Romans 11:1–10

¹ I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ³ “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? ⁴ But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. ⁷ What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. ⁸ Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.” ⁹ And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. ¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

Commentary
Vs. 1-5 With the Apostle Paul having given such a strong rebuke of Israel's disobedience and then citing several Scriptural passages as prophetic evidence against them. One might wrongly assume that God has cast away His people. Yet God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. For as the Apostle Paul now declares, "I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." vs. 1  The very fact than that the Apostle Paul being a Jew was saved by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is evidential proof enough that God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew (vs. 2). Rather just as in the Old Testament times when Israel was at the height of their rebellion against, and apostasy from God, and God reserved for Himself seven thousand individuals who did not bow the knee to Baal. So it is is now that God has reserved for Himself a believing remnant in Israel who themselves believe or will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus as God preserved the nation of Israel back in the days of Elijah through a chosen and faithful remnant, so He continues to do so now. For just as they tore down God's altars and killed God's prophets in the days of Elijah, even seeking to kill that righteous man (vs. 3, quoting from 1 Kings 19:10, 14), so they continue to do so now, even crucifying God's Son as well as persecuting and killing His Apostles and prophets who have been sent to them by Him (consider Jesus' parable in Matthew 21:33-46). Nonetheless God always preserves for Himself a witness in and amongst and through His people. Therefore the Apostle Paul rightly sees a parallel between God's working out His Will and plans (in the midst of their rebellion) both then and now, as he states in verse five, "Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." 

And so here again Paul picks up the Scriptural theme of election, which he introduced and elucidated to us in chapter nine. His point in doing so here is to show us that God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew, rather by drawing a parallel from the O.T. and their apostasy then, the Apostle Paul now demonstrates that God has also reserved for Himself a remnant according to the election of grace.

Vs. 6  "And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." 

This is arguably one of the most clear statements in the N.T. about the nature of God's salvation. Drawing an unpassable demarcation line between works and grace. Therefore those who seek salvation by their own works (which neither remits any of their their sins, nor brings them to Spirit life) can be God's remnant according to the election of grace. Therefore let no one who calls themselves a Christian (whether a Jew or a Gentile) try to combine God's grace with the works of man, since the two are utterly incompatible, and when combined, completely hostile to the cross of Christ. Thus they are presented here to us in verse nine unmistakably juxtaposed to each other, so that there is no confusion as to how salvation comes to us all who believe. For God commands all people everywhere to look to the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins remission and thus too receive everlasting life through faith in Him, and thus to trust what He has done to save us the moment we believe in Him, not what we do to try to save ourselves. And so it is through the Gospel of Christ that God's Everlasting Work and Righteousness stands forever juxtaposed to perishable mankinds. Thus God's choosing the remnant here has nothing to do with their own works, righteousness, or anything else about them. God simply chooses us in Christ before the foundation of the world, and so there is no inequity, since the selection is by God alone, according to His own Sovereign Will and Grace. 

Vs. 7-8 ⁷ What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. ⁸ Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”

And so it is that Israel in seeking salvation through works of the Law, and thus apart from Christ, have not attained too what it seeks, but the elect, i.e. those elected by God, have attained it, while the rest were blinded. Now the word translated blinded here means "to wound" or "to harden", and thus make one incapable of seeing (and thus receiving) the Spiritual truths and realities that are only found through faith in Jesus Christ (see Jesus' warning to them in John 12:35-40). Thus Israel in not receiving Christ, and instead turning back to the Law, has by God's Will been blinded to the truth (something that can happen to anyone else as well who does not receive the love of the truth but chooses to continue on in their sins, see 1 Thess 2:9-12). Now as a confirmation of this reality and current state of Israel, the Apostle Paul will now cite from Deuteronomy 29:3-4 and Isaiah 29:10 in verse eight where it is stated that God has given them a "spirit of stupor", eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, even to this day. Now this spirit of stupor that God has given them has some very negative connotations, but at the heart of it all is a state of being in which one's heart and mind is completely "numbed" and "dumbed" to the Spiritual things of God, and so they are in effect spiritually discerned (see 1 Cor 2:14).  Thus God has removed from them the ability to reason out within their hearts and minds anything right and sound about Jesus, and thus receive His salvation for themselves. For in rejecting God's light and revelation through His Son, and instead having sought salvation for themselves through the works of their own hands, God has given them over to minds of utter insensibility regarding His Spiritual Works and Ways. Enhanced Strong's give this as a definition for the “spirit of stupor”. That "which renders their souls torpid so insensible that they are not affected at all by the offer made them of salvation through the Messiah."

