JIM
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Are you sure that is not the same now?That is true in the sense of election. Although I disagree with your reductive view of spiritual Israel. And the reductive statement "Jews who share Abraham's faith in the God of salvation." Yes that was true in the OT, before the advent of Christ, but Paul is writing to believers (and not only Jewish believers) after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Therefore central to his message is that the only way to God and to be reconciled to Him, is through faith in the person and work of Christ. All the Jews believed in God, the one true God. It was their actions that showed their lack of faith---they were disobedient.
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
It seems that both Paul and Peter have warned about the failure to obey the gospel and the consequences of that failure. But logical implication is the need for and the benefit accrued in obeying the gospel.
I would maintain that the only real difference between salvation received from God for those of the OT and those of the NT is that for the OT saints it was a belief, their faith, in God and the promised messiah and for the NT saints it is a belief, their faith, in God and the received messiah. It is and always has been salvation by grace through faith.
No, that is not what Paul is saying. Nowhere do we read that any believe God because God has elected them. I know that is your interpretation of election. And you need to believe that because of your adherence to the doctrine of Total Depravity. But I reject that false doctrine of election.Back to subject: The chapter is about election. That is clear. So even if you were correct, Paul is saying that those who believe, believe because God has elected them for mercy through faith. Why would that be any different for the Gentiles. It is God's election of persons that is demonstrated in the chapter. Mercy of whoever he shows mercy on. Not mercy on whatever he shows mercy on. It is about those who believe and those who do not believe.
Yes but what did it have to do with Paul's topic at hand.Because that is where God said it.
But the mercy and hardening that is being spoken of there in verses 16-18 is not salvation. That should be obvious in the reference to Pharoah. You can assume all you want about Pharoah's ultimate end in the next life, but that is not what is being talked about in Romans 9. The only reference to Pharoah in Romans 9 is God's dealing with him in reference to setting the Hebrews free and all the events leading up to that.You can interpret it that way if you want to but I see no reason to. It simply fits what you already believe. The verse quoted by Paul is a statement God made that is always true everywhere and on every occasion. Paul was applying it directly to what he said in verse 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
God's sovereignty is really a separate topic for a separate occasion. But, for now, I will reject the Reformed Theological position of God's sovereignty as the mover and shaker of every last thing that is and has happened. That God's will includes both His causative will and His permissive will.Paul is not discussing God's sovereign election in some things some times, but in everything all the time. That is what sovereign means with God as our Sovereign over all creation.
God chose ethnic Israel. Time and again God showed mercy on the entire nation bringing them back into His good graces. The mercy shown in those instances was not limited to the remnant which were eventually saved.The Paul is making is not about nations, he is using something they are familiar with as a demonstration of God's sovereign election. He is not isolating that to Israel alone. Nothing we find in the NT about salvation will support that. It is those things you do not seem to be considering. The number of times the NT uses the word "elect" and words of the same or similar meaning (called, chosen, election) in reference to individual persons, are too numerous to post. God elects, chooses, calls, those who He shows mercy on. And when those words (and others) are used, the mercy is always saving mercy.
It most certainly is what Paul is writing about. The complaint of the Jews is that throughout Paul's ministry he preached against the Jews who rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ and the cross. They claimed that they were God's chosen people and as such were to be given God's salvation. Paul is disputing that. That is the whole point of what Paul is writing about. The Jews were used by God to bring Jesus Christ into the world. Some of those were saved but most were not. And as Paul pointed out, "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel". That is, God has not failed in His promises to Israel.That is beside the point. It is not what Paul is writing about.
Well yes, all who think Romans 9 is about God's election for salvation generally make that claim either directly or indirectly. Yes, what is in view is His power and His sovereignty. But it can only be in view in terms of His dealing with the physical, earthly events of this life. There is no view to be had in His power and His sovereignty as it relates to the next life. That simply is not available to view. It is not in view now and it is not in view in the history of Israel. It is only on selected occasions does it ever speak of who are saved and who are not.Did someone say it was? What is in view is His power and His sovereignty...
We "view" the history of God's dealing with Israel through what He has revealed for us in the Bible. We either believe that history or we do not. If we do, then that is the basis for our believing what He has revealed for us. Paul, in the next chapter demonstrates that and declares that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17).