Romans 9:1-29
1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 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 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 26 and, “In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. 28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”
29 It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
Sermon about anguish, election, and clay pots
The Context - Rome 1st Century AD:
The Messenger - Paul the Apostle:
This is what makes Paul’s opening statement so powerful
Romans 9
1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel.
Do I anguish over others?
Our theology should lead us to be:
1) Conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
2) Anguished for those far from Jesus.
Anguish - has to do with the heart
Romans 9:4-8
-An Israel within Israel
-Affiliation doesn’t equal salvation - only Jesus
Romans 9:9-18
-Hatred and election?
Election is the vocation to serve God so as to bring blessing to others.
-RL Moberly
Election - has to do with calling - God’s purposes being fulfilled through your life now to eternity
1 Peter 2
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Romans 9:19-24
Clay pots - has to do with humility
Romans 9:25-26
25 As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 26 and, “In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”
Response Questions:
Do I anguish over others?
Do I anguish over those closest to me, members of my family?
Do I anguish over my enemies?
Do I anguish over those who are great sinners?
Do I anguish over those who have great privileges?
Communion
Small Group Questions
Romans 8:1-27
Opening Question:
• If you had to describe your spiritual life in one word right now, what would it be? Why?
No Condemnation – Life Through the Spirit (Romans 8:1-11)
• What does it look like to set your mind on the Spirit rather than the flesh in daily life?
• Where do you need to surrender control to the Holy Spirit this week?
No Defeat – Living as Children of God (Romans 8:12-17)
• What does being led by the Spirit look like practically?
• How does knowing you are an heir of God change the way you live today?
No Separation – Hope in Suffering (Romans 8:18-27)
• How can Paul’s perspective on suffering (v. 18) help you in your own struggles?
• When have you longed for something better, like creation groaning for renewal?
• How does the Spirit’s intercession (v. 26-27) change how you think about prayer?
Closing Reflection & Prayer:
• Where do you need the Spirit’s help most right now—freedom from sin, assurance of your identity, or strength in suffering?
• Pray together, asking the Spirit to guide, strengthen, and intercede for your group.