Lord said unto her, "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other; and the elder shall serve the younger."
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Now why did God hate Esau when he is still in his mother's womb? Do you remember the creature study before. Do you recall our study were there was a first earth age? Esau had done something prier to give him this foretold outcome in these flesh body's. He still had a choice while in this flesh, but God knew him well enough that He used him for His purpose. Esau had a bad soul.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Some have a problem with the things God does.........It's their problem, no one else.
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.
God shows whatever He wants to whomever He wants.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Mercy and compassion is given not by what we say or do but by what our Father decides He wants to give for His reasoning only.
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.
Ref. - Exodus 4:21 And the Lord said unto Moses, "When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go." God puts in place the people that He wants and His will shall always be done regardless of our will. We have free will, but God sees to it things get do His way. He knew every soul before it was placed in these flesh body's, so there's a time and place for everyone to exist and we all chose how we exist in that time.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Our Father isn't going to force anyone to love Him. If we chose to worship satan, He'll let you. If you chose to love Him, He'll bless you.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Evil will do evil and people question God for it. God could step in and make everything roses but people while in this flesh would still run up the stem and get pricked blaming God. This is a test under every circumstance we're dealt. Stop blaming God for things we do ourselves as humans. Live right and fight the good fight†
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?
We have no right questioning our Father God who created us. If we build a house, do we answer the house why we built it the way we did?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
God decides where we are placed, we decide what to do when were placed there. We can be a shining example of The Light of God or that lump of clay that just lays there in the way. Evil souls are given the opportunity to change no matter where they're placed.
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:
God isn't going to force those evil souls to do good using His wrath. He's patient and continues to hope for their change of heart.
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
God places us when and where we are for a purpose and because He knows our souls, he uses that placement to fulfill His purpose. It's a bit deep when understanding the age before this flesh, but what we did is why we are.
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As evil as Paul was, he was still chosen to spread The Gospel. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" God knew him well enough to know Paul would change, wise up to The Truth and do the work necessary. Paul chose to listen and follow.
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.
"Osee" Hebrew word Hosea, the Greek is prophecy directed at the ten tribes in the north of Israel. Upon the death of Christ the house of Israel returns back to God after spreading across the world. This migration happened after the Assyrian war. Hosea 1:6-7 6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him [Hosea], "Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. 7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen."
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.
Our Father loves us all and gives everyone the opportunity to love Him. He sent His Son that we may live, we must chose to live or not. We become a child of "the living God" = Christ, by accepting Him.
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:
Also from Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall
be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall
come to pass, that in that place where it was said unto them, `Ye are not My
People,' there it shall be said unto them, `Ye are the sons of the living
God. We will see more about this "remnant" in the 11th chapter.
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
Ref. - Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days. The tribulation period is shortened to a five month period during satans tribulation. Joel 2:24-25 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wind and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you. satans tricks with his locust army = fallen angels is short, this is why they come using every trick they can. A locust time lines is May - Sep. = 5 months.
29 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.
God gives us a way, He gave us The Way. There are conditions as soon as you open your eyes. The choice is ours freely.
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.
A Christians faith is in the fact they are forgiven and live forever through the blood of Christ. He is attainable to every soul. The choice is there†
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
They didn't reach the goal of the law of righteousness. The law is more than just words.
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;
You can't fully accomplish anything without God.
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.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [Christ Jesus Yahshua], that whosoever believeth in Him [stumblingstone and rock of offence] should not perish, but have everlasting life [shall not be ashamed].