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9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[b] but on God, who has mercy.

ROMANS 9:9-16 

UNFAIR?

“I don’t think the way you think.

    The way you work isn’t the way I work.”

        God’s Decree.

“For as the sky soars high above earth,

    so the way I work surpasses the way you work,

    and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

ISAIAH 55:8-9 (MSG)

MACRO-THEMES IN ROMANS 9-11

1. ISRAEL 
2. WHO IS SAVED? (God’s choice, my choice, both, neither?)
3. FAITH

ISRAEL

God chose to bless the whole world through a Jewish family; not a gentile family. 

Three Kinds of Offspring:

1. Physical (biological) descendants: the Jews
2. Physical and spiritual descendants: Jews who share a mutual faith in the God of Abraham, Jesus Christ
3. Spiritual descendants: Gentiles (non-Jews)  who share a mutual faith in the God of Abraham, Jesus Christ

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

ROMANS 9:10-13

“The word ‘hate’ does not bear the same weight as our English translation. Words, like colors, have hues and ranges. Hate may be interchangeable with rejected, did not accept, did not choose, did not prefer, or passed over. God chooses one brother to bring Jesus into the world, but He does not despise the other brother.”

Mark Driscoll

 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

LUKE 14:26

• God is chooses certain people for certain outcomes, for certain reasons that we may never know, and that’s okay.

“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’”

Newell

Israel = “God Prevails”

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:9-13

Paul deals with the problem associated with the condition of Israel. What does it mean that Israel has missed its Messiah? What does this say about God? What does it say about Israel? What does it say about our present position in God?

The question goes something like this: How can I be secure in God’s love and salvation to me when it seems that Israel was once loved and saved, but now seems to be rejected and cursed? Will God also reject and curse me one day?

David Guzik

WHO IS SAVED?

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

ROMANS 11:33

DO WE CHOOSE GOD, OR DOES GOD CHOOSE US?

Universal Damnation: no one chooses God, and God chooses no one. No one is saved, and everyone is damned, like the demons. There is no mercy and non grace - only justice. 

Universalism: everyone goes to heaven. No one goes to hell, though you might go to purgatory to suffer for a short time. 

Pelagianism: We are not sinners by nature. We have a free will, and we are good people who can freely choose God. 

Arminianism: We are sinners by nature and by choice. At some point, God gives everyone a free will opportunity (a moment to choose) that allows them to make a decision toward God. He does this by His prevenient grace.

Double Predestination: before time, God decided to damn most and save come. “These people are going to heaven, and those people are going to hell, and there’s nothing any of them can say or do about it.”

Single Predestination: Everyone chose hell, and God singularly predestined some of us by overriding our decision with His decision. God doesn’t make anyone go to hell - we make ourselves go to hell. He chooses to save some, though not all. 

When Charles Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile free will vs. predestination and he replied, “I don’t even try. I never reconcile friends.”

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 PETER 3:9

•  “Lord, save the elect… and then elect some more.” 

D.L. Moody

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[a] my kinsmen according to the flesh. 

ROMANS 9:1-3

You will be delivered from petty worries if you are concerned about the souls of men… Get your soul full of a great grief, and your little griefs will be driven out.”

Charles Spurgeon

PERSONAL FAITH

The line into the Kingdom of God is single file.

Mark Driscoll

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

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In rabbinic tradition, every word of Scripture is considered to have seventy faces and 600,000 meanings! 

PETE GREIG

“None is righteous, no, not one;

11 no one understands;

    no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

    no one does good,

    not even one.”

13 “Their throat is an open grave;

    they use their tongues to deceive.”

“The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 in their paths are ruin and misery,

17 and the way of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”…

… For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. 

ROMANS 3:10-18, 23-25

UNLIKELY CONVERT.

“It is the chief part of the New Testament and the perfect gospel… the absolute epitome of the gospel.”

Martin Luther

“The [book of Romans] compendium of Christian doctrine.”

Philip Melanchthon

“When anyone understands this Epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.”

John Calvin

“The cathedral of the Christian faith.”

Frederick Godet

“Romans is beyond question the most dynamic of all New Testament letters even as it was written at the climax of Paul’s apostolic career.” 

Richard Lenski

“The most profound work in existence.”

Samuel Coleridge

Because of all this, Romans is different than many of the other letters Paul wrote churches. Other New Testament letters focus more on the church and its challenges and problems. The Letter to the Romans focuses more on God and His great plan of redemption.

David Guzik

“God is the most important word in this epistle. Romans is a book about God. No topic is treated with anything like the frequency of God. Everything Paul touches in this letter he relates to God. In our concern to understand what the apostle is saying about righteousness, justification, and the like we ought not to overlook his tremendous concentration on God.”

Morris

The word “God” occurs 153 times in Romans; an average of once every 46 words – this is more frequently than any other New Testament book. In comparison, note the frequency of other words used in Romans: law (72), Christ (65), sin (48), Lord (43), and faith (40). Romans deals with many different themes but as much as a book can be, it is a book about God.

The people of Rome were tolerant of most religious expressions. However, that tolerance was largely limited to religions that were polytheistic -- meaning, the Roman authorities didn't care who you worshiped as long as you included the emperor and didn't create problems with other religious systems.

Sam O’Neal

“It’s easy to hide a good thing when the world violently says that good thing is a bad thing.” 

