Page 61 - Romans Student Textbook.doc

People become children of God not by fleshly means, but by the gracious, merciful choice of God to give
them His promise to be their Father.

Therefore, you say to me, why therefore does he still find fault? For who resist the will of Him? O man,
indeed, who are you who answers back to God? The clay does not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make
me this way?’ Or does not the potter have authority over the clay out of the same lump to make a vessel
unto honor and one unto dishonor? Now what if God, wishing to show the wrath and make known his
power bore with much patience a vessel of wrath made for destruction, and in order to make know the
richness of his grace upon a vessel of mercy which he appointed ahead of time unto glory? Who also called
us not only out of Jews but also out of Gentiles, as also in Hosea he says,

‘I will call the one not my people, my people and the one not beloved, beloved’ and it will be in the place
where it was said to them, “You are not my people?” There they will be called, “Sons of the Living God.”’

Now Isaiah cried on behalf of Israel, ‘If the number of the sons of Israel were as the sands of the sea, the
remnant would be saved; for a word is carried and swiftly the Lord will do upon the earth. And just as
Isaiah said previously,

‘Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us a seed, as Sodom then we would have become and as Gomorrah then
we would have been like.’

God has the right to display His glory through His sovereign choices to redeem a remnant of His covenant
people, Israel.

Therefore, what shall we say? That a Gentile which they were not pursuing righteousness obtained
righteousness, now the out of faith righteousness, but Israel pursuing a law of righteousness unto a law
they did not attain. Why? Because not out of faith but as out of works; they stumbled on the rock of
stumbling, just as it is written,

‘Behold I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of falling and the one who believes upon him will
not be put to shame.’

Righteousness before God only comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

Know the Wonder of Your Salvation in Christ. (Foundation for the Instructions that follow.)
(1:18-11:39)

Salvation expounded and explained. (1:18-8:39)

Salvation illustrated in Israel. (9:1-11:36)

Paul’s personal desire — the introduction to the example. (9:1-5)

God is still working to redeem a remnant of Israel. (9:6-33)

God’s offer of salvation to all people includes Israel even when they resist. (10:1-21)

God’s inclusion of the Gentiles in His salvation is for the purpose of bringing Israel to a repentant trust in
Christ. (11:1-32)

A Concluding Doxology. (11:33-36)

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