In Romans 9, the Apostle Paul surveys the national privileges the nation of Israel enjoyed and the promises God made to “Israel.” Paul loved his countrymen. But He wanted to justify God. He wanted to remove any thought that God did not accomplish His will, or that He was unfaithful to His word. He wanted to dispel any claim that His word had somehow failed. He also wanted to silence the objection that salvation must in some way depend upon sinful man. He wanted to do these things in light of the fact that only a small remnant in Israel were saved. Therefore, by the Spirit of God, Paul wrote, “6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 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” (Romans 9:6-8). God’s promises, covenants and our salvation depend on God alone. They do not depend on us in any way. God purposed and promised and has spoken. He Himself, by Himself, brings His own word to pass (Isaiah 46:10-11; Hebrews 1:3).
The lesson is clear. outward, national, religious privileges; family relations, general promises and associations with God's people, are not enough to save you and me. Election and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ and God's call to life must be individual, definite, specific and effectual. God must show each of us individual sovereign mercy and special grace. It must be by His own purpose of grace, by His determinate counsel and will. It is not enough that God chooses to save some. He must have chosen me. It is not enough that Jesus died. He must have died for me. It is not enough that God is the God of all grace. He must be gracious to me. It is not enough that the Gospel is preached. The Spirit of God must write it upon my heart. He must make me hear His Gospel with life-giving power and raise me to life with Christ. It is not enough that we are saved through faith. God must give me faith to believe. I must see with God-given sight. I must hear with God-given ears. I must live upon Christ with God-given life. And all of this must be by God’s sovereign grace. If you and I are persuaded of this, we will individually cry, call, come, take, handle, eat and drink of Christ in His work to save sinners by the sacrifice of Himself according to the eternal will of God.
The lesson is clear. outward, national, religious privileges; family relations, general promises and associations with God's people, are not enough to save you and me. Election and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ and God's call to life must be individual, definite, specific and effectual. God must show each of us individual sovereign mercy and special grace. It must be by His own purpose of grace, by His determinate counsel and will. It is not enough that God chooses to save some. He must have chosen me. It is not enough that Jesus died. He must have died for me. It is not enough that God is the God of all grace. He must be gracious to me. It is not enough that the Gospel is preached. The Spirit of God must write it upon my heart. He must make me hear His Gospel with life-giving power and raise me to life with Christ. It is not enough that we are saved through faith. God must give me faith to believe. I must see with God-given sight. I must hear with God-given ears. I must live upon Christ with God-given life. And all of this must be by God’s sovereign grace. If you and I are persuaded of this, we will individually cry, call, come, take, handle, eat and drink of Christ in His work to save sinners by the sacrifice of Himself according to the eternal will of God.
Rick Warta
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