Diving into the middle of Romans to pick out a proof-text may be easier, but it is not the better way
for understanding what Paul was explaining, which is why I am headed that direction as I pick out
all of the relevant passages from the beginning of Romans that provide the context
for properly interpreting Romans 9:11 and 10:9. Hope you will help by commenting on what I have shared,
and we will discuss those verses when we get there.
Here is a summary of what I have covered so far:
In the fourth chapter of Romans, Abraham is cited as an example of a pre-Gospel sinner who was credited with righteousness because of his faith in God. Paul also cites Psalms 32:1-2 as indicating this truth. The fact that Abraham had saving faith before he was physically circumcised (Rom. 4:10-12) is viewed by Paul as indicating salvation/election is offered to Gentiles as well as to Jews, which truth elaborates what was stated in Rom. 2:25-29.
Summary of Scripture Regarding Election in Romans 1-4:
1. Romans 1:16 says the Gospel reveals that salvation/election (s/e) is for “everyone who believes”, both Jew and Gentile.
2. Romans 1:17 describes s/e as “righteousness from God” that is by faith “from first to last” or from creation until the end.
3. Romans 2:4 teaches that God’s patience is “meant to lead you toward repentance”, which implies that sinners are able to repent because of God’s leading.
4. Romans 2:5 warns that those who do not repent but instead stubbornly resist God’s leading “are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed”, which defines divine wrath as just enforcement of moral law and implies that God’s grace enables sinners to repent--or not (cf. Deut. 30:19), which may be called moral free will (MFW).
5. Romans 2:6 affirms what is called karma by saying that “God will give to each person according to what he has done”, which in Gal. 6:7-9 is called reaping what a person sows.
6. Romans 2:7 speaks of the need for “persistence in doing good” and seeking glory, honor and immortality in order to receive s/e or eternal life, which echoes what Jesus commanded in Matthew 7:7 and connects with the doctrine of perseverance as in Hebrews 10:36 and James 1:3-4.
7. Romans 2:11 teaches that “God does not show favoritism” (cf. Eph. 6:9, Col. 3:25, 1Pet. 1:17), which is how God judges people justly and is in the same vein as 1Timothy 2:3-4, “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”, so the fact that some ignore God’s Gospel indicates that His will or leading is resisitible because of MFW.
8. Romans 2:15 teaches that sinful souls have a conscience or awareness of “the requirements of the law”, which may be combined with Romans 1:20 to teach that God and God’s moral nature or will may be perceived via creation and conscience (called natural revelation), thus those unfamiliar with God’s Word in Scripture have no good reason for resisting divine leading and choosing atheism/evil.
9. Romans 3:21 states that “the Law and Prophets testfiy” or prepare the way for the new revelation of righteousness from God apart from the Law, which takes up where Romans 1:17 left off.
10. Romans 3:22a says that “righteousness from God” or s/e comes through faith “in Jesus Christ” (cf. Eph. 2:8), a phrase Paul used eleven times in Ephesians 1:3-14 to indicate s/e.
11. Romans 3:22b says that s/e is given “to all who believe—there is no difference”” signifying that all sinners may believe/be saved (1Tim. 2:3-4, John 3:16), because there is no favoritism (Rom. 2:11).
12. Romans 3:23 teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, meaning that no one can be good enough to earn salvation because of their own merit.
13. Romans 3:24 continues the teaching in v. 23 by saying that all “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”, which assumes the condition of faith per v.22 that receives grace without it being earned or merited (cf. 3:27-28), and “redemption” refers to Christ paying the price/cost of s/e.
14. Romans 3:25a explains redemption as being “a sacrifice of atonement” for those who have faith in Jesus’ work of dying in their place.
15. Romans 3:25b further explains that God demonstrated his just foreberance in leaving unpunished sins commited before revealing the Gospel (foreshadowed by God’s provision of the lamb for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac per Gen. 22:8 & 13), implying that sinners had/have the opportunity to believe and be saved from wrath before learning the Gospel of Christ, thereby demonstrating God’s justice/not showing favoritism.
16. Romans 3:26 continues to emphasize divine justice by declaring it three ways (“justice…, just…, justifies”), which justness is synonymous with righteousness (2Thes. 1:5-6, Heb. 6:10).
17. Romans 4:1-25 presents Abraham as a Gentile who became the physical father of the Jews and the spiritual father of all who choose to have faith in God/Christ.