Vs. 9-10 ⁹ And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. ¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

The Apostle Paul having cited first Moses (Rom 10:19; 11:8), then Isaiah (Rom 10:20-21; 11:8), then Elijah (Rom 11:2), will now cite David (Rom 11:9-10). All as God's Scriptural witnesses against unbelieving and unrepentant Israel. Now the passage is taken from Psalm 69:22-23, a psalm in which David as the king of the nation of Israel experiences through his own life a terrible betrayal by some of his own countrymen (and thus calls for God to execute His vengeance) that also prophetically foretells Israel's King the Lord Jesus Christ, for whom David's throne was birthed and established by God to do the same. For it was Israel who having rejected their Messiah who sought to put Him to death through the hands of the Gentile's who then ruled them. And so here David's words are in fact Christ's own against all those who though being Jews have rejected Him and have not received all of God's promised Spiritual blessings and Kingdom privileges that can only come through Him. 

I will now cite from the Believers Bible Commentary which states: "David, too, anticipated the judgment of God on Israel. In Psalm 69:22, 23 he described the rejected Savior as calling on God to turn their table into a snare and a trap. The table here means the sum total of the privileges and blessings which flowed through Christ. What should have been a blessing was turned into a curse. In the Psalms passage, the suffering Savior also called on God to let their eyes be darkened and their bodies bent over as by toil or in old age (or, their loins made to shake continually)."

Therefore in light of such things no one should take God's offer of salvation through faith in His Son lighty. Rather through repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ escape the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10).

Scriptural Quotations

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Word Studies
Vs. 7 blinded, πωρόω, πηρόω Str 4456; GK 4800 and 4386; TDNT 5:1025; TDNTA 816; LN 27:51 (Mark 6:52; John 12:40; Rom 9:18; 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:14) 5x
Vs. 8 stupor, κατάνυξις, Str 2659; GK 2919; TDNT 3:626; TDNTA 419; LN 30:19 (1x) Appears only in Romans 11:8. Enhanced Strong's give this as a definition for the “spirit of stupor”, that "which renders their souls torpid so insensible that they are not affected at all by the offer made them of salvation through the Messiah."

Additional Resources Consulted 
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1724). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 483). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 817). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 332). New York: United Bible Societies.

Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Romans 10:14–21

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 unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” ¹⁹ But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” ²⁰ But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” ²¹ But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Commentary

