Romans Worksheet - Chapter 9

 
Introduction:
 

Paul has referred to the history of Israel and the laws of Moses to tell us about God's law and how a man can not be justified through the law, but by grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He has established this in Romans 1 - 8.  Those familiar with the Old Testament will surely want to know: "What about the nation of Israel?  What has happened, and what will happen, to Israel?" Paul will use the materials we have in Romans 9 - 11 to explain this to the readers of his letter to the Romans.

 

 Romans Chapter 9

1.  How convinced does Paul want the reader to be that he means what he is about to say in the following statements? vs. 1-

2. How emotional is Paul about what he is about to say? vs. 2 -

Note: Paul wants us to know that he would give 'anything', even his own salvation if he could, if it meant that his kinsmen, the Israelites, would come to know the Lord and be saved.  Paul was from the Jewish race himself and he desired that they would come to accept the Christ that he now served with all his heart.

• How emotionally compassionate are you toward the lost that you know? 
• Do you long to have this kind of heart for others who do not know the Lord?

Read & comment on these verses:

• 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 -
• 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 -

3. What does he list as the blessings of the Jewish heritage? vs. 4-

• 1)
• 2)
• 3)
• 4)
• 5)
• 6)

Note: These belong to the fathers of the Israelites and those who followed. Some of the fathers of the Jewish faith are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  From these through their lineage comes the Christ according to the flesh.  Christ is over all things.  Amen. (vs.5)

4.  Since the Israelites for the most part have not believed in the Lord Jesus, Paul knows the reader may question if God's Word has failed.  Definitely not! 

• How does he begin to explain the reason that many have not believed in Jesus? vs. 6 - 8

Observation:  Physical descent is no guarantee of a place in God's family.

5.  Paul continues to explain how Abraham's wife, Sarah, had the child of promise, Isaac.  It was through this 'seed' that the blessing of the Messiah would come at God's appointed time.(vs.9)

What do we learn about this in the following verse?

• Galatians 3:16 -

6.  Paul continues to speak of Isaac and his wife Rebekah.  Rebekah was given a word from God when she was pregnant with Jacob & Esau as they were struggling in the womb together. 

What was God's Word to her?

• Genesis 25:23-26
• What did the two boys represent?
• Who would serve who?
• Who came out first (the older)?
• Who was second (younger) and what was he doing when he came out?

Note:  As you can see from the above observation, the boys represented two nations of peoples.  When God says in Malachi 1:2 referred to by Paul here in Romans 9:13 ... Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated...we need to see that God is speaking of nations and not individuals. We also need to balance this with the absolute truth that God is love (I John 4:8) and the word hate must not refer to the word as the opposite of love that we know.  Remember when Jesus said we must hate our mother and father and take up our cross to follow Him? ...(Luke 14:26) ..  He definitely would not intend that we hate our parents ... it was a way to express the absolute choice over another in priority of purpose.  In other words, following Christ has to be the most important thing and more important than the pull of even a parent's love the other direction. God is saying that in His plan to make Himself known in all the earth, He has chosen the nation of Israel (Jacob) absolutely rather than the nation of Esau to bring about the 'seed' of Abraham in the Messiah and all that He is going to do through that nation of believers.... It is to get across to us, "let there be no confusion about this fact"....hopefully we can see it! Of course, we realize as well that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes will not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).  Therefore, we know that every person born to the nation of Esau is also invited to the Lord's table for fellowship and the inheritances of the promises along with the entire world of Gentiles that are not Jews. Amen.

Back to Romans 9 -

7.  Did God's choice of which son would have the promises of Abraham come through their lineage have anything to do with what that particular boy did to deserve or earn that right?  vs. 11 -

8. Was God unjust to make this choice?  Paul says "May it never be!"  God has mercy and compassion on those He chooses. 

• What does it not depend on? vs. 16 -

Observation:  Good works will not earn eternal life for us.

9.  When God allowed Pharaoh's heart to remain hardened against His people, what was God's purpose in doing so? vs. 17 -

Note:  This is a key thought for this chapter and the entire teaching on election.  God does what He does with a purpose for His plans.  His plan throughout the ages has been that His Name be known in all the earth, over and above the false gods and religions, over and above every other name given among men.  He works things in people and circumstances to bring about the Messiah in the fulness of time to show the world Who He is and His love for all men.  It is so His Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth!  This puts it into perspective, doesn't it?  Amen!

What did Jesus pray before He went to the cross to die for the world?

• John 17:3-6 -

10. Many question the election of God and how He chooses people, places, and circumstances to bring about His divine plans.  When we question His purposes, we are questioning our Maker and the Maker of all creation. 

• As our Maker (Creator), what does God have the right to do as He pleases? vs. 21 -

11. Paul continues to explain that God has chosen to endure with much patience even those vessels of wrath in order to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, whom He called not only from among Jews, but from Gentiles also. 

He quotes what God said through the prophet, Hosea, about those who did not belong to the nation of Israel.

What 3 things are listed that the Gentiles who came to believe in Him would be called by Him? vs. 25-26

• 1)
• 2)
• 3)

12. In the Old Testament, Isaiah the prophet spoke of Israel. 

• What did he see about this nation formed for God? vs. 27-29

13. Paul concludes this section by saying that the Gentiles attained righteousness by faith even though they were not pursuing it. 

Israel pursued a law of righteousness, but they did not arrive at it. 

• Why didn't they? 
• What did they stumble over? vs. 31-33 -

14.  If we recieve righteousness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, will we be let down or disappointed?  vs. 33 - 

Apply Today's Lesson:

Do you have compassion for the lost around you? Who can you pray for today that will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to believe the Lord's Gospel and be saved? Have you thought you could trust in your physical heritage to go to heaven?  Maybe the family or the church you were born into?  What has this lesson taught you? Did you think that being good or trying to be good would bring you eternal life?  What have you learned about that today? Don't stumble over Jesus.  Don't be fooled or deceived by the evil one. Don't wrestle over the doctrine and the hard to understand areas so much; learn that some things are bigger than we are and God has it all under control.  What was one of Paul's concerns about those he shared with?2 Corinthians 11:3 - It is a simple thing to be devoted to Christ.  Don't complicate matters. What did Jesus tell you? Matthew 11:28-30 - Say this prayer with David the Psalmist: Psalm 131

Your summary and prayer today:

Written by Brenda LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB sites only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.