Romans 9:6-13

If Israel’s story comes to fulfillment in Jesus, why are so many Jews not participating in the story? Not only is this an issue for Jewish believers, but Israel’s unbelief could raise questions for Gentile believers as well. After all, believers are now sharing in Israel’s identity (Rom 2:25– 29). They are the children of Abraham by faith (Rom 4). They are God’s adopted children, journeying towards the inheritance of a new creation (Rom 8). But if Israel’s story got off track, how do they know that their story will not get off track? If God’s promises have supposedly failed Israel, how do we know that the great promises of Rom 8 will not fail us?

Paul writes Rom 9–11 to answer these questions. At the center of the issue is the question of God’s faithfulness. Has he been faithful to his people? Has he been faithful to his promises? Will he be faithful in the future? Such questions have relevance not only to how God administers salvation, but also to how he governs our lives. Can we trust him with our past, present, and future? Romans 9 assures us we can, so let’s follow Paul’s argument as he traces how God shows us his faithfulness.