God’s Purpose in Election 1

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:” —Romans 9:6

The apostle begins here with the first theodicy[i] of three in this chapter; that is, his justification of the righteousness of God. After having presented the gospel of justification by grace through faith in such an exalted manner for the first eight chapters, Paul anticipates confusion with regard to the issue of Israel:

“What about the Jews? If Jesus is Israel’s Messiah, why do so many Jews reject Him?”

In order to address anyone thinking those thoughts, the apostle makes the statement, “This is not to say that God’s Word has failed just because so many, many Jews have rejected Christ.” The Word of God has not failed because Paul goes on to add, “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” (ESV). What does the apostle mean by that? Let us first take a look at his justification of God through the Word of God.

If the Jews have rejected Christ, the conclusion that many may draw is that either one of two things have happened: (1) God’s Word has failed because His promises to His people have failed; or (2) Neither God’s Word nor His promises have failed, but rather, they have just been postponed for fulfillment at a later date. Well, neither is true, as this is what Paul will explain for the next three chapters; and most especially in this chapter which has its focus upon the sovereign election of God.

First, has God’s Word failed? Absolutely not! The apostle rejects that notion beginning with the very next sentence within the verse: “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” But before we cover that, let’s take a look at whether or not God’s Word has failed. Why would this be a theodicy? Why must the goodness and righteousness of God be justified when someone calls into question the integrity and veracity of the scriptures? It is because the scriptures are God’s decrees, His revealed Word, and most particularly the specific revelation of Himself to man. To question the sufficiency, infallibility, inspiration, and authority of God’s Word is to directly question God’s character, or worse to accuse God of being a liar and less than who He claims to be. The scriptures are the written revelation of God in the very same way that Jesus Christ is the incarnate revelation of God, as it is written in John 1:1, 14:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Additionally, the Lord Jesus says emphatically that the Word of God must be fulfilled:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. —Matthew 5:17-18

Jesus said that God’s Word cannot fail:

…and the scripture cannot be broken; —John 10:35

Jesus also said that God’s Word is eternal:

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
—Matthew 24:35 (cf. Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33)

Finally, the written Word of God is a witness to Christ in a far superior way than redeemed lives are witnesses to Christ. How so? because the standard by which our salvation is evidenced is the written Word of God:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. —John 5:39

The scriptures testify of Christ because they are God’s eternal decree; and if we have been saved by God’s grace, our testimony will not be apart from the truth of scripture.

Okay, then: if God’s Word has not failed, how is it that so many Jews are not saved? The answer to that is what the apostle will explain in the next sentence and in the verses following. Simply stated, it is because of God’s eternal purpose according to election. That is what we hope to examine in the next several lessons. Fasten your spiritual seat belts; we may be in for a bumpy ride.

[i] A theodicy is a vindication of God’s goodness, His justice, and His righteousness in the face of the existence of sin, evil, and wickedness.

Written by: Jon J. Cardwell on June 2, 2010.