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Sunday

Reading Charles Hodge

Romans 9:6-24

Remarks

1. If descent from Abraham, participation in all the privileges of the theocracy, the true and only church, failed to secure for the Jews the favour of God, how foolish the expectation of those who rely on outward ordinances and church-relations as the ground of their acceptance, vs. Rom 9:6-13.

2. The doctrine of the sovereignty of God in the choice of the objects of his mercy should produce,

1. The most profound humility in those who are called according to his purpose. They are constrained to say, "Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory."

2. The liveliest gratitude, that we, though so unworthy, should from eternity have been selected as the objects in which God displays "the riches of his glory."

3. Confidence and peace, under all circumstances, because the purpose of God does not change; whom he has predestinated, them he also calls, justifies, and glorifies.

4. Diligence in the discharge of all duty, to make our calling and election sure. That is, to make it evident to ourselves and others, that we are the called and chosen of God. We should ever remember that election is to holiness, and consequently to live in sin, is to invalidate every claim to be considered as one of "God's elect."

3. As God is the immutable standard of right and truth, the proper method to answer objections against the doctrines we profess, is to appeal to what God says, and to what he does. Any objection that can be shown to be inconsistent with any declaration of Scripture, or with any fact in providence, is sufficiently answered, vs. Rom 9:15,17.

4. It should, therefore, be assumed as a first principle, that God cannot do wrong. If he does a thing, it must be right. And it is much safer for us, corrupt and blinded mortals, thus to argue, than to pursue the opposite course, and maintain that God does not and cannot do so and so, because in our judgment it would be wrong, vs. Rom 9:15-19.

5. All cavilling against God is wicked. It is inconsistent with our relation to him as our Creator. It is a manifestation of self-ignorance, and of irreverence toward God, ver. Rom 9:20.

6. What proof of piety is there in believing our own eyes, or in receiving the deductions of our own reasoning? But to confide in God, when clouds and darkness are round about him; to be sure that what he does is right, and that what he says is true, when we cannot see how either the one or the other can be, this is acceptable in his sight. And to this trial he subjects all his people, vs. Rom 9:20-24.

7. If the manifestation of the divine glory is the highest end of God in creation, providence, and redemption, it is the end for which we should live and be willing to die. To substitute any other end, as our own glory and advantage, is folly, sin, and self-destruction, vs. Rom 9:17, 22, 23.

8. The fact that God says to some men, "Let them alone;" that "he gives them up to a reprobate mind;" that he withholds from them, in punishment of their sins, the influences of his Spirit, should fill all the impenitent with alarm. It should lead them to obey at once his voice, lest he swear in his wrath that they shall never enter into his rest, vs. Rom 9:17,18.

9. We and all things else are in the hands of God. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice, vs. Rom 9:14-24.

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Romans 9:6-24

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 But it is not as though (A)the word of God has failed. (B)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children (C)because they are Abraham’s [a]descendants, but: “[b](D)THROUGH ISAAC YOUR [c]DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are (E)children of God, but the (F)children of the promise are regarded as [d]descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “(G)AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.” 10 (H)And not only this, but there was (I)Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (J)God’s purpose according to His choice would [e]stand, not [f]because of works but [g]because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “(K)THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13 Just as it is written, “(L)JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”

14 (M)What shall we say then? (N)There is no injustice with God, is there? (O)May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “(P)I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who (Q)runs, but on (R)God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “(S)FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED [h]THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He (T)hardens whom He desires.

19 (U)You will say to me then, “(V)Why does He still find fault? For (W)who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, (X)O man, who (Y)answers back to God? (Z)The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel [i]for honorable use and another [j]for common use? 22 [k]What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much (AA)patience vessels of wrath (AB)prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known (AC)the riches of His glory upon (AD)vessels of mercy, which He (AE)prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also (AF)called, (AG)not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

Footnotes:
  1. Romans 9:7 Lit seed
  2. Romans 9:7 Lit in
  3. Romans 9:7 Lit seed
  4. Romans 9:8 Lit seed
  5. Romans 9:11 Lit remain
  6. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  7. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  8. Romans 9:17 Lit in
  9. Romans 9:21 Lit for honor
  10. Romans 9:21 Lit for dishonor
  11. Romans 9:22 Lit But
Cross references:
  1. Romans 9:6 : Num 23:19
  2. Romans 9:6 : John 1:47; Rom 2:28f; Gal 6:16
  3. Romans 9:7 : John 8:33, 39; Gal 4:23
  4. Romans 9:7 : Gen 21:12; Heb 11:18
  5. Romans 9:8 : Rom 8:14
  6. Romans 9:8 : Rom 4:13, 16; Gal 3:29; 4:28; Heb 11:11
  7. Romans 9:9 : Gen 18:10
  8. Romans 9:10 : Rom 5:3
  9. Romans 9:10 : Gen 25:21
  10. Romans 9:11 : Rom 4:17; 8:28
  11. Romans 9:12 : Gen 25:23
  12. Romans 9:13 : Mal 1:2f
  13. Romans 9:14 : Rom 3:5
  14. Romans 9:14 : 2 Chr 19:7; Rom 2:11
  15. Romans 9:14 : Luke 20:16
  16. Romans 9:15 : Ex 33:19
  17. Romans 9:16 : Gal 2:2
  18. Romans 9:16 : Eph 2:8
  19. Romans 9:17 : Ex 9:16
  20. Romans 9:18 : Ex 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 17; Deut 2:30; Josh 11:20; John 12:40; Rom 11:7, 25
  21. Romans 9:19 : Rom 11:19; 1 Cor 15:35; James 2:18
  22. Romans 9:19 : Rom 3:7
  23. Romans 9:19 : 2 Chr 20:6; Job 9:12; Dan 4:35
  24. Romans 9:20 : Rom 2:1
  25. Romans 9:20 : Job 33:13
  26. Romans 9:20 : Is 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Jer 18:6; Rom 9:22f; 2 Tim 2:20
  27. Romans 9:22 : Rom 2:4
  28. Romans 9:22 : Prov 16:4; 1 Pet 2:8
  29. Romans 9:23 : Rom 2:4; Eph 3:16
  30. Romans 9:23 : Acts 9:15
  31. Romans 9:23 : Rom 8:29f
  32. Romans 9:24 : Rom 8:28
  33. Romans 9:24 : Rom 3:29
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New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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Posted by Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC) at 7:48 AM