Romans 9 and the election; an allegory

[By M. L]

Romans 9 is probably the strongest chapter for calvinistic thinking. In this blog we will examine whether or not it is right to conclude unconditional election from this chapter or if it is saying something else.

I hope the calvinist hasn't clicked away yet since I do believe Romans 9 to be quite important even from my view. 

Before we really get into Romans 9 I want to take a look at the previous chapter. Sometimes people tend to dissect Romans 9 from the previous chapters as if Paul starts an entirely new subject. As we will see this is not the case. Romans 3-6 talk in great detail about justification by faith and it's relation to sanctification is explored in Romans 6-8. In Romans 9 Paul doesn't change subject. We will see that his main point is justification by faith without works. 

Romans 8 however gives us an even better hint at what Romans 9 will be talking about:

[Romans 8:15-17 KJV] "15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together."

Romans 8 talks in great detail about the Spirit and it's work. One of the points raised by Paul is the issue of inheritance and being a child of God. When we are a son or daughter of God we receive the inheritance; eternal life, the world, the Holy Spirit and all good gifts.

One thing often overlooked with the election is that this is very often put in relation to the election.

The election and being an heir have everything to do with each other. You only have to go through the times someone is called elect in scripture and often it will refer back to inheritance and receiving a kingdom. 

This is something we will see in Romans 9. 

Romans 9 starts of like this:

[Romans 9:1-5 KJV] "1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises; 5 Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."

Romans 9 starts of talking about literal Israel to the flesh. Paul continues to talk about this in Romans 11. They are the natural branches of the olive tree and to them was given, not just the law and first covenant, but the promises, the covenants and the adoption. 
Immediatly we have this word adoption. Israel was often called Gods son. They would receive the inheritance by nature. And Paul wishes them to be saved. 

But of course, they were not all saved. 

This raises the question; how could the promises to Israel be fulfilled if some of them would never even receive since they rejected Christ?

Pauls gives us the answer:

[Romans 9:6 KJV] "6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel:"

Not all of Isreal is actually Israel. As Paul later proves, only a remnant would be saved and receive the inheritance. Gods promises are not of none effect, but it would only be given to that remnant. 

He continues:

[Romans 9:7 KJV] "7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

Pause. Paul here uses the example of Isaac and Ismael. 

Ishmael and Isaac were both sons of Abraham to the flesh, but only one would be called the seed. 

Ishmael was born of the bondwoman, Hagar. Isaac of Sarah according to a promise God made. 
Now what does it mean to be called the seed?

We know the main difference between Isaac and Ishmael was the inheritance they received. 

Now Paul actually explains himself in Galatians:

[Galatians 4:21-31 KJV] "21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

Now note verse 24. Paul is not saying that the story and Isaac and Ishmael work exactly the same as the  New Jerusalem and the Jerusalem of this world. He says it's an allegory. 

Of course it cannot be exactly the same anyway. The promise to Sarah was that a child would come from her that would inherit, but you can hardly promise a city that it will literally give birth to an heir. 

So to understand Romans 9 we will have to work with the allegory here. 

Isaac stands for the heir, Ishamel for those who wish to be under the law but do not receive the inheritance. 

To be a son of Sarah means that you are born again and from New Jerusalem. It's like you changed identity from an earthly nationality to a heavenly one. 

To be a son of Ishmael means to be under the law.

So note that one has to be born again to receive the promise.

Now what can we compare the promise to Sarah to in this allegory? 

Galatians gives us the answer:

[Galatians 3:18 KJV] "18 For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise."

It's the eternal inheritance we directly receive. BUT we only receive it if we are of new Jerusalem. 

How does this happen?

[Galatians 3:22 KJV] "22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."

It is by faith. 

Now let us continue the allegory in Romans 9. 

[Romans 9:7-9 KJV] "7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son."

So only those of the children of promise, under the new covenant, receive the inheritance. It is not by works, not by being under the law or being a literal seed of Abraham, but by a promise. 

Just like Isaac received the inheritance by promise being a son of Sara, so we receive the promise by being a son of new Jerusalem which is free.

Now Paul will expand this allegory to Jacob and Esau:

[Romans 9:10-13 KJV] "10 And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac; 11 (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

Before the two were born there was one who was elected and called to receive the inheritance. 

They both did not do any good or evil yet since they weren't born and yet the elder would serve the younger.

Notice the focuse on not of works. Every time Paul uses this sentance in Romans it is always by faith through grace. 

So if we use the allegory method we saw in Galatians we could say this;

Just like Jacob received the inheritance despite his works and without having done any good or evil, so we receive the inheritance without works. Our works do not matter in this case, but God calls us an heir for what we are in Christ. 

