The problem is that Calvimists partake of Romans 9 much like a kid eats an Oreo cookie. The Oreo cookie has two hard chocolate outside pieces but in the middle there is the sweet white icing. For kids the two outside chocolate ends are a little boring so they go right for their favorite part which is the sweet white icing in the middle. Many kids simply twist off one of the chocolate ends and then scrape the icing off with their teeth and then leave the chocolate ends sitting on the table.
The purpose of my two part blog series on Romans 9 is to refute what Calvinism teaches about Romans 9 because it is simply exegetical malfeasance and if one knows how to study scripture then this abuse of Romans 9 cannot and must not be believed. In this article (Part 1), I will deal with the context of Romans 9. In Part 2 I will confront Calvinism's sweet white icing in the middle of the passage and show a multitude of errors that Calvinists use to make Romans 9 their greatest proof text. Also in Part 2, I will show why the middle verses of Romans 9 prove nothing about Calvinism or their pet doctrine "unconditional election". I'll tear the middle verses apart verse by verse so that it will be clearly seen what these verses are saying and it will be in full context of Romans 9. Brace yourself now because I am about to share a plethora of scriptures.
The full context of Romans 9 is clearly about Israel and the Gentiles. What then is the middle of Romans 9 about? The answer is: Israel and the Gentiles. One cannot simply pull scriptures willy-nilly from the middle of context and then build a major doctrine with it. This is irresponsible exegesis and yet this is what Calvinism does with Romans 9. I now go through Romans 9, verse for verse:
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
In verses 1 through 5 Paul does two things. First he lays out all that was given to the people of Israel by God. Everything had been given to them including the adoption to sonship and the divine glory. Secondly Paul lays out his heart for his Jewish brothers. Paul goes so far to say that he wished he would be accursed in order that all his kinsmen from Israel's heritage would know Christ and not be lost. Does this sound like Paul believed in unconditional election? If so, he was disagreeing out loud with God for not choosing all of Israel. Instead Paul is lamenting the fate of Israel which had been God's elect nation but was now falling short due to their unbelief. Make no mistake. Romans 9 starts out with nothing outside of the plight of Israel. Moving on:
In verses 6 through 11 Paul continues with his concern over Israel and he tells the story of God's promise and Abraham's seed. Once again, Roman 9 from verses 1 through 11 is about Israel.6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (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;)
Is it any surprise that verses 12 through 16 continue with the theme of Israel and is about the key players in Israel's history and lineage? NOTE: We have just hit the part that Calvinists like to use but please see that these verses are simply the continuation of Paul's comments on ISRAEL.12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
I will fully debunk the verses above in Part 2 of my two part series but for now please note that these verses are about Israel.
Paul still has not changed his subject. These verses are still about Israel and also now mentions Gentiles too. He speaks about Pharoah and God's mercy. Verses 23 and 24 are about God offering salvation to the Gentiles and not about people in general. We'll dissect the verses above in great detail in Part 2 and show the errors of Calvinism.17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Anybody who can take what Paul wrote above and twist it to make it about God having some kind of strange unconditional election is truly pursuing a most desperate agenda.
Note: This ends the white sweet icing part that Calvinist's emphasize. Now we are on to the part that they ignore again. Hello chocolate end!
No surprise here but the preceding verses are all about Israel again. All of Romans 9 is on the same subject. Verse 25 shows that God changes his elect out. Israel was once his chosen people but now they which were beloved become the not beloved. Verse 27 truly proves Calvinism "unconditional election" as false. Remember Israel was God's elect all through the Old Testament yet only some of them are saved verse 27. So only some of God's elect are saved? This verse and the above passage proves Calvinism is a farce.25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Okay already---broken record! The final passage is about Israel too. Who would have guessed? In verse 30 Paul shows how the Gentiles who were not following after righteousness now can openly come to God's righteousness by faith. Then verse 31 shows that Israel fell short of what it was called to. Why? Verse 32 spells it out. Israel was rejected by God because they stumbled over the stumblingstone which required faith. Verses 30, 32 and 33 all make it clear that Israel was rejected by God because they did not come to faith. These final verses prove that Romans 9 is about Israel and their rejection of him because of faith. Calvinists never quote these last verses. Why? Because they clearly show the importance of man believing. It is faith which completes a man's election and this is Paul's wonderful message here. Calvinists believe that man gets faith after he gets saved but Romans 9 makes mincemeat out of this wayward doctrine.30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Hebrews 3:16-19 proves the exegesis above:
16 Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? 17 But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.Not Done: Romans 10 Must Be Reviewed Too!
But we are not done because we also must consider the first few verses of Romans 10 which continue Paul's thoughts on Israel which he started in Romans 9. Remember Paul wrote Romans as a letter and did not include chapter and verse. Romans 10 adds to Romans 9:
Then Paul proclaims clearly how people are saved in the following verses:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth.5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)In the verses above Paul wraps up his comments on Israel but he makes sure that he mentions once again the need for believing in verse 4 and for having faith in verse 6.
In the above, Paul changes gears having finished his teaching on Israel and the Gentiles. He segues into the truth about how people are saved. Verses 9, 10, and 11 are about personal salvation and applies to all men. Paul does not mention election let alone unconditional election. In fact, Paul uses the word "whosoever" two times in verses 11 and 13 which indicates that salvation is now available to all men. He speaks about men calling on God and this is how they are saved in verse 13. Finally, in beautiful fashion Paul lays out the need for the preaching of the gospel in both verse 9 and verse 15.8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
In concluding Part 1, it should be abundantly clear that Romans 9 proves nothing for Calvinism or their pet doctrine of unconditional election. Romans 9 is about God's dealings with Israel and the Gentiles. It is about Israel not moving in faith and Paul makes it clear in both Romans 9 and 10 that one must have faith to be saved.
Romans 9 is not an Oreo cookie at all. It has the same substance from top to bottom. What Calvinsm has done is make Romans 9 into something that it isn't. Romans 9 is a cookie of one
Please look for Part 2 which I will publish shortly. In Part 2 I will put great emphasis on explaining why the middle verses of Romans 9 that Calvinists use do not support unconditional election or Calvinism in any way.
Darrell Brantingham
(Check out my pithy tweets on Twitter @confrontcalvin).
