"Even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 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," and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God'" (Romans 9:24-26)

What marvelous grace is this that we should be called sons and daughters of the living God? What a wonderful thing to be called not only from among the Jews but from the Gentiles as well. God's amazing redemption plan has provided a way for us to come to him and receive grace and mercy when we alone were hopeless. Paul started this chapter with a desire that his own people of Israel would recognize Jesus as their Messiah and come to him ( Romans 9:1-3 ). However as a whole they have rejected this and so Paul lays out evidence that only those who belong to Jesus belong to the promise spoken to Abraham ( Romans 9:8 ). Paul shows the severity of rejecting salvation through Jesus and demonstrates Gods patience towards them in turning away from such a gift ( Romans 9:22-23 ).

In today's passage he shows from Old Testament scripture that the Gentiles redemption through faith in Jesus has always been a part of the plan. God has called and chosen a people both from the Jews and from the Gentile nations. Hosea prophesied this very thing, "I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one. ' I will say to those called 'Not my people, ' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.' " ( Hosea 2:23 ). What an amazing truth this is. God calls the nobodies and makes them some bodies. Previously everyone outside of the Jewish nation was disregarded as completely separate and incapable of being part of the promise. But God looked upon us and called us His beloved and then went one step further and called us sons of the living God.

This is a hard thing for the Jews to understand and reconcile in their hearts. They do belong to a wonderful heritage of covenants, promises and patriarchs but this alone does not save ( Romans 9:4-5 ). John the Baptist told the teacher of the Law who questioned him, "And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire" ( Matthew 3:9-10 ). It is not the natural children that are Abrahams seed and heirs of the promise, inclusion in the promise only comes by faith in Jesus ( Romans 9:8 ). And God has opened this offer to all of humanity and has raise a people set apart for himself.

There is a parallel for us today, many people think that just because they go to church and recite liturgies, the Apostles Creed and the Lord's prayer that this is all that God desires from them. Many rest securely in belonging to a church and attending regularly. However Jesus said in Revelation, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth" ( Revelation 3:15-16 ). What an awakening this will be. God does not desire your rituals and obligation, he desires your heart. He looks over the multitudes of people which cannot be counted and says to those who put their trust in him, you are my children ( Hosea 1:10 ). He has redeemed us from and empty way of life such as this, Peter said, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God ( I Peter 1:18-21 ). Our hope is in Jesus not in attending church and responsive readings, belonging to God only comes through faith in Jesus and in a changed heart.

Today, I am blessed to be counted among God's children and among his chosen people in the world. It is my prayer that you understand your position of grace in His kingdom and that everything you do flows out of a heart for the Lord. May you continue to grow in His grace, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:22-23  Next: Romans 9:27-29

Original article published January 17, 2010.

"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath-prepared for destruction? 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" (Romans 9:22-23)

Mankind has free will and God will not override our choices in life. Throughout our entire life time we are presented with the opportunity to accept the gospel message, which has the power to save us, or we can reject it. The outcome of this choice is based solely upon us. God does not choose for us, nor does he predestine some to be saved and some to be damned. Predestination rests solely upon His foreknowledge of our acceptance of His grace ( Romans 8:29, I Peter 1:2 ). He knew who would accept his message and so he also chose them based upon that foreknowledge. In the same way, He knew who would reject him and so they were prepared for destruction based upon that foreknowledge of their free will and choice.

In today's passage Paul writes to us that God endured with exceeding patience the objects of his wrath. These are the individuals that have rejected his salvation message and the payment for their sin. These individuals are destined for destruction of their own volition because they have chosen this path for their life and have rejected Jesus. It is easy to struggle over a statement such as this and focus on the wrath of God towards them, but what about his enduring patience concerning them? They are clearly enemies of cross and yet God is patient with them. He tolerates and endures those who have rejected his salvation and forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God" ( Hebrews 10:26-27 ). Once we have heard the truth and know that the only way to be reconciled to God is through faith in Jesus' atoning work on the cross, we have to make a decision whether or not we accept this payment for our sins. If we do not, there is no other sacrifice or payment option left to us, only judgment. Hebrews goes on to say, "Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ( Hebrews 10:28-31 ).

It is severe to reject Jesus and his incredible gift of salvation. God's wrath was fully satisfied through his redemptive work on the cross. However, if we do not accept this payment for our sins, then eventually those accounts will be called overdue. Payment will have to be rendered and how do you thing that God will respond to someone who has blatantly rejected his very own Son. There will be no acceptable alternative payment and it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when it is God's very own precious Son that has been trampled and rejected in the process.

The amazing thing about a passage such as this, is that it shows an incredible facet of God's nature when you fully understand it. God is not dealing unfairly with mankind, the opposite is actually true, He is showing incredible mercy and grace in tolerating their rejection of Jesus. He does this to demonstrate to believers His incredible wealth of mercy. It shows us the depth of his love and grace that has no bounds. It is important to get revelation of the this truth because this will change the way we look at life. If we can understand how patient and loving God is towards even those who reject him we will know how accepted and loved we are in Christ Jesus. God even uses his enemies to show his incredible love towards us. When we stand before Christ and see his majesty and splendor we will fully understand how offensive and awful it is to reject such a gift. We will understand the severity of it and the depths of the mercy displayed in patiently enduring His enemies.

Understanding this truth is pivotal in understanding the nature of God. He grace and mercy knows no end and his loving kindness extends to the ends of the earth. Today, it is my prayer that you recognize the awesomeness of Jesus and how he can saved you from destruction and hell. The good news for today is that he also saves us from so much more, he has come to give us eternal life which starts the moment you come to Him and accept his free gift of grace. May you understand how blessed you are in Christ Jesus, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:19-21  Next: Romans 9:24-26

Original article published January 16, 2010.