[:en]Sovereign Choice (vs. 1-29)
Paul expressed his concern for his Jewish brothers and sisters by saying that he would willingly take their punishment if that could save them. How about you? Do you care about the salvation of others?
The Jews viewed themselves as adopted sons with divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship, the promises, the patriarchs, and with human ancestry of Christ. They were proud that their lineage came from Isaac and not Ishmael. Paul emphasized that no one can claim to be chosen by God use to his heritage or good deeds. It is God’s sovereign choice to save us by His goodness and mercy, and not by our own merit.
When God chose Jacob over Esau, it referred to the nation of Israel and Edom. God chose Jacob to continue the family line of faithful because He knew Jacob’s heart was for God.
Paul mentioned about Pharaoh whom God used to display His power and proclaim His name. He hardened Pharaoh’s heart to confirm his disobedience so that his sins of rebellion would be his punishment. Paul asserted that God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy and He hardens whom He wants to harden” (v. 18) In other words, He was saying that God is sovereign and the creator has control over the created objects. The created objects have no right to demand or question anything from its creator. God is the potter and we are the clay. Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purpose and some for common use? (v. 21) Isaiah prophesied that only a small number of God’s original people, the Jews would be saved. Paul witnessed it himself because when he went to preach to the Jews, only a few ever accepted the message.
Israel’s Unbelief (vs. 30-33)
Salvation is not by works but by faith. No one is good enough to be saved. He must put his faith of what Jesus Christ has done for him. The Jews wanted to honor God by obedience to the law. They thought that by keeping the law, God would accept them as his people. They failed to know that the Scriptures taught that salvation depends on faith and not by human effort.
The Gentiles attained righteousness by faith. But the Israelites did not attain righteous because they pursue it by works. There is a rock that caused them to stumble. And that rock is Christ. They did not believe that Christ is the Messiah because their expectation were not met. They did not believe that salvation is by faith only. They believed that they must earn their way to God through good work instead of obeying His word.
Memory Verse:
“But who are you O Man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this’? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (vs. 20-21)[:]