Verses 1-5
-
Through the Hebrew people, God has brought us so much value, including the Scriptures themselves and the bloodline that Jesus was born into. Appreciate the Hebrew people!
-
However, just like the rest of us, Israel cannot be saved without faith in Christ (Romans 10:1-4).
-
Verses 6-13, 30-33
-
It was not being a biological Israelites that made you one of God's people. It was being a person of faith, regardless of your blood, that made you one of God's people. This has always been true (Romans 4:1-4, 9-13).
-
People can be saved because God chose to save us (Acts 13:48, Ephesians 1:4-5, 2:4-7), not because we had any special lineage or because we did any works to deserve His salvation. In fact, because of our works, we all deserve damnation.
-
This is how we know that the Jews are not automatically saved just because of their bloodline (Isaac/Ishmael and Jacob/Esau are examples of this).
-
The Jews also were rejected because they relied on their works to save them. Also see Galatians 4:21-31 - the son born by human works was rejected.
-
-
Verses 30-33. How does God save? God has ordained that salvation can be attained by those who do not trust in their works, but call on Him humbly (Romans 10:12-14, Luke 18:13-14). God saves the lowly (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Verses 14-24 – God is just
-
Verses 14-16. None of us deserve God's mercy. It cannot be earned or demanded. He wills to give it to us—believers—from His own compassion.
-
So we cannot take any credit for our salvation.
-
-
Verses 17-21. But other people do not receive God's mercy. God chooses to harden some. All unbelievers God will punish for their sins, and this shows the power of His wrath through them. This is still just and fair because they are only getting what they deserve.
-
Even the wicked/condemned serve a purpose in God's plan (Proverbs 16:4).
-
The Pharaoh of Exodus is an example of this.
-
Note that Pharaoh hardened himself before God hardened him (Exodus 5:2, 7:13).
-
But people always have a choice to give in to sin before they must be hardened by God (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
-
-
-
-
Verse 22. Before God hardens someone, He gives them plenty of time to repent. All unbelievers get chances to repent.
-
Verses 23-24. God showing His wrath on the wicked is important. We value and appreciate God's grace and mercy because we see how we would have been punished.
Verses 25-29
-
These are examples in the Old Testament of God choosing to save the Gentiles, but rejecting the Jews because they trusted in their own works. Do not trust in your own works!
-
Remember that God chose to save you by His grace, when you did not deserve it, and it is only because of His grace (not your works) that you can be saved!
-