At first, that statement seems almost impossible. Israel had received God's law. They had been given God's promises. They had the Scriptures, the prophets, the covenants, and the worship of God. They pursued righteousness. Yet Paul says they “have not attained” it. Why? Because they pursued righteousness in the wrong way.
Key Verse: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" - Romans 9:20 KJV
Romans 9 brings us face-to-face with one of the great truths of Scripture: God is the Creator, and we are His creation. Paul has been explaining God's sovereign purposes concerning Israel, and now he anticipates the questions that naturally arise. If God is sovereign, what right does a human being have to question Him?
Key Verse: "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)" - Romans 9:11 KJV
Paul's heart is heavy as Romans 9 begins. He has just finished declaring that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Now he turns his attention to his fellow Israelites, his own people, and expresses an extraordinary burden for them. Paul writes: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,” Romans 9:1
Key Verse: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come," - Romans 8:38 KJV
Paul began Romans 8 with one of the greatest declarations of freedom in Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 And now, at the end of the chapter, he gives us another great declaration: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come…” Romans 8:38
Key Verse: "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31 KJV
Paul has taken us through an extraordinary journey in Romans 8. We began with “no condemnation” for those who are in Christ. We learned that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We saw that God works all things together for good. Now Paul brings these truths together and asks a powerful question: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Key Verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 KJV
Few verses in the Bible have brought more comfort to God's people than Romans 8:28. But notice carefully what Paul actually says. He does not say that all things are good. He says that all things work together for good. There is a great difference.
Key Verse: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26 KJV
There are times in every believer's life when we simply do not know what to pray. Sometimes the circumstances are so difficult that words fail us. Sometimes there are competing needs, uncertain decisions, deep sorrow, or burdens that are difficult even to understand ourselves. Romans 8 gives us tremendous encouragement: our weakness does not prevent God from working. The Holy Spirit helps us precisely where we are weak.
Bible Reading: Romans 9:26-33 KJV Key Verse: " But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained ...
