The Word of God Hasn't Fallen

"But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel." Romans 9:6

Romans 9 is one of my all time favorite chapters of Scripture. In it are made plain the obvious truths of election and reprobations, doctrines which I have come to know and love, and hold dear to myself. In numerous debates with those who wish to believe in free will and no election, I have turned to this chapter as my flagship. This chapter, or so I thought, was the battleship on which I could launch my theological war against free-willers.

While it is definitely true that this passage talks about election and all, I have come to realize that it talks about election because there is a problem here, and that problem is the real meaning of the chapter. This chapter is not a treatise on the wonders of election. Chapter nine is talking abouto the problem of whether or not God's word has failed.

In chapters 1-8, Paul says some astonishing things. In chapter eight he makes some wonderful statements about the promises of God. But the problem here is that God had made promises to the nation of Israel, and now they stand condemned as a whole. How did that work? Did God's word fail? That is what the beginning of this chapter is asking. You see, because if the Jews could be the promised people one day and accursed as a nation the next, we have NO BASIS to trust God's promises. God's word is MEANINGLESS if He doesn't keep His promises.

So Paul HAS to take up the doctrine of election to show that they are not all Israel who are Israel. The promises God made in the Old Testament HAVEN'T changed, they just were not for the people everyone thought they were. They were for spiritual Israel, the elect.

There is alot in this chapter. I urge you to read it, to savor it as I have done, and really soak in the precious truths contained therewith.