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,[e] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”[f]

ROMANS 1:16-17

This is why Paul is not ashamed of a gospel centered on a crucified Savior. He knows that the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ – has inherent power. We do not give it power…

David Guzik

“The gospel is not advice to people, suggesting that they lift themselves. It is power. It lifts them up. Paul does not say that the gospel brings power, but that it is power, and God’s power at that.”

Morris

It’s only hard to walk with boldness when you think that you’re the one that gives the gospels its power.

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

23 When many days had passed, the Jews[a] plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,[b] lowering him in a basket.

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the a...

HOT TAKES: DOUBT AND FAITH DON’T MIX

24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”

But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”

27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”

JOHN 20:24-27 (MSG)

YOU WILL ENCOUNTER DOUBTS.

1. Adam and Eve doubted God’s wisdom and intentions in the garden 
2. Moses doubted his calling to lead the Israelites out of slavery
3. Gideon doubted his title by God as a “mighty man of valor”
4. Elijah, AFTER seeing fire fall from heaven, doubted God’s protection
5. Jeremiah doubted that God could use him because of his young age
6. Abraham and Sarah doubted God could give them a child because of their old age

“There is no road to spiritual maturity that does not walk straight through doubt.”

JON TYSON

“We experience a dryness or loss of joy in our relationship with God. We question ourselves, God, the church. We discover for the first time that our faith does not appear to ‘work.’ We have more questions than answers as the very foundation of our faith feels like it is on the line. We don’t know where God is, what He is doing, where He is going, how He is getting us there, or when this will be over.” 

PETE SCAZZERO 

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It [pain] is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” 

C.S. LEWIS 

“The reason many of us do not ardently [strongly] believe in the gospel is that we have never given it a rigorous testing, thrown our hard questions at it, faced it with our most prickly doubts.”

EUGENE PETERSON  

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. 

LUKE 23:13-21

Doubt: a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction

Diakrino (doubt): to withdraw from; or (reflexively) hesitant

“Doubt isn’t the absence of faith, it’s just misplaced faith.”  

J.A. Wilson

Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

LUKE 23:21-35

“In fewer than twenty verses, the Lord communicates in at least five different ways: conversationally “as they talked and discussed these things with each other”; exegetically when he explained “all the Scriptures concerning himself”; sacra-mentally when he “took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them”; prophetically when “their eyes were opened”; and inwardly when he spoke directly to their hearts, which were “burning . . . while he talked.”

PETE GREIG 

“When two saints are talking together, Jesus is very likely to come and make the third one in the company. Talk of him, and you will soon talk with him.”

CHARLES SPURGEON 

REASONS FOR DOUBT:

1. Broken trust through disappointment

1. Broken trust through hypocrisy

1. Broken trust through unfortunate circumstances

HOW WE TEND TO DEAL WITH DOUBT:

1. Spiritual bypassing

“We don’t operate out of what we wish, we operate out of what we are…”

JON TYSON

1. Extra-biblical truth-seeking 

1. Deconstruction

Jesus says: “If you love me, you’ll keep MY commandments.”

Deconstruction says: “God, if you love ME, you’ll keep my commandments.”

HOW JESUS DEALS WITH DOUBT:

1. He deals with doubt honestly

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?”

LUKE 23:18-19a

“In saying this, Jesus skillfully played along with the conversation, encouraging the men to reveal their hearts. Even though He knew their hearts, there was value in them saying it to Jesus.”

DAVID GUZIK

1. He deals wit...

Hot-take: a statement that's provocative enough that people can't help but weigh in with their thoughts.

2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him… 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

ROMANS 14:1-3

HOT TAKE: TITHING. DO I HAVE TO GIVE IT?

30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. 32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord. 33 One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”

LEVITICUS 27:30-33

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

ACTS 2:42-47

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

MARK 10:17 -22

JESUS REVEALS “BARE-MINIMUM” DISCIPLESHIP

Jesus was filled with loving compassion for this man because his life was so empty. He had climbed to the top of the ladder of success, only to find his ladder leaned against the wrong building.

David Guzik

JESUS REVEALS THE TENSION OF MONEY

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  

MARK 10:24

We often excuse ourselves from what Jesus said here because we don’t consider ourselves rich. Yet compared to this rich young ruler, each one of us enjoys more luxuries and comforts than he did. Riches present a difficulty because they tend to make us satisfied with this life instead of longing for the age to come. It is also true that riches must often be acquired at the expense of acquiring God.

David Guzik

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MATTHEW 6:21

WHAT IS THE TITHE?

1. IT’S 10%

1. IT’S FIRST-FRUITS

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And [c]in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. 

GENESIS 4:2-5

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.

HEBREWS 11:4

WHAT WAS THE TITHE FOR?

1. SUPPORTING LEVITICAL PRIESTS (O.T.), SUPPORTING THE LOCAL CHURCH. (N.T.)

1. PHYSICAL SACRIFICE FOR A SPIRITUAL REALITY

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MATTHEW 6:21

“The discipline of sacrifice is one in which we forsake the security of meeting our needs with what is in our hands. It is total abandonment to God, a stepping into the darkened abyss in the faith and hope that God will bear us up. 

Dallas Willard

MYTH.01: TITHING WILL MAKE YOU RICH

Honor the Lord with your wealth

    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

PROVERBS 3:9-10

MYTH.02: TITHING IS FROM THE LAW, WE DON’T LIVE UNDER THE LAW ANYMORE

TITHING IS NOT A COMMAND, BUT IT SHOULD BE A NATURAL RESPONSE.

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

LUKE 19:8-10