Vs. 14-15 Following up on his exhortation and Scriptural quotation that "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom 10:13 The Apostle Paul now reiterates that preaching the Gospel is paramount for us who believe, as he says: "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?" vs. 14 First and foremost then is that everyone, everywhere hear what God has done for them through the Lord Jesus Christ so that they might believe in Him, and thus be saved by Him, when they call upon Him. Yet without a preacher first declaring the Lord Jesus Christ's mortal life, crucifixion death, resurrection from the dead, and ascension back to heaven. How can anyone call upon Him, and thus be saved by Him, unless they are first told about Him? As the Apostle says how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach unless they are sent? And so it is that we who believe in Jesus have not only been saved from our sins and the wrath to come by His crusifixion death and resurrection from the dead and our faith in Him. But we have also been sent by Him to go out into the world to preach the Gospel of peace to one and to all. For the being sent here is in no way (or anywhere else in the Gospel) a restricted call to just a "select" few. Nor is the preaching of the Gospel something that only takes place within the confines of a church buildings walls. For Jesus didn't just preach in synagogues, or the Temple courtyard. Jesus taught and preached the Kingdom of heaven wherever He went, and to whomever He met. From the pinnacles of power in major cities like Capernaum and Jerusalem, to a small fishing vessel anchored a few meters off the shoreline to the eager and inquisitive listeners who gathered on the shore to hear Him, too the grassy hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and the many remote villages and places that He and His disciples visited, too even far off and distant places and lands like Tyre and Sidon. Wherever Jesus went there He preached the Gospel to one and to all. Yet far to many believers and even congregations are now shunning their royal duty and God given call by the Lord by not actively participating in His glorious work wherever He may be working, and through whatever mediums He chooses to use to reach people with the Gospel through. For that is the church's first and foremost mandate, and that is our mandate as believers in, and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Make Christ known to one and to all to the exclusion of no-one. And thus make disciples of one and all who believe in Him (Matt 28:18-20). For Christ crucified and risen from the dead for the remission of our sins with new and everlasting by faith in Him transcends every nation, language, culture and person in every generation, because it reaches to the core of our greatest human need, and that is our being reconciled to God. Everything then that church does, or even we do as individual believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should have that as our prime focus, ultimate desire, and life-long goal, to make Christ known during our lives sojourn down here. I simply cannot stress this enough for both individual believers and the collective Body of Christ, whether this is a local church, Bible study group, worship team, or whatever activities or ministries you participate in, (or whatever else you do inside or outside of the church) make it your purpose and goal in life to make the Lord Jesus Christ known that people might believe and thus receive everlasting life by faith in Him. Just as the Scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Vs. 16  ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 

Here the Apostle Paul reveals Israel's ongoing obstinacy towards the will of God for them, that is to receive His Salvation for them by faith in His Son (John 6:29). Now it's not that Israel was not foretold about Christ's coming and His bringing salvation to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him (see Romans 9:23-26). For just as the Old Testament Scriptures are loaded with many references to Jesus' Person, Purpose and Life (Deuteronomy 18:18; Judges 13:5; Psalm 2:7-9; 40:6-8; 45:6-7; 110:4; 118:22-23; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-2; 6-7; 11:1-2; 16:5; 42:1-4; 48:16; 49:1-6; 61:1-2; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13). So they also foretell His Crucifixion death (Isaiah 52:13-53-13; Psalm 22:1, 18) and His Resurrection from the dead, even His Ascension back to God the Father (Psalm 68:18; 110:1-2) etc. Therefore Israel has no excuse for not knowing the Lord Jesus Christ when He was so clearly foretold to them, and then so clearly revealed and manifested amongst them. Instead in their own hearts and minds they turned back to Moses and Law and thus sought and are still seeking righteousness with God by that, instead of having the righteousness which only comes from God by faith in Jesus' Person. For though some in Israel did indeed believe, many more did not. Which is why the Apostle Paul is quoting from Isaiah 53:1 in verse sixteen, for even in his own ministering of the Gospel to them he often found much antagonism and hostile towards our Lord and Savior and King. Though the passage is in no way limited to them, since unbelieving Gentiles are just as guilty in this as well, in not believing the Gospel's message to them, and thus in not obeying it's call to repent and believe as well. Yet the Gospel is being preached everywhere, in every generation, offering God's eternal salvation to one and to all who will repent and believe (Acts 20:21). 

Vs. 17-18 ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

Therefore in response to their hardness of heart, in not hearing, and thus obeying the Gospel. The Apostle Paul now says in verse seventeen that, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". For it is the Word of God that alone reaches to the depths of every human heart, mind, and soul (Heb. 4:12). Yet one can harden themselves to it, can shut up their ears from hearing it, and thus not believe it. And so it is with Israel to this present day, they wouldn't here the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Prophet when He was sent to them (Deut. 18:18-19), and so they are to this Day still alienated from God, as is everyone else who will not hear Him. Now in response to his saying that faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from the Word of God. The Apostle Paul anticipating a possible objection to this, that maybe Israel was not given adequate opportunity to hear Him, and thus believe in the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Paul now rhetorically asks in verse 18, "have they not heard". Meaning has it not been declared to them, what God did for them, through His Son Jesus? To which their is but one response, Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Therefore in quoting from Psalm 19:4, the Apostle Paul is making it abundantly clear that God's revelation of His Son and Person is in no way a hidden thing. For just as God gives direct testimony to us all of Himself through all of His creation, so He has in these last Days given direct Revelation and Testimony to us all about His Son. Therefore neither the Jews nor the Gentiles have any excuse for not "hearing", and thus believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Vs. 19-21¹⁹ But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” ²⁰ But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” ²¹ But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

