We'll start by looking at the Jews in Romans 9:1-5.
1. How NOT to be save - rely on everything else but Christ
Romans 9:1-5 (ESV)
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
The Israelites at that time Paul wrote Romans were different than the Israelites of old. The Israelites of present time (that Paul wrote Romans) were relying on their lineage, the glory, the covenant, the law, the worship, the promises and the patriarchs for salvation (Romans 9:4-5). In fact, the Israelites have a zeal for God! However,they were relying on everything that they can except by faith. For this reason, Paul writes in verses 1-3 that he is in anguish because of it. Matthew 3:7-10 emphasizes the point that the Israelites should not rely on the fact that they have Abraham as their father to claim salvation:
Matthew 3:7-10 (ESV)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
In a way, "religious Christians" today are like the Israelites that Paul was writing to. By "religious Christians", I mean those that see Christian as a religion and not a relationship, and do not claim a personal relationship with God. They go to church every week, serve in ministries, read the Bible daily etc., but do not rely on their faith in God for salvation.
2. God is both Merciful and Just
Jacob and Esau
Background:
Genesis 25: 25-26 (ESV)
25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.
26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Jacob and Esau were twins (of Isaac and Rebekah). Rebekah was barren and Isaac prayed to the Lord, whom gave them two sons (Jacob and Esau) later. Esau was the older twin while Jacob was the younger one. In Genesis 25:26, we see that Jacob's hand was holding Esau's heel, and the Harper Collins Study Bible infers that it is as if Jacob is seemingly trying to pull Esau back into the womb so that he could be the firstborn. Although being the firstborn is not as 'important' in present time, in that time being the firstborn means rights to the father's inheritance. Also, the footnote in the NIV bible writes that the grasping of the heel is also a reference to deceptive behavior. Jacob was a deceiver throughout his life (since his birth). The most notable instance was when he disguised himself as Esau to received his father's blessings Genesis 25:18-29.
In Genesis 25: 23, we see that even before the twins were born, God has said that "the older shall serve the younger".
Genesis 25:23 (ESV)
And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
We also see the same phrase being used in Romans 9:12:
Romans 9:6-13 (ESV)
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
We further see that in Romans 9:13 that God loved Jacob but not Esau, and we know from verse 11 that all these was even before they were born. God chooses his people by election (verse 11).
It's a concept hard to grasp. They won't even born when God chose Jacob over Esau. Is God unfair? By no means (verse 14)! Well, we know that God is omniscient. He knows ultimately which path we choose to take. Although Jacob was a deceiver, we see that Esau later turned astray. Esau married two Hittite women (Genesis 26:34-35), in violation of Abraham's (and God's) injunction not to take wives from among the Canaanite population (Genesis 24:3).
Romans 9:14-18 (ESV)
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 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 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Romans 9:14 says that there is no injustice on God' part. God chooses who he has mercy on and who he does not have mercy on. Paul continues to use an analogy of the potter and the clay:
Potter and clay
Romans 9:19-26 (ESV)
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,
“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.
The potter has a right over which lumps of clay he uses to make what he wants to make. He might choose some to to make things for honorable uses, but others for dishonorable uses. The clay has no authority over which things it is being made into. The potter represents God and the clay represents us. We have no authority over God, and God chooses who he shows mercy and compassion to. Why doesn't God just save everyone? Paul continues elaborating about these vessels.
God will show his wrath and power by the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction (dishonorable use), which are those un-chosen ones. In doing so, God reveals that he is just and glory.
God will show his glory with the vessels of mercy prepared for glory (honorable use), which are those chosen ones. In doing so, God reveals that he is merciful and holy.
Justice and fairness means that everyone would go to hell. Mercy is what God gives and we should be thankful for it. Verse 20 says that we are not in a position to question or complain. God has the right and he is right.
The situation is not that we are all trying to be saved but God selects those he wants to save. The real situation here is reflected in Romans 3:
Romans 3:9-20 (ESV)
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The real situation is that we all turned away from God and God is pulling us back into his kingdom.
[Edited]
I realised the explanation accompanying Romans 3:9-20 isn't very clear. Now I will use an analogy to explain it. Think of it as a people trying to get onto a plane. The situation here is not that everyone trying to go into that plane such that the pilot chooses who to get on, rather it is everyone is running away from the plane and the pilot (God) is grabbing us back and saying "I'll save you, trust me" and ultimately its our decision to stay on that plane or leave it.
[End of Edit]
So then, how can I be saved?
3. Those who call upon God's name will be saved
Romans 10:9-11 (ESV)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
The only way to be save by faith. Works will not be able to save you, for God does not look at the works that we have done.
Remember that God doesn't love people because of their works. In fact if you look at the people that God loved, you will realize that many of them ain't good. The most famous example would be David. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah the Hittite, her husband. However, God promised David that the throne of David's kingdom will be established forever (2 Samuel 7:13)
Takeaway: If you trust in Christ alone for salvation, you can be assured that he has chosen you!
Do not reply on anything else but your faith! I know it is hard to rely on faith alone. Ultimately, there are only two classes of people - the chosen and those that are not chosen. Chose God, and you will be chosen.
Credits: Luwin (Youth Teaching Leader from Mount Hermon B-P Church) and So What? Bible Study Leader's Guide - A Study of Romans
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