Over...
for understanding what Paul was explaining, which is why I am headed that direction as I pick out
all of the relevant passages from the beginning of Romans that provide the context
for properly interpreting Romans 9:11 and 10:9. Hope you will help by commenting on what I have shared,
and we will discuss those verses when we get there.
Here is a summary of what I have covered so far:
In the fourth chapter of Romans, Abraham is cited as an example of a pre-Gospel sinner who was credited with righteousness because of his faith in God. Paul also cites Psalms 32:1-2 as indicating this truth. The fact that Abraham had saving faith before he was physically circumcised (Rom. 4:10-12) is viewed by Paul as indicating salvation/election is offered to Gentiles as well as to Jews, which truth elaborates what was stated in Rom. 2:25-29.
Summary of Scripture Regarding Election in Romans 1-4:
1. Romans 1:16 says the Gospel reveals that salvation/election (s/e) is for “everyone who believes”, both Jew and Gentile.
2. Romans 1:17 describes s/e as “righteousness from God” that is by faith “from first to last” or from creation until the end.
3. Romans 2:4 teaches that God’s patience is “meant to lead you toward repentance”, which implies that sinners are able to repent because of God’s leading.
4. Romans 2:5 warns that those who do not repent but instead stubbornly resist God’s leading “are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed”, which defines divine wrath as just enforcement of moral law and implies that God’s grace enables sinners to repent--or not (cf. Deut. 30:19), which may be called moral free will (MFW).
5. Romans 2:6 affirms what is called karma by saying that “God will give to each person according to what he has done”, which in Gal. 6:7-9 is called reaping what a person sows.
6. Romans 2:7 speaks of the need for “persistence in doing good” and seeking glory, honor and immortality in order to receive s/e or eternal life, which echoes what Jesus commanded in Matthew 7:7 and connects with the doctrine of perseverance as in Hebrews 10:36 and James 1:3-4.
7. Romans 2:11 teaches that “God does not show favoritism” (cf. Eph. 6:9, Col. 3:25, 1Pet. 1:17), which is how God judges people justly and is in the same vein as 1Timothy 2:3-4, “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”, so the fact that some ignore God’s Gospel indicates that His will or leading is resisitible because of MFW.
8. Romans 2:15 teaches that sinful souls have a conscience or awareness of “the requirements of the law”, which may be combined with Romans 1:20 to teach that God and God’s moral nature or will may be perceived via creation and conscience (called natural revelation), thus those unfamiliar with God’s Word in Scripture have no good reason for resisting divine leading and choosing atheism/evil.
9. Romans 3:21 states that “the Law and Prophets testfiy” or prepare the way for the new revelation of righteousness from God apart from the Law, which takes up where Romans 1:17 left off.
10. Romans 3:22a says that “righteousness from God” or s/e comes through faith “in Jesus Christ” (cf. Eph. 2:8), a phrase Paul used eleven times in Ephesians 1:3-14 to indicate s/e.
11. Romans 3:22b says that s/e is given “to all who believe—there is no difference”” signifying that all sinners may believe/be saved (1Tim. 2:3-4, John 3:16), because there is no favoritism (Rom. 2:11).
12. Romans 3:23 teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, meaning that no one can be good enough to earn salvation because of their own merit.
13. Romans 3:24 continues the teaching in v. 23 by saying that all “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”, which assumes the condition of faith per v.22 that receives grace without it being earned or merited (cf. 3:27-28), and “redemption” refers to Christ paying the price/cost of s/e.
14. Romans 3:25a explains redemption as being “a sacrifice of atonement” for those who have faith in Jesus’ work of dying in their place.
15. Romans 3:25b further explains that God demonstrated his just foreberance in leaving unpunished sins commited before revealing the Gospel (foreshadowed by God’s provision of the lamb for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac per Gen. 22:8 & 13), implying that sinners had/have the opportunity to believe and be saved from wrath before learning the Gospel of Christ, thereby demonstrating God’s justice/not showing favoritism.
16. Romans 3:26 continues to emphasize divine justice by declaring it three ways (“justice…, just…, justifies”), which justness is synonymous with righteousness (2Thes. 1:5-6, Heb. 6:10).
17. Romans 4:1-25 presents Abraham as a Gentile who became the physical father of the Jews and the spiritual father of all who choose to have faith in God/Christ.
Over...