God’s Righteousness Revealed in Sovereign Choice
Romans 9:1-16

Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.” [Romans 9:27]

This morning, we begin a new section in Romans:  God’s Righteousness Revealed in Sovereign Choice. We were introduced to Sovereign Choice last week in the final verses of Chapter 8 on Sanctification. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” [Rom 8:29-30] Glorious! Notice the “whom He” precursor; God does the work, He does it all, He is Sovereign.

God’s Sovereignty is applied to Israel in Chapters 9-11. “The emphasis of Romans 9 is on Israel’s past election, in Romans 10 on Israel’s present rejection, and in Romans 11 on Israel’s future restoration” [Wiersbe].

As we work through these Chapters over the coming weeks, we will see references to both God’s Sovereign Choice [of Israel] and Israel’s responsibility. Israel’s present rejection of Christ [described in Chapter 10] is their responsibility. However, God’s Sovereign will for Israel is described in the Chapters 9 and 11 bookends.

God is not finished with Israel even though Israel has rejected Christ. There will be a future time when Israel is grafted back in [ref. Romans 11] and become believers in Messiah Jesus. This will be in the last days as described in Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-4. This is not a “spiritual Israel” as some might say, this is a remnant of literal Israel [ref. Romans 9:27].

The interpretation of a “literal Israel” as opposed to a “spiritual Israel” has far-reaching consequences on interpreting Scripture as a whole. Allegorizing “Israel” leads to allegorizing Scripture in general from Genesis [i.e., the Abrahamic Covenant] to Revelation [i.e., the 144,000]. 

Therefore, these are prominent issues to consider when reading this section of Romans. God’s righteousness is revealed in Him Sovereignly choosing Israel. It is not “spiritual Israel,” but a literal [physical] remnant of Israel.