Romans - March 8, 2009

SECTION --- Five: Vindication of God (9:1 -- 11:36) .
(continued from previous Class Follow Up)

13. (9:3) To whom is Paul addressing this section of Romans (9:1- 11:36)?
a. The physical offspring of Abraham — not the nation of Israel nor all baptized believers, per se, but the people (individuals) who are part of the nation of Israel.
b. Perhaps to a lesser degree Christians who have been influenced by Jews to think Christ was the means to enable non-Jews to obey the Law of Moses.
c. Abraham’s children have cruelly persecuted Paul, but he is not bitter or vindictive, but he is concerned.

OBSERVATION (9:3)
Paul makes it clear he has logically become emotionally concern about the physical children of Abraham and their relationship with Christ and the gospel plan of salvation.

14. (9:4-5) According to these verses how is an Israelite (covenant name of God’s chosen people) defined — i.e., what are the eight unique set apart characteristics of an Israelite?
a. Adoption as sons; have the glory; have the covenants; the giving of the Law; serving God; the promises; their fathers; physical brother of the human side of Christ.
15. (9:4) What does “adoption as sons” tell us about an Israelite? (cf. Deu 7:6)
a. They were the descendants of Jacob who God named Israel, thus, were God’s most special people from all the special people coming from the loins of Abraham.
16. (9:4) What does “have the glory” tell us about an Israelite? (cf. Exo 13:21-22; 25:22)
a. Symbol of divine presence accompanying them from Egypt and also the Shekinah in the Holy of Holies
17. (9:4) What does “have the covenants” tell us about an Israelite?
a. Compacts or promises made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the nation; including the pledges of divine protection conditioned with “if’s”.
18. (9:4) What does “giving of the Law” tell us about an Israelite?
a. (Rom 3:2) The oracles of God; that recorded in Exodus and given at Mount Sinai.
19. (9:4) What does “serving God” tell us about an Israelite? (cf. Heb 9:1,6)
a. The temple service, regarded by them as the pride and ornament of their nation.
20. (9:4) What does “the promises” tell us about an Israelite?
a. That beginning at Gen 3:15 and explained at Gen 12 to Abraham and fulfilled in Christ.
21. (9:5) What does “their fathers” tell us about an Israelite? (cf Act 3:13;7:32)
a. (Act 3:13; 7:32) The patriarchs, those having a special relationship with God
22. (9:5) What does “physical brothers of Christ” tell us about an Israelite?
a. Christ was of their family tree, also informs the looked for Messiah had arrived when Paul wrote this letter in Spring of 58 A.D.
23. (9:5) What is the significance of the statement following the source Christ’s humanity, i.e., “who is over all”?
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. KJV
5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. ASV
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. NASB
5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. ESV



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A LOOK AHEAD

a.
24. PONDER: What does “who is over all” (9:5) imply?
a.
25. PONDER: Would it be correct to say because we do not have a record of God making a covenant with or giving laws to any other, people God did not care about them as much as He did Abraham descendants? Why that answer?
a.
OBSERVATION (9:4-5)

D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Why should they believe, much less listen to, Paul’s teachings about Christ?
1.
E. Conclusion —

II. {Rom 9:6-13} Argument 1st of 3 — God chooses as serves His purpose
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul as established the physical decedents of Abraham (the Israelites) have reason to be proud of and deserve respect based on their “family tree”. It is because of their “family tree” Jews have been blessed by God.
2. Preview — Salvation is not determined by one’s family tree — i.e. one’s relatives does not determine one’s spiritual relationship with God — but promise based on God’s choosing.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. What is the proof who is God’s people is a matter of God’s purpose and not what one is owed because of their family tree?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. {PSA 105:6-15} With this passage, one of many, as a foundation how would Paul’s target audience (Law of Moses Christians) see their relationship with God?
a.
2. (9:6) If this is not “double talk” , and it is not, explain Paul’s statement?
a.
3. (9:6) PONDER: Considering the way Paul begins v.6 what do you think is the problem he is addressing?
a.
4. (9:6) PONDER: Do you think the targeted readers would agree with the position things mentioned in 9:4-5 is limited, i.e. not all of Israel’s descendants are Israel? Why that answer?
a.
5. (9:7) What is the significance of “neither” or “nor” as the first word of 9:7
a.
6. (9:7) PONDER: How does this verse refute the argument a physical family tree determines who is of Abraham, thus receiver of the Abraham’s promise and the things note in 9:4-5.
a.
7. (9:8) PONDER: This verse clearly support the doctrine God chooses who will be saved and who will be lost (TULIP). If not why not?
a.
8. (9:8) How does verse 8 build on verse 7?
a.
9. (9:7) PONDER: What is the relationship of this statement with the statement of 9:6?
a.
10. (9:8) PONDER: What could the Jews say that would in their mind justify Isaac over Ishmael to support it was not of promise but the logical way things operate?
a.
11. (9:9) How does this verse support Paul’s position salvation is based not on a family tree but on God’s promise?
a.
12. (9:10) If the receiving of Abraham’s promise is only family tree what is the problem with Jacob’s children being the receiver of Abraham’s promise?
a.
13. PONDER: What reason could the Jew give to justify Jacob being the receiver of Abraham’s promise and not Esau.
a.
14. (9:11) What was God’s criteria for choosing Jacob over Esau?
a. .
15. (9:12) Did Esau the man serve Jacob the man, i.e., did God promise Esau the man would serve Jacob the man?
a. .
b. The nation of Esau did serve did serve the nation of Jacob (Israel) 1Ch 18:12-13.
16. (9:13) By this action did God love the man Jacob more than he love the man Esau?
a.
17. PONDER: Why did God prefers Jacob over Esau?
a.
18. PONDER: Can this passage (6-13) be used to support the position God chose certain people to be saved by the gospel or lost by rejecting the gospel? Why that answer?
a.

D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What is the proof who is God’s people is a matter of God’s purpose and not what one is due because of their family tree?
1.
E. Conclusion —

III. {Rom 9:14-18} 2nd of 3 arguments