ROMANS 9:1–13
for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand
(Rom. 9:11).
The basic issue in the debate over election is “what is the decisive factor in redemption?” Is salvation based on man’s choice or God’s? Because fallen man is in rebellion against God, exalting his will over his Creator’s, man naturally wants to give himself credit for everything—including his own redemption. This attitude toward God is not erased entirely after regeneration, which explains why many Christians still want to give themselves the ultimate credit for their salvation. The prescience view of predestination certainly follows this line of thinking by asserting that God’s choice is dependent upon man’s decision. However, the Bible speaks against this view, particularly Paul’s teaching in Romans 9.
In this chapter Paul is explaining to the church at Rome why all of Israel is not saved, even though it is the nation of God’s covenant, the law, and the promise. His point is that not all of Israel is true Israel. Just because someone is an Israelite according to the flesh does not necessarily mean he is a child of God. Paul defends this statement by saying that God chose Jacob and not Esau to be the child of promise. God declared, “Jacob I have loved and Esau I have hated.” He loved Jacob, not because of anything Jacob had done or would do, but so His purposes according to election might stand. His choice was based solely on the good pleasure of His will, not the actions of Jacob or Esau.
The prescience view would say that God looked into the future and saw what Jacob and Esau would do, then He made His decision based on their actions. But Paul does not say this. The whole point the apostle is making is that God’s choice was not based on anything the brothers would do: “for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls” (v. 11). And to drive home the point, Paul anticipates the common reaction to the doctrine of election: “But that isn’t fair!” What is Paul’s response? “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whomsoever I will have mercy.” If Paul had been espousing the prescience view, he would never have had to make this defense.
CORAM DEO
1 Samuel 7–9
Luke 13
WEEKEND
1 Samuel 10–14 Luke 14
Why does the doctrine of election, which gives God all the credit in our salvation, remove all bases for boasting on the part of human beings? Why is trust in God’s wisdom and goodness so central to embracing this doctrine? Read Romans 9 thoroughly today and mark how God is greatly glorified in man’s redemption.
For further study: Gen. 25:12–28 • Ex. 33:12–23 • Mal. 1:2–3
WEEKEND