When we are under the new covenant we are free and receive the inheritance by grace.

But the allegory will only go this far, for Galatians tells us so. 

Verse 13 that tells us God loved Jacob and hated Esau in a comparison. In comparison he loved Jacob and hated Esau, but this doesn't mean he actually hated Esau. 

The same language is used here:

[Luke 14:26 KJV] "26 If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

Of course we are not called to hate our father and mother, but in comparison our father and mother should have less priority than Jesus. It was the same with Jacob and Esau.

And it is the same with those under the new and old covenant.

If you believe, do not be anxious as to whether or not God has favor towards you. You are a son of God!

Now this of course raises another question. If, just like with Jacob and Esau, this election is not by our own works, then how could God be just?

[Romans 9:14 KJV] "14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid."

Is there unrighteousness with God? How can God justify the wicked and yet still be just? 

Paul asks the same question in Galatians:

[Galatians 2:17 KJV] "17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, [is] therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid."

It seems like we are taking away the justice of God by saying we are appointed heirs without works if we are born again. But this is not so. 

[Romans 9:15 KJV] "15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

[Romans 8:33-34 KJV] "33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

God gives mercy and compassion tho whosoever He wants to. The old testament proofs it. 

To whom? To those who are under the new covenant of grace that they have in Christ.

And there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. 

God said so. He is not unjust to do so.

[Romans 9:16 KJV] "16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."

The word runneth here shows that Paul is focussing on the efforts of men. The story of Esau and Jacob portrays this perfectly. 

Jacob really wanted the birth-right, but he had a lack of faith in the promises of God just like his mother. For that reason he tried to get the birth-right by buying it and finally by deceit. 

But all these works and efforts are without avail. 
It is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but by God showing mercy. Jacob received it by promise.

In the same way do we, under the new covenant, receive the promises of God. Those who are willing to be under the law, willing and running, will not receive the inheritance. 

Pharaoh reveals the opposite party, those who do not receive mercy:

[Romans 9:17-18 KJV] "17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth."

What calvinists often tend to miss with the election is that by nature we are all like Pharaoh. 

[Proverbs 16:4 KJV] "4 The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."

We are wicked. By nature we are children of wrath and unable to receive that eternal inheritance. We are without mercy. Pharaoh was brought up to glorify God through his destruction and was hardened. 

Why? 
Because he wasn't under the new covenant. Those who are under the new covenant receive mercy and are shaped in a way that will bring them glory. All things work together for good to those who love Him.

But for those not under the new covenant there only awaits destruction and shame. They are hardened by constantly seeing the glory of God. That is our destination by nature for no one seeks God.

But how do we get this destination to change? It is not by works, but by faith. God will show mercy to those and sees them with a new identity. 

The story of Pharaoh shows we are utterly dependent upon Gods mercy. 

[Romans 9:19-24 KJV] "19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

There are many who think it unfair that we are only saved in Christ under a new covenant. They think it unfair that those who are not heirs are only there for destruction. 

But we are not to protest. God in His purpose has chosen this way and no other. Only those who are in Christ will receive eternal life. 

For we are elect in Christ:

[Ephesians 1:3-4 KJV] "3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

Isaiah calls Christ the Elect Holy One:

[Isaiah 42:1 KJV] "1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."

[Isaiah 65:9 KJV] "9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there."

There are many who look to unconditional election as a source of comfort. They have seen God working in their life in the past and find it comforting to think their election is not based on their strength. I would not totally reject this confidence though there is a dangour of falling into presumption. But what I would suggest to these people is to shift this confidence in yourself, your own peronal unconditional election, to something far more strong. 

Put confidence in the election that is in Christ. Christ is the elect for you. He alone is the rightfull Heir and Son of God. 

You are only elect, a son of God and an heir for what you are in Christ your substitute. Not by works, but by faith and the mercy of God. 

Let all confidence go that is confidence in how God would look upon you. 

I would say the same to those who look at the election as a source of anxiety. Many look to themselves to get some kind of evidence that they are chosen. And when they do not see this they fall into anxiety or despair. They seek for some kind of moral good as evidence of the Spirit working in them. They look for feelings and are anxious if they really have faith or not. 

Am I really elect? Did God give me mercy? 

To those I would say; don't look to self. Look up to Christ. You have already been elected a very long time ago in Christ. What do you need to do? Trust in Him. Simply lay a hold of that person who stands in your place. 
If you do this and simply lay a hold, even in despair, to that man like Jacob laid a hold on the Angel, there is no way you will fall. In Christ your sins are forgiven. You are already cleansed in that man. Look up to Him and this will give you the Spirit and cleanse your inwards. 

[2 Peter 1:10 KJV] "10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"