The Sovereignty of God in Election & Restoration:

The 9^th, 10^th & 11^th chapters of Romans form the 2^nd great section of this epistle. The 1^st section, chapters 1 – 8, teach justification by faith by the Grace of God apart from works, common to all, whether Jew or Gentile. The problem of how to reconcile this with the special privileges granted to the Nation of Israel as outlined in the Old Testament (OT) is resolved with the doctrine or teaching of the Sovereignty of God in Election and Restoration * in this 2^nd section.

Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, exemplifies Israel’s Election and Restoration. Prior to the Lord Jesus Christ appearing to him on the road to Damascus, Acts 9, he was a lost sinner, albeit a very religious Jew. In his unbelief, he represented Israel as a Pharisee, Philippians 3:4 – 6; Acts 26:4 – 5. According to Thayer the Pharisees were a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books, they recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, such as ceremonial washings, fasting’s, prayers, and alms giving, priding in their fancied good works. They believed in the existence of good and evil angels and expected a Messiah; and hoped that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Harrods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country’s cause, and possessed great influence with the common Jewish people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000 and were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause.

Saul had imprisoned Jews who believed Jesus was Israel’s Messiah, forcing them to blaspheme and testified at trials that convicted them to death, Acts 26:9 – 11. During Saul/Paul’s ministry the Nation of Israel was set aside because of their unbelief and the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles (almost 2000 years ago now), Acts 28:25 – 28. When Saul was saved and became the Apostle Paul, he represented God’s sovereignty in election and restoration. It was by no initiative whatsoever on Saul’s part that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared from heaven and saved him, Acts 9:1 – 8. Paul was chosen/elected as a vessel to carry the Lord Jesus Christ’s name to the Gentiles, Kings and the Children of Israel, Acts 9:15. Thus Paul testified: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” Romans 11:1.

Paul clearly understood that everything he previously held dear as a Pharisee was absolutely worthless, Philippians 3:7 – 9, when he came to know the Lord Jesus Christ and understand what Christ had done on the cross for Israel and the Gentiles, Romans 3:21 – 24. However, even though he came to know his transgressions were forgiven he must have felt remorse for his past actions as a Pharisee. He knew how unbelieving Jews thought and acted; blind to the truth of Jesus Christ and so he wrote that his heart was continually heavy with sorrow and he wished, if possible, that he could be accursed from Christ for his Jewish kinsmen, Romans 9:1 – 3.

Romans 9:4 – 5 recounts: God’s adoption of Israel, they were reckoned as His son, Exodus 4:22; that Israel experienced God’s Glory, Exodus 16:10; Exodus 24:16 – 17; Exodus 29:43; Exodus 40:34 – 38; God’s covenants made exclusively with Israel’s fathers Abraham and Isaac, Genesis 17:9 – 11; Genesis 17:21; that they were promised many blessings, Genesis 32:27 – 28; and they had been entrusted with God’s Holy Law and the service of God, Exodus 24:12; Exodus 28, 29 & 30. In spite of all these privileges, most in Israel rejected their Messiah in unbelief; but “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.” Romans 9:6a. The argument here is that God’s Word did not return void as rejected or ineffectual and without effect just because Israel rejected their Messiah in unbelief and was cast off for a time; “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” Romans 9:6b. The former Israel in this phrase refers to the true spiritual seed of Israel; the latter denotes Israel according to the flesh, the natural descendants from Israel’s loins. In fact, for the last 2000 years, there is a remnant of Israel as well as a people from among the Gentiles for His name, according to the election of grace. In other words, since that time almost 2000 years ago when the Nation of Israel was set side, both Jews and Gentiles have been saved into the Body of Christ by God’s grace through faith, Romans 3:28 – 30; Romans 9:24; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 2:8 – 9.

And for almost 2000 years now, every individual who has believed the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4, whether Jew or Gentile has been saved into the Body of Christ. God chose the Apostle Paul as the first of all who have followed: “And I (Paul) thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” 1 Timothy 1:12 – 16.

Our text continues that all Israelites were not God’s children just because they descended from Abraham, Romans 9:7a; but in Isaac the promised seed was called, Romans 9:7b. Those merely children of Abraham’s flesh were not the children of God, Roman 9:8a: “but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:8b. God promised Abraham and Sara they would have a son, Romans 9:9; that being Isaac, the promised seed. There is no question as to the sovereignty of God in Isaac’s birth because Sarah was far beyond normal childbearing years when God empowered her to conceive him. Then, God’s sovereignty and choice was further displayed when Rebecca conceived twins by Isaac, Romans 9:10. “(For the children [Esau & Jacob] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” Romans 9:11. I’ve highlighted the word “election” in this verse because it indicates God chose or elected Jacob before he and his older twin Esau were born. The Greek word translated election is “ekloge” (G1589), found 7 times in the New Testament (NT), 7 being the number for Spiritual perfection in Scripture. The King James (KJV) translates it “election” 6 times and once as “chosen.”

The one time “ekloge” is translated “chosen” is the first time it occurs in the NT in the account of Saul’s salvation experience: “But the Lord said unto him, (Ananias) Go thy way: for he (Saul, later Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15. It’s translated “election” in the following 6 passages:

• Concerning God’s choice of Jacob, the younger twin, over Esau: “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” Romans 9:11.
• About Israel, Paul wrote: “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Romans 11:5.
• “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” Romans 11:7.
• “As concerning the gospel, they (Israel) are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they (Israel) are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” Romans 11:28.
• “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4.
• And from the Apostle Peter: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” 2 Peter 1:10.

Six times the Greek word “ekloge” refers to Israel as God’s chosen/elected and once, in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 it refers to Gentiles (although there were probably some individual Jews also saved in the Thessalonica church.) The Greek Lexicon and Concordance defines “ekloge” as “a picking out, selection, then, selection made, that which is chosen.” Faith comes to us by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:17; faith is believing and all who truly believe the Gospel are saved, Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; Romans 10:13; Acts 16:30 – 31; Ephesians 2:8 – 9. After we come to believe, it is a wonderful blessing to learn we were picked out/selected/chosen by God!

* George Williams’ The Complete Bible Commentary, page 866.