The Apostle Paul now turns his reasoning towards another possible objection for justifying Israel's ongoing disobedience, that is that Israel though they had the Gospel preached to them they did not know that God was going to offer salvation to the Gentiles by faith as well. Which again he thoroughly rebukes by quoting the Scriptures, specifically citing Moses to whom they all look, yet who himself by the Spirit of God says to them all, “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” (quotation Deut. 32:21; also see Acts 28:28). Thus the very people the Jews held in contempt for their ignorance of the One true God, have now by the Will of God become the people to which God has given salvation too.
Yet the Apostle Paul does not stop there, for Isaiah the prophet is also very bold in declaring this when he says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” (vs. 20, quoting from Isaiah 65:1). And so it is the Gentiles who did not seek God by their own works of the law (as the Israelites have always done and continue to do) have found God, and have received His salvation for them by believing in His Son's Person. And so it is that God also says through Isaiah the prophet to Israel, “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.” (vs. 21, quoting from Isaiah 65:2). For they are and continue to be contrary to God by being disobedient to the very Gospel which was first sent to them, but was never to be exclusively for them. Yet God has not shut them out of His salvation plans, but as stated early because of their obstinacy and ongoing disobedience which He foresaw, He has now given salvation to the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy, to turn them back to Himself through the very people they once scorned. For the believing Gentiles have now surpassed them in righteousness and thus now have a justified standing with God by faith In Christ. Therefore Israel in pursuing the law of righteousness have not attained to righteousness because they did not seek it faith but rather by works of the law (Rom 9:33). And so it is even to this day that God's chosen people remain alienated from God because they have not believed, and thus do not obey the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom God's Righteousness comes to one and to all who believe in Him (2 Cor 5:21).  The only question remains then have you received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith into your heart life or are you still trying to earn God's salvation for yourself like the Israelites are still doing. Looking to Moses and the Law for a justified standing with God, yet neither Moses nor the Law can save them, only Christ crucified can and their faith in Him (John 3:15-16). Therefore believe the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus Christ today! (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20).

Word Studies
Vs. 21 disobedient, ἀπειθέω, vb.; Str 544; GK 578; TDNT 6.10; TDNTA 818; LN 31.107; 36.23 (15x)
N.T. NKJ usages:
"does not believe" John 3:36
"unbelieving" Acts 14:3
"who were not persuaded" Acts 17:3
"did not believe" Acts 19:9
"do not obey" Rom 2:9
"disobedient" Rom 10:21
"disobedient" Rom 11:30
"disobedient" Rom 11:31
"do not believe" Rom 15:31
"did not obey" Heb 3:18
"did not believe" Heb. 11:31
"who are disobedient" 1 Peter 2:7
"being disobedient" 1 Peter 2:8
"do not obey" 1 Peter 3:1
"were disobedient" 1 Peter 3:20
"do not obey" 1 Peter 4:17

Even at a glance one can see the connection between unbelief and disobedience. Just as the distinction between unbelief and disobedience is often indistinguishable with this words usage in the N.T. and is often only clarified by the translators choice for one or other as each context demands.

Vs. 21 contrary, ἀντιλέγω, vb., Str 473; GK 515; LN. 33.455 (11x)
N.T. NKJ usages:
"which will be spoken against" Luke 2:34
"deny" Luke 20:27
"to contradict" Luke 21:15
"speaks against" John 19:12
"say nothing against it" Acts 4:14
"contradicting" Acts 13:45
"spoke against" Acts 28:19
"spoken against" Acts 28:22
"contrary" Rom 10:21
"contradict" Titus 1:9
"answering back" Titus 2:9

Note: This word means to strongly speak against, to oppose.


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). (Is 65:1–2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Additional Resources Consulted 
Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 481–482). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 467–468). New York: United Bible Societies.

