September 20, 2026
Romans
Week 2: The Reason for Romans
When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense
This section isn’t about humanity but God and His character.
· Chapter 9 – Sovereignty of God
· Chapter 10 – Justice of God
· Chapter 11 – Faithfulness of God
1. Passion of Paul - vv. 1-5
1.1. Paul is emotionally distraught – vv. 1,2
1.2. Paul had a belief that shook him down to the core. – v. 3
Cursed – to be eternally damned.
1.3. The facts about Israel – vv. 4,5
Phrase Meaning
“They are Israelites” They are the covenant nation of God.
“The adoption” God adopted Israel as His national “son.”
“The glory” God’s visible, glorious presence—the Shekinah
which appeared the tabernacle and temple.
“The covenants” God made 4 unconditional covenants to Israel.
“The giving of the law” God gave Israel the Mosaic Law at Sinai.
“The temple service” Israel received God’s system of worship.
“The promises” God’s promises concerning redemption, the
Messiah, the kingdom, resurrection, restoration, and blessing to the nations.
“The ancestors are theirs” Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—through whom God’s
covenant purposes were carried forward.
“came the Christ” Jesus the Messiah came through the Jewish nation.
“Who is God over all” He is God, sovereign over all creation and worthy of
eternal praise.
The passage’s movement is significant:
Israel’s identity → Israel’s privileges → Israel’s worship → Israel’s promises →
Israel’s patriarchs → Israel’s Messiah.
Breakdown of the chapter.
· Predestination is the sovereign plan of God 6-13
· Predestination expresses the sovereign person of God 14-18
· Predestination displays the sovereign power of God 19-24
· Predestination sustains the sovereign promises of God. 25-33
a. Words and their meaning
1. Election
God’s gracious choice based on His own purpose of people for salvation.
2. Predestination:
God determined beforehand that those who belong to Christ will be transformed to the image ofJesus justified and glorified.
3. Providence:
God’s wise and continual care over His creation. He preserves, directs, and uses all circumstances to accomplish His sovereign purposes, while people remain responsible for their choices.
Election answers “who?”
Predestination answers “what?”
Providence answers “how?”
b. Brief study on Election and Predestination – Eph. 1:4,5
1. Chose - Eklego - aorist tense - middle voice
God’s totally independent choice.
2. Why is this necessary? Romans 3:11–12
3. In Him
4. “before the foundation of the world”
He predetermined and designed to make us, who did not yet exist, his own
children through the redeeming work of Christ which had not yet taken place.
God had you on His mind in eternity past!
5. In love, He predestined us – (the what – purpose)
God predetermines His purpose, His goal, His aim, and His end in creation
(you), and then God brings into existence that program which will fulfill His
purpose and aim.
His choice was done – in love.
Know the difference between position and condition.
2. Predestination is the sovereign plan of God - 6-13
2.1. “Now it is not as though the word of God has failed,” - v. 6a
2.2. “because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” – v. 6b
Paul now gives 3 case studies that God’s plans are sovereign and predetermined.
2.3. Ishmael and Isaac – vv. 7-9
God determined that Isaac would be the son of promise.
Human logic vs. Incomprehensible wisdom of a sovereign God.
2.4. Esau and Jacob – vv. 10 -13
1. What God did – v. 12b
He chose Jacob over Esau
2. When God did it – v. 11b
He made this choice long before they were even born.
3. Why God did it – vv. 11a,12a
He did it to show that his sovereign decrees are not based on what yet-unborn human beings might or might not do.
4. I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau – v. 13
In certain contexts, “hate” can function as a comparison meaning “love less” or “place in a lower position of preference.”
God determined ahead of time and without any assistance from humanity His choice of Jacob over Esau.
Human sense of fairness and equity vs. gracious wisdom of a sovereign God.
2.5. Pharaoh – vv. 14-18
1. God unjust? No! – v. 14
2. God determined to pardon sinful Israel with undeserved grace – vv. 15,16
3. God determined to punish Pharaoh with deserved judgment – vv. 17,18
Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
He proudly rejected God and repeatedly refused to release Israel
(Exodus 5:2; 8:15, 32; 9:34).
God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.
God confirmed Pharaoh in his chosen rebellion and used it to display His
power and execute judgment. (Exodus 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 14:8).
God announced beforehand that He would harden Pharaoh. Exodus 4:21
Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his own heart.
God then hardened—or confirmed—Pharaoh in that rebellion.
Pharaoh’s unbelief was his own choice that was providentially folded into
the predetermined will of God to accomplish His purposes.
God determined ahead of time to use a sinful Pharoah to display His power and bring glory to His name.
Human sense of justice vs. God’s sovereign mercy and compassion.
Application:
Sovereignty of God & Human Responsibility forms an antinomy.
“an apparent contradiction between two equally valid principles”
Don’t try to explain either side away – they are both true.
Human logic vs. Incomprehensible wisdom of a sovereign God.
Human sense of fairness and equity vs. gracious wisdom of a sovereign God.
Human sense of justice vs. God’s sovereign mercy and compassion.
How are you seeing the world that you live in?
Through the lenses of “Christian” humanism?
(God needs to make sense for me to have faith in Him.)
Or seeing the world through the lenses of a sovereign God who is in control of everything?
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