August 20, 2020
Chewin' Up Chacos
Romans 9:1-18
Abbey Edwards
Central Truth
There is nothing that we can do to gain God's mercy. It is an undeserved gift that He chose to freely bestow upon us.
Key Verse | Romans 9:16
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Romans 9:1-18
God's Sovereign Choice
1 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, 1 9:3 Or brothers and sisters my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 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, 2 9:16 Greek not of him who wills or runs but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Dive Deeper | Romans 9:1-18
Have you ever adopted a dog? I never had one growing up, but a little over four years ago, I decided it was time to become a proud dog mom. He didn't do anything for me to choose him. I knew he'd do puppy things. He'd probably chew things up (like shoes, clothes, and furniture), but I chose him and knew from that day forward, regardless of what havoc he caused, that I'd love him. And as dogs do, he's chewed up my Chacos, my favorite shorts, coffee tables, and more. No matter how good he is or how bad he is, my love for him doesn't waver because four years ago, I chose him. I adopted him.
In the same way, on a much more perfect and holy scale, our Heavenly Father chose and adopted us. Far before we could ever chew up shorts or ruin coffee tables, He chose us for His good works (Ephesians 2:10). I've read through this passage in Romans multiple times trying to wrap my head around the idea of "hardening whomever He wills" because I couldn't understand how that could ever be fair. Plot twist: that is the only thing that is fair. We are clearly told in Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 that the only fair thing for us is death. What's unfair is that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) God can have "mercy on whomever He wills" (Romans 9:18), but there is nothing we did to gain that. There is no amount of self-will that can draw you closer to God than He has already drawn you.
I don't know where you're walking today. I don't know how many coffee tables you've ruined in the past week, but I do know that our God desires to show His mercy. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) He didn't ask you to gain it through human will or exertion. He just gave it. Have you accepted?
Discussion Questions
1. Do you feel like you have chewed up too many coffee tables to be given God's mercy?
2. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Are there works that you are doing to try to earn God's grace?
3. Do you believe that you were chosen by God and that there is nothing you did to earn it? Have you accepted the gift of salvation in response?
4. If you have accepted grace, how does your life look different because of it? If not, I challenge you to make a list of what is holding you back and discuss it with whomever recommended JTJ to you.