Romans 10:1–13

¹ Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Commentary

Vs. 1 In previously stating that Israel has not obtained to the law of righteousness because they have stumbled at the stumbling stone the Apostle Paul was not condemning his fellow countrymen. For as He states here his desire is that they may be saved. 

Vs. 2 And so it is that Israel though having a zeal for God (by their fervently seeking to keep all the religious ordinances and ritual sacrifices and commanded Sabbath's and such that the law required of them) they did not have this zeal according to knowledge. For they made keeping all the ordinances and sacrifices and Sabbath's etc. the primary goal. Yet God gave them all of these to point them to Christ (Gal 3:24-25). Thus though their zeal is in one sense commendable, yet if it does not lead them or anyone else to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ then it is only leading them and those who follow them astray. For religious zeal without true knowledge of God is always perilous. 

Vs. 3-4 And so it is "...they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." 

Now it's not just Israel that is guilty of this, of seeking to establish their own righteousness, and thus not submitting to the righteousness of God by trying to do so. For within the very broad umbrella that is Christianity, there have also been doctrines and commandments and traditions of man that have been handed down to us, yet are not required of any of us. Even within the local church or parachurch ministries we can be guilty of this when we in our zeal for God, seek to establish our own righteousness, by making observing this non-Scriptural ordinance or not observing that apart of being in a right standing with God. All of which is only undermining the truth that being declared righteous by God is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by observing the doctrines, commandments and or preferences of man. As the Scripture says: "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Therefore where faith in the Lord Jesus Christ begins there the law ends as the means for being declared righteous by God (Rom 5:1, 6:14, 10:3-4).

Vs. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

Therefore the righteousness of the law is not something that someone should place any hope on. For the law states: “The man who does those things shall live by them.” Lev. 18:5 That is the person who seeks to be justified by God through the Law of God must keep all of it; without fail and without offense; otherwise that person will be charged with violating all of it (see James 2:13). Anyone then who thinks by keeping or having kept parts of it, whether this is the moral, ceremonial, or priestly aspects of it, that they will somehow have the "righteousness of the law" justify them, and thus have a right standing with God through it, are only deceiving themselves. For if you fail in one point, you have failed in all of it, and thus are under the curse of it, if you seek to be justified by it (see Gal 3:10-14). For God gave the Law through Moses as tutor (or guardian) which was in the fulfillment of time to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:19-25). He did not give it so that we would become self justifying through it. Rather through the law we should see our own fallen and sinful condition and thus seek God by faith, not works of the law, so that He might not only justify us, but ultimately change us (consider Luke 18:9-14).

Vs. 6-8 ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

Therefore in striking contrast to the righteousness which is of the law, which commands perfect and ongoing flawless obedience to it to maintain it, there is the righteousness of faith, which does not need us to do something to attain to it. (In regards to this see Rom 4:13-24, where Abraham attained to the righteousness of faith by believing God, and thus so do we when we do so as well. And Romans 9:30-33 where we believing Gentiles are commended because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, while Israel holding to the law have only stumbled at the stumbling stone, because they have not yet come to Christ which they must do if they hope to be justified by God). Now in regards to this the Apostle Paul will now quote from Law, where Moses is telling the Israelites that the Word of God is not far off from them, rather it is very near to us all. And so he says to us all through it, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). vs. 6-7
His point being that God having already seen our need for salvation, sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to suffer crucifixion death in our place (John 3:16). Thus with the Living Word of God having become Incarnate amongst us in mortal flesh (John 1:14), there is now no one who believes in Him who cannot now come to God through Him (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25). The Apostle Paul continues his exposition from the law, now looking at our other greatest need, the first being the atonement or expiation of all our sins, the second our being brought to Spiritual life with Christ, saying, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). And so this too is not something we need to strive and try to do for ourselves. Spiritual life (or being born again) is not something anyone need to strive for by trying to do various spiritual works and such. For God has already done this for us when He raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead to bring us to everlasting life with Himself, which happens the moment we believe in Him, the Holy Spirit being the Person of God who does that in us and for us (John 3:3-5) and thus seals us for eternity with Christ (2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30 etc.). Therefore the righteousness of faith speaks this way, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

Vs. 9-13 ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Therefore the word of faith is not asking us to do something, it is asking us to believe in Someone, the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done to save us, and then confess Him as Lord, for He transforms our persons and lives when we do. For those too things are the essential elements of salvation, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Scripture declares Him to be, and just what He has done for us all, and then confessing Him as Lord. For when one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ in one's heart one is declared righteous by God, and thus will never be put to shame for having believed God and His Living Word (vs. 10-11).  For God is the Just and the Justifier of everyone who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). Similarly having seen ones need for Christ and believing in Him always leads to calling on His Name, that is what is meant by confessing Jesus as Lord. It's not a "formula" for salvation, it's an essential part of receiving Him, asking Him to save one from one's sins and transgressions. For as the Apostle Paul declares here, in the eyes of God there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” vs. 12-13 

Therefore if you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and that after His crucifixion death God raised Him from the dead, then call upon and receive life everlasting for yourself through Him. For God is rich to all who call upon Him, for whoever calls upon Him shall be saved. 

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson

Romans 9:30-33

³⁰ What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; ³¹ but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. ³² Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. ³³ As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Commentary
And so it is that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith. That is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ every believing Gentile has attained to the righteousness that God requires of us all (Rom 5:1). While Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness, because they did not seek it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by works of the law. That is they in seeking to obtain too a righteous standing with God through their own obedience to the Law of God have not not obtained to a righteous standing with God. For the Law of God only places us all, whether Jew or Gentile, under sin (Rom 3:19:28, vs. 23) and thus justifies no-one, other than God who gave it. Therefore those who seek to be declared righteous by God through their own works, righteousness, obedience, zealousness etc., through the Law of God or anything else have not obtained too the righteousness that God requires of us all, because they are not seeking it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by works of the Law (consider Rom. 4:4-5; Eph. 2:8-9).  
Therefore the Gospel is God's Good News of His Righteousness imputed to us all who believe in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21). For salvation is and always will be of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), of what He has done to save us all who believe in His Son from the wrath to come (Rom 5:8-10; 1 Thess. 1:10). And so Israel in pursuing the law of righteousness have not obtained to the law of righteousness, because they did not seek it by faith, but rather by works of the law. Thus the Apostle Paul rightly says of his countrymen who have done so, and are continuing to do so, that they have stumbled at the stumbling stone (vs. 32). For the Lord Jesus Christ is the "stumbling stone and rock of offense" that God has laid in the heart of Judaism, in Zion. So that Jesus would become either the means of eternal salvation for them, and us all, or the means through which they would stumble and be caught by their own religious pride and zeal (consider Matt. 21:42-44; 1 Peter 2:6-8; and Phil 3:1-9, vs. 7-9, where the Apostle Paul renounces everything about himself that is not of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ). And so it is that Jesus has become, just as Isaiah the prophet foretold of Him, God's sole means of salvation for all who believe in Him, as the Scripture says: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Isaiah 28:16

Thus no one (no matter what they have done) who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will be put shame by God. For it will be the Lord Jesus Christ who will justify us all who believe in Him before God the Father. Therefore if you have not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart life then please do so now. By a simple prayer of faith, by believing in His Person and calling on His Name, you can have remission of all your sins and everlasting life. For Jesus has already suffered crucifixion death for us all, and thus has made atonement for us all. Then He having died in our place came back to life on the third day after His burial in a tomb, so that He can now impute His Righteousness and give everlasting life to everyone one of us who believe in Him. For apart from Him we are only dead in our sins and transgressions, and under the wrath of God. But through faith in Him, God not only bring us to life by His Holy Spirit, He also unites us with Himself and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. And so it is by faith in Jesus' Person we become a child of God (John 1:12).

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Romans 9:14–29

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” ¹⁸ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. ¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? ²² What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? ²⁵ As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” ²⁶ “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” ²⁷ Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. ²⁸ For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.” ²⁹ And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

Commentary

Vs. 14-16 The Apostle Paul now answers any objections to what he has already stated about God's election of individuals to be His own. Thus he begins by saying: ¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 

There is then no unrighteousness with God when He elects individuals to be His own. For God is Sovereign, and that means if He elects some to salvation while He rejects others, than God is perfectly just in His doing so, because He is God. Just as He said to Moses in revealing His Person to him; “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” (Exodus 33:19). Thus salvation is not something someone wills for themselves, nor is salvation something one earns for themselves (i.e. "him who runs") salvation is, and always will be, of God who shows mercy. Thus every child of God is chosen by the Sovereign Will of God (John 1:13; 6:37; 17:2). 

Vs. 17-18 ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” ¹⁸ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

The Apostle Paul now cites Pharaoh as a Biblical example of God's Sovereignty reaching even into the realms of a pagan ruler (who at the time was the most powerful ruler on earth). But who only became as much so that God could show His Power in him. That is when God hardened Pharaoh's heart and brought His plagues on Pharaoh and Egyptians, it was so that God's Power would be revealed to one and to all in him, that God's Name would be declared in all the earth. Thus whatever deity that was being ascribed to the Egyptian Pharaoh's, or power that was being ascribed to him or their "gods" at that time, it was completely crushed by the Divine Power and Revelation of Almighty God through him. "Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens." vs. 18

Vs. 19-21 ¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Here the Apostle Paul steps into the shoes of an unbeliever who reasons since no can resist God's Will, why does He then still find fault with them. In essence it is their assaulting the Sovereignty and Character of God by indirectly blaming Him for ones own unbelief and or wilful disobedience. Yet God's election of anyone does not make void ones own free-will to choose to believe and obey Him or not too. Everybody has a choice to believe and obey God or not too. Therefore if God finds fault with any of us, the fault is with us, not God (consider Job 42:1-6 and his repentance before Him). Therefore no one can justly reply against God, for that is only the creature in their pride exalting themselves above God the Creator and His Infinite Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding of all things, whose prerogative alone it is to make (and or remake) each one of us according to His own will and desires, whether for honor or dishonor (vs 19-20). Therefore to break this down for us, the Apostle Paul now uses the analogy of the potter and his clay to set this principle forth, saying, "Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" vs. 21
And so vessel here is a metaphor for our person. Thus God takes us as lumps of clay, yet unformed, and forms us into either vessels for honor or dishonor according to His own Sovereign Will (consider Isaiah 43:7). There is then no apology given for this, since we are all individually accountable to God for what we do, not for how we are made (Psalm 58:3; Isaiah 48:8; 2 Peter 2:9). 

Vs. 22-23 ²² What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 

The Apostle Paul now seeks to answer the question to reveal how God's wrath and His power is manifested through those who by their own willfulness and unbelief have become the objects of it (consider John 3:35-36; Rom. 1:18-19; 2:4-8; Col. 3:5-6; Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18). It harkens back to what God Himself said about Pharaoh and God's raising him up to demonstrate His power in him, and thus helps us to understand God's dealings with us all in the light of His election of us for His mercy, while He defers His wrath for a season from those who run head strong against Him. Now that God defers His wrath from the vessels of wrath is only because of His longsuffering Nature through which He does not need to immediately execute His just wrath on them (though He does exercise a form of judgment against them in this life, when He turns them over to their sins (see Rom 1:18-32) which then makes them fully qualified or prepared for His wrath. Thus the Apostle Paul says that through God's longsuffering they are prepared for destruction (vs. 22). Not that God makes anyone to be destroyed, rather people by their own rebellion, disobedience and ultimately by their hardening themselves towards God and His Will become prepared by God for the day of doom (Prov 16:4; 2 Peter 3:9). And so just as God prepares unbelieving and unrepentant people for His wrath (John 3:36), so He also prepares those who believe in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ for His mercy (Rom 5:9). Thus on the one hand of God there is the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction (gr. ἀπώλεια, Str 684), while in the other there is the vessels of mercy, which He prepared before hand for glory, through which He is making known the riches of His glory, to one and to all (vs. 23). 

Vs. 24-26 ²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? ²⁵ As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” ²⁶ “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” 

The Apostle Paul in declaring this great grace of God in electing us to be the recipients of it is not limiting it to just the believing Jews, but as the Scripture says, this also encompasses every believing Gentile. As evidence of this fact he cites Hosea 2:23 and 1:10 in verses 25-26 respectively. Thus from once unloved, that is not loved by God as one who is in a covenant relationship with Himself, to now beloved, and sharing in all of His covenant promises that we have in Him through Christ, so we have been brought into the New Covenant of God as full and equal partakers of it with the Jews through Christ (see Eph. 2:11-21; Gal. 3:26-29). Thus we have been called by God to be sons of the living God through Christ. (Note: The word translated "son's" here is being used generically for all of God's children whether male or female, old or young etc.).

Vs. 27-29 ²⁷ Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. ²⁸ For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.” ²⁹ And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

The Apostle Paul now cites from Isaiah 10:22-23 in verses 27-28. It is a profound prophecy of God's remnant who escape their nations apostasy and their dependency on foreign nations and powers for their deliverance, and instead return wholly and completely to the Lord God in truth who then saves them (something that will still see fulfillment in the Great Tribulation Period, i.e. "Jacobs Troubles"). Thus it is a prophecy with then current and ongoing implications for the believing remnant (the true nation of Israel which down through the ages God has faithfully preserved for Himself). As Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” Vs. 29

Now the seed in verse 29 (citing from Isaiah 1:9) is the remnant of Jews (consider 1 Kings 19:18) whom the Lord chose to preserve, from these the Nation of Israel would carry on as such. And so it is that the Lord preserved the Nation of Israel through both the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities and on through the Greek and Roman empires at which time He brought forth the Christ who know offers salvation one and to all who believe in His Name. And so it is that the nation of Israel as a whole redemption has been put on hold until the fulfillment of the Gentiles has come in and then all Israel will be saved, but that's getting ahead of ourselves. For now what matters most to you is that you have entered into God's Rest (Hebrews 4:10) and taken the Lord Jesus Christ's yoke upon you by faith in His Person (Matt. 11:28-30) and thus ceased from trying to earn salvation for yourselves then please do so now. For that is where the Apostle Paul is heading next, preaching and teaching the way of salvation which is not by ones works, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person, crucified for our sins and transgressions and Risen from the dead for our justification before God. Therefore if you have not yet made that personal decision to repent and believe and thus receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith then by all means do so now. By a simple prayer of faith you can receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life who then changes you! Therefore simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I believe that You are the Son of God and that Your were crucified for my sins and that You rose from the dead on the third day so that I can have new and everlasting with You. Therefore I now invite You into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior, in Jesus' Name, amen. 

Scripture Quotation

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Romans 9:6-13

⁶ But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, ⁷ nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” ⁸ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” ¹⁰ And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac ¹¹ (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), ¹² it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Commentary

Vs. 6-9 In response to Israel's current rejection of the gospel, and God's promises of their redemption through it, the Apostle Paul now addresses this aspect of God's redemption plans for them, and for us all. And so the Apostle begins by saying that it's not that the Word of God has taken no effect. Rather they are not all Israel who are Israel. That is simply because one is a citizen of the nation of Israel, does not mean they are actually citizens of the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16). Similarly, simply because one is a descendant of Abraham does not make them a child of God (Gal. 6:15). This is made clear with the Apostle Paul quoting from 21:12 where God says to Abraham to listen to Sara in wanting him to put Hagar and Ishmael away, saying to him to do this because, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” And so it was that even though Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn son, God's promise to Abraham was that it would be Sara who would bring forth the promised son, as the Apostle quotes in verse 9 from Genesis 18:10, 14 where God says to him;“At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And so it is just as the Apostle says in verse 8, "...those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." 

For that is how all the children of God are known, not by the flesh, but only by believing God's promise to them, and thus who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Gospel of John states: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:13-14 Therefore sonship with God is not by the works of man, but only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether one is a Jew or a Gentile (see Gal. 3:7, 26, 29; 4:28-31; 6:15; also Rom 4:13-25).

Vs. 10-13 ¹⁰ And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac ¹¹ (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), ¹² it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

The Apostle now further his reasoning on this by looking at Rebecca. That Paul says that she had conