Lesson 18
Romans 9:1-29
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Living by Faith: A Study in Romans
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. Romans 9:16
Read Romans 9:1-5
1) Describe Paul's grief and explain why he is in anguish over Israel.
Read Romans 9:6-13
2) Israel was the beneficiary of the promises of God yet most of them rejected their Messiah, Jesus. Lest his readers think that somehow God's word had failed, Paul goes on to show that not all Abraham's natural descendants were his spiritual descendants. How does Paul demonstrate this truth?
3) What do you learn from these verses about election?
4) What was God's purpose in electing the nation of Israel? Remember God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
Read Romans 9:14-18
5) It is difficult for us to read, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." It is as though at this point Paul anticipates from us a protest of, "But that's not fair!" How does Paul answer such a response in verse 14-18?
If time allows, please read Exodus 1-11 for God's dealings with Pharaoh.
6a) What was God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh?
b) Do you think God hardened an otherwise innocent heart, simply turned Pharaoh over to his own inclinations, or something else?
Read Romans 9:19-29
7) In Romans 9:19, what protest does Paul anticipate and what answer does he give (verses 20-34)?
8) Paul borrows the illustration of the potter and clay from Jeremiah 18:1-11. What do you learn from this prophetic illustration about God's sovereign choice?
9) In Romans 9:25-26 Paul quotes the prophets Hosea. Peter, likewise, quotes the same passage in speaking of Christ building his church. Read 1 Peter 2:4-10. What does Peter teach about God's purpose in choosing the church?
10) Paul speaks of "vessels of wrath prepared for destruction" and Peter says, "They disobey the word as they were destined to do (1 Peter 2:8)." How does the destiny of the wicked make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy? (Romans 9:22-24)
11) Lest we think that there may be some who want salvation but are unjustly prevented by God, write what you learn from Romans 10:13, Hebrews 11:6 and Revelation 22:17 about man's hope if he wants God.
12) Read 2 Peter 1:10. What does Peter teach concerning our responsibility in our calling?
13) God is not unjust. In fact, were every sinner to get justice we would all be condemned. As it is, we are given mercy in Jesus Christ. How does Romans 9:27-29 emphasize Israel's (and our) need for gracious intervention?
14) We live in a culture that values autonomy and believes that man's destiny is his own. Because we think of salvation as something that we choose we may be uncomfortable with the idea that God is the one that chooses us. How has your understanding of God and his purposes been challenged through your study of Romans 9?
15) How does the fact that God's chose you give you greater assurance than if the choice were all your own?
We can rejoice that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. We can thank him that he's given us faith which is a gift of God.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-12
Copyright © 2009, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Romans 9:1-29
Read Mark Learn Bible Studies
Living by Faith: A Study in Romans
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. Romans 9:16
Read Romans 9:1-5
1) Describe Paul's grief and explain why he is in anguish over Israel.
Read Romans 9:6-13
2) Israel was the beneficiary of the promises of God yet most of them rejected their Messiah, Jesus. Lest his readers think that somehow God's word had failed, Paul goes on to show that not all Abraham's natural descendants were his spiritual descendants. How does Paul demonstrate this truth?
3) What do you learn from these verses about election?
4) What was God's purpose in electing the nation of Israel? Remember God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
Read Romans 9:14-18
5) It is difficult for us to read, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." It is as though at this point Paul anticipates from us a protest of, "But that's not fair!" How does Paul answer such a response in verse 14-18?
If time allows, please read Exodus 1-11 for God's dealings with Pharaoh.
6a) What was God's purpose in raising up Pharaoh?
b) Do you think God hardened an otherwise innocent heart, simply turned Pharaoh over to his own inclinations, or something else?
Read Romans 9:19-29
7) In Romans 9:19, what protest does Paul anticipate and what answer does he give (verses 20-34)?
8) Paul borrows the illustration of the potter and clay from Jeremiah 18:1-11. What do you learn from this prophetic illustration about God's sovereign choice?
9) In Romans 9:25-26 Paul quotes the prophets Hosea. Peter, likewise, quotes the same passage in speaking of Christ building his church. Read 1 Peter 2:4-10. What does Peter teach about God's purpose in choosing the church?
10) Paul speaks of "vessels of wrath prepared for destruction" and Peter says, "They disobey the word as they were destined to do (1 Peter 2:8)." How does the destiny of the wicked make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy? (Romans 9:22-24)
11) Lest we think that there may be some who want salvation but are unjustly prevented by God, write what you learn from Romans 10:13, Hebrews 11:6 and Revelation 22:17 about man's hope if he wants God.
12) Read 2 Peter 1:10. What does Peter teach concerning our responsibility in our calling?
13) God is not unjust. In fact, were every sinner to get justice we would all be condemned. As it is, we are given mercy in Jesus Christ. How does Romans 9:27-29 emphasize Israel's (and our) need for gracious intervention?
14) We live in a culture that values autonomy and believes that man's destiny is his own. Because we think of salvation as something that we choose we may be uncomfortable with the idea that God is the one that chooses us. How has your understanding of God and his purposes been challenged through your study of Romans 9?
15) How does the fact that God's chose you give you greater assurance than if the choice were all your own?
We can rejoice that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. We can thank him that he's given us faith which is a gift of God.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-12
Copyright © 2009, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.