Romans pt12: Election and Predestination. (Ro 9:6-14)
The Main issues in 9-11
It is popular to quote excerpts from Romans 9-11 in sermons about matters of reformed theology; individual salvation, predestination, salvific election, etc. But when we address these topics in individual verses removed from the context and dynamics of the church between Jews and Gentiles, we are in danger of missing the forest for the trees. But when we “read Romans backwards,” as Scot McKnight would say, we come to the realization that these three chapters are about one thing only: the faithfulness of God to his covenant with Israel.
The questions of Gods faithfulness to Israel comes from two main issues: (1) The Jewish people are not responding en masse to the coming of the Messiah, but (2) the Gentile are. So if Gods people don’t respond, then how can we say that God has been faithful to the covenant that he made with them in Genesis? And that is ultimately the question that Paul is trying to answer. So this is an attempt by Paul, a Jewish man, to make an argument that God has indeed been faithful and that God is indeed good despite their own personal circumstances. So let’s look at the first few questions.
“Has God Failed us?”
The first question that the Jewish Christians in Rome were asking is addressed starting in VS6:
6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. (Ro 9:6–7).
So he starts off with a simple one line answer and then explains how he knows this. The Jewish people believed that if you wanted to became one of Gods children, you had to be born into it. But Paul addresses that idea and says “thats not true, because if it was, then EVERYONE who was born into Israel would be a part of Israel, but we all know that this is not so!” There are, of course, many throughout the Old Testament that were born into the line of Abraham but who were not chosen by God to be a part of Israel.
And in case they are having a hard time remembering, Paul gives two examples:
“Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”” Ro 9:10–13
Here’s Pauls argument: Isaac and Rebekah have two sons — twins — Jacob and Esau. They were conceived at the same time, born one right after the other; the text says that Esau was born first, and that Jacob came right after him “with his hand grasping Esau’s heel” (Gen 25:26). Both of these boys were born into the people of Israel, neither of them had broken any Torah when they were born, they were both innocent children — and yet — God chose to use the younger one, Jacob, and not the older one, Esau.
Rebekah are not confused by Gods Choice. They do not question it. In fact, they knew beforehand that this was the case because the Lord had told them that he was going to be using the younger brother, the one of lower status, for his purposes. He literally tells them “The older will serve the younger” (Ge 25:23).
Paul main point is found in VS 10-12 that:
“before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” (Ro 9:11–12).
In other words, Gods choice on who he will use to do good in this world is not based upon anything they have done; None have earned the choice, but God knows this and chooses them anyways.
THIS is the context in which we find Pauls writings about Election and Predestination, so lets have a quick discussion about what these terms mean in light of what we see when we read Romans backwards.
Election & Predestination
Debates about election and free-will are always a popular pastime in evangelical circles. Luther’s Reformation in the early 16th century centered Romans as the text that they would anchor all of their arguments on. The problem, however, is that the reformers misread Romans, believing it to be a book about personal salvation (a topic that was very important to their cause against the Pope Leo X), and so despite their best efforts, they often came to conclusions about the text that were mis-steps. Again, if you read Romans from the beginning, without any context, it can be interpreted to say that God chooses or elects or even predestines people before they are born. But a big question we need to ask is: “What is God choosing/electing/predestining people FOR?”
Context always determines our reading, and in Martin Luthers day the main debate happening in the world was about wether or not the Pope could let your dead relative out of eternal conscious torment in the lake of fire if you gave money to the church. Obvious grift is obvious. And so when heaven and hell are the topic of conversation, every passage in the text becomes a passage about how to get out of hell and go to heaven. So when Luther reads Pauls passages about God “preparing people in advance for glory” (Ro 9:33), and talking about “The elect among them” (Ro 11:7), he can’t help but see an argument about heaven and hell. Luther would say “God chooses who goes to eternal punishment and who does not, not the Pope. The sinner is not even capable of choosing God on their own unless God draws them in first!” And that is indeed the reformed Calvinist perspective.
The reformers did some very important things, but they were not perfect and they likely misread Romans. This is not a book about personal salvation, and if we make it a book about personal salvation, then it can never actually accomplish what it was designed for: to show us how Christlikeness heals our societal divisions so that Jesus can be the Lord of all..
I want to emphasize, this is not a liberal reading of the text. This is not some left wing interpretation. This is what Paul intended his letter to say and do. But too many wolves in the church today do not want you to read it this way, because they do not want societal boundaries taken down because their power depends upon Romans book being about personal salvation and nothing else.
Why Does God Choose People?
I once had a conversation with an older man who put some of this in perspective for me.
He said “what is your daily routine for growth?” I was like 24, and I remember talking about how I read every day, I try and pray and I try to resist sin… and he interrupted me and said “Why? What’s the point? Why are you doing all that?” And I said “because I want to grow.” He pressed again and said “why do you want to grow?” And I responded “So that I can be ready to serve when God calls me!”
I remember feeling really good about that answer; it felt really spiritual and I was sure this man was going to be impressed.
But then he smiled and said “And what if God chooses to use someone who doesn’t do any of that? What if God chooses a real jack-ass, someone who doesn’t read or study at all, someone who drinks a little too much, who is not an upstanding citizen, maybe even someone with a bad reputation?”
I thought to myself “God would never do that.”
The man said “The idea that you can control God’s choosing, that you somehow will be picked over others, that somehow you are worthy and others are not is the exact reason Paul wrote half of the book of Romans.”
Election is about undermining earthly power and emphasizing the power of God which doesn’t even require the pious participation of the person!
Eventually I came to the realization that I was only trying to live like a Christian for Gods favor, I was tithing, I was remaining pure, I was not doing any of the things that I was told not to do… so that I would earn the approval of God and inclusion in his work… what an oppressive burden to live under!
“Then what is the point of holy living?” I asked, and now I know:
Jesus came so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
Wisdom and Christlikeness are the gift of Jesus and the Spirit to make us whole; to brings our relationships to flourish, bring our community new life, and cause love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to abound!
Tell me you don’t want that! Point me to a human who doesn’t want that!
God chose a people because he chooses people. He chooses the weaker, the younger brother, women, immigrants, and farmers to do his work throughout the scriptures, but rarely those who deserve it… so that there is nothing to boast about.
Perhaps Gods election is also his instruction: when you find someone in the church who you think doesn’t belong, THAT is precisely why God has brought them here. Neither you nor they have anything to boast about. We must love indiscriminately.
This is the mind of Christ. This should be the mind of his people.
Discussion Questions:
Have you ever seen very ungodly people do very godly things?
How did you respond? Jealousy, or celebration?
If you are striving to be Christlike, ask yourself why.
What is it that you are expecting from God?
Are you seeking holy living for Gods approval, or for abundant life?
Has God ever used you to do something extraordinary when you clearly understood that you were undeserving of it?
How can we, as beneficiaries of Gods elect grace, practice Gods grace in our own communities?