Peter Barnes | Romans 9:6-9
SERMON NOTES
NOT ALL ISRAEL IS ISRAEL
(Romans 9:6-9)
– election promotes evangelism and concern for the lost (e.g. 2 Tim.2:10).
1. God’s Word has not failed.
– 9:6a; this is the key issue
– God’s Word is powerful (Ps.33:6, 9; Isa.55:10-11)
– Josh.23:14-15
2. Not all the covenant people of God are truly His.
– 9:6; John Flavel: ‘If Abraham’s faith be not in your hearts, it will be no advantage that Abraham’s blood runs in your veins.’
– for the Church, this means that not all the baptized are saved, not all those at the Lord’s Supper will be at the marriage supper of the Lamb
3. The promise went through Isaac, not Ishmael.
– 9:7-9 (his second example will be Jacob and Esau in verses 10-13)
– God’s promise in Gen.15:4; 21:12
– some blessing to Ishmael in Gen.16:7-16; 21:15-21; and Abraham pleads for him in Gen.17:18
– but the promise goes through Isaac (Gen.17:20-21; Gal.4:21-31). Take God at His Word which will not fail, and make Christ your only boast and confidence.