Romans 9:6-9:13

Children of Promise

The Book of Romans has been given some very lofty status among Bible scholars. It's even referred to, by some, as the "Magna Carta" of Christianity. Yet within the pages of Romans come some passages that leave a lot of people scratching their heads. Romans nine is one of them. It's part of God's word, so we need to understand what message Paul is conveying here.

  1. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
  2. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
  3. 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.
  4. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
  5. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
  6. (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;)
  7. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
  8. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.