1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
Is Paul lying or telling the truth?
Who are all witnessing Paul's truth?
Application: What we are doing when we lie? or What happens when we lie?
Is Paul happy about this truth?
What truth is Paul telling?
Who are these Paul's fellow brethren and countrymen?
Is Paul worrying about this matter?
What is so special about the Israelites?
Is Jesus Christ God?
Is there any other place Jesus Christ declared as God?
What are all other places Jesus is referred/claimed as God?
Did Jesus claim Himself as God?
Is it important that Jesus Christ to be the God? Why?
Why Paul is talking about Israelites now here in Romans 9-11 instead of moving from doctrinal teachings in Romans 1-8 to practical duties given in Romans 12-13?
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
What happened to God's promise towards Israelites? Did God abandon them?
Who is Israel?
Who is children of God?
What is children of promise means?
Do God hate?
Application: What we need to hate?
Is there unrighteousness with God?
How God can be righteous when God choose His children by His sovereign power?
15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
To whom does God show mercy and compassion?
How anyone receive mercy and compassion? or Does anyone receive mercy and compassion based on their works/efforts?
What did God show through Pharaoh?
Did God's name and power become known to the ends of the earth during that time?
What does Paul want to demonstrate about God through these references?
What makes them (you/us) to raise that question in Romans 9:19 while they read the passage in Romans 9:15-18?
What is this question mean?
Do we have rights to question our sovereign God about His decision?
Is God unrighteous because He showed mercy and compassion to whomever He wish? Why?
Is God still righteous even He shows mercy and compassion only to those He wishes? Why?
What is the difference between mercy and grace?
What is mercy?
What is grace?
What was God's reaction when He sees when Israelites made golden calf and worshiped?
What Moses did to appease God?
How did Moses react when he saw them worshiping idol?
What did God commanded Moses to do to them as a righteous judgment?
How many people get killed due to this terrible sin?
Why God spared those who were not God's side or who didn't respond to Moses' call?
Is God unrighteous because He hardened Pharaoh's heart and declared His name to all the earth? Why?
Is God still righteous even He hardened Pharaoh's heart and declared His name to all the earth? Why?
Is God still righteous even though He hardened Pharaoh's heart, punished him through plagues and created him only to make His name fame to all the earth? Why?
Did God harden the Pharaoh's heart?
Did Pharaoh harden his heart?
Did Pharaoh's heart is hard because God harden Pharaoh's heart? or Did God harden Pharaoh's heart because Pharaoh already harden his heart?
Didn't God bless Salomon with wisdom to make His name fame to all the earth?
Why did God punish Pharaoh to make His name fame to all the earth instead of blessing him like Salomon?
Why Israelites become slaves to Egypt?
Why no one has rights to question our God? or Why no one can question God?
Why God created those people even though He knows that they will go to hell?
Did God controls childbirth?
According to whose will childbirth happens?
Does God has power to shut the womb?
Did God really created people for destruction?
What is the state of a child at the time of birth?
Doesn't God has authority over His created people to show His power and glory?
Application:
Doesn't God has authority over His disciple who submit themselves as bond slaves to mold them to conform to His image?
Do you believe and experience the God's hedge of protection upon you? or Do you know God is in control?
How many type of vessels listed in Romans 9:21-23?
What are these two vessels?
Why these two vessels are prepared/created for?
Who are these vessels wrath and mercy actually points to?
Did God create some people to suffer in hell? or
Why is God creating the people who goes to hell even though He knew that beforehand?
Does God has power to shut the womb?
Did God controls all childbirth?
According to whose will childbirth happens?
Now you say: Did God really create some people for destruction or suffer in hell?
What is the state of a child at the time of birth?
Did God left/abandon us in this condemned state or destined to hell due to our sin?
What are those things God is showing to those vessels of wrath?
Why God endured with them with much longsuffering even though God knew that they will not believe in him and go to hell?
What are those things God is showing to the vessels of mercy?
How did God make known the riches of His glory to the vessels of mercy?
How the list of things God showed to the vessels of wrath helps the vessels of mercy?
Application:
Do we have this assurance? Or Do you still question your salvation?
What is the real important point Paul is making from this passage Romans 9:6-23?
Does God call only Jews to be the vessel of mercy?
Doesn't God has authority/freedom to choose/call gentiles like how He called Abraham & Jacob/Israel/Jews?
25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." 27 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. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth." 29 And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah."
Is this call to gentiles is new plan of God? Why?
Is this call to gentiles is that important? Why?
Application:
How this unity in Christ affect your life?
Are you more welcoming non-believers to the kingdom of God?
Are you reaching out non-believers not based on race, status, society, ...?
Are you reaching out only non-believers from your race, status, society, ...?
Do you show God's love to a new believer who come to your church who is way below to your financial status, society, cast ...?
Why did God fulfill this call to gentiles after Jesus Christ death and resurrection?
Did God utterly rejected Israelites because they rejected Jesus Christ/Messiah?
When this will happen?
Now, what does all of this prove?
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
How did Gentiles accept the God's call? or How did Gentiles accept Jesus as Lord and Savior?
Did Gentiles pursue righteousness?
Did Gentiles attain righteousness?
How did Gentiles attain/receive the righteousness?
Why did Israel reject the call of God? or Why did Israel reject Jesus Christ?
What did Israel pursue?
Israel pursue law of righteousness.
Are they really pursuing righteousness?
What is law of righteousness?
Did Israel attain the righteousness?
Why Israel didn't attain the righteousness?
How then Israel seek the righteousness?
Why Israel could not attain righteousness by keeping the law?
Can anyone receive/reach righteousness by keeping the law/commandment?
Is there anyone received/reached God expected righteousness by keeping the law/commandment?
Why no one can reach righteousness by keeping the law/commandment?
What righteousness we all need to enter into heave or to get saved?
How do we obtain that?
What did God do to Israel even though they reject God?
How this helps Israel to turn to Jesus?
Application:
Did you receive or attain righteousness of God?
How did you receive righteousness of God?
Are you trying to attain/earn righteousness of God by keeping the law/commandments?
Have you received/attained righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ?
Are you approaching God by your works?
Are you approaching God by faith?
Are you pleasing God by your works or by your faith?