Romans 9:1-16 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Romans 9

God’s Sovereign Choice

1^(A) I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For^(B) I could wish that I myself were^(C) accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,^[a] my kinsmen^(D) according to the flesh. 4They are^(E) Israelites, and to them belong^(F) the adoption,^(G) the glory,^(H) the covenants,^(I) the giving of the law,^(J) the worship, and^(K) the promises. 5To them belong^(L) the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ^(M) who is God over all,^(N) blessed forever. Amen.

6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7and not all are children of Abraham^(O) because they are his offspring, but^(P) "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but^(Q) the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9For this is what the promise said:^(R) "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." 10And not only so, but^(S) also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of^(T) him who calls— 12she was told,^(U) "The older will serve the younger." 13As it is written,^(V) "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

14What shall we say then?^(W) Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15For he says to Moses,^(X) "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16So then it depends not on human will or exertion,^[b] but on God, who has mercy.

Both God's sovereignty and His justice ring true here. It's hard when you see difficult circumstances in life and you wonder what God is doing. This passage reminds me though that just as God is in control of our salvation, he's really in control of everything. Nothing will thwart his purposes. Nothing will stop him from doing what he has purposed to do. That brings great comfort. I can rest in that. I know my obligation is to live inside the bounds of God's Word and as long as I can do that, I can rest easy about everything else becuase I know its in God's control and I know I'm being obedient to his Word.

Romans 8:12-25 (English Standard Version)

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Heirs with Christ

12So then, brothers,^[a] we are debtors,^(A) not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you^(B) put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are^(C) led by the Spirit of God are^(D) sons^[b] of God. 15For^(E) you did not receive^(F) the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of^(G) adoption as sons, by whom we cry,^(H) "Abba! Father!" 16^(I) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then^(J) heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,^(K) provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time^(L) are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for^(M) the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation^(N) was subjected to futility, not willingly, but^(O) because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that^(P) the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that^(Q) the whole creation^(R) has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have^(S) the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(T) groan inwardly as^(U) we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,^(V) the redemption of our bodies. 24For^(W) in this hope we were saved. Now^(X) hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we^(Y) wait for it with patience.



We are not given a spirit of slavery to fall back into our old sin, but a spirit of adoption. The point is, God has given me everything I need to break the power and chains of sin in my life. Since being adopted as his son, I no longer am a slave to sin. I have the power to make the choice to please God with my choices instead of myself. In the heat of the moment, this is often hard for me to remember, but I'm going to try and meditate on this truth today so that when I am tempted, I will remember to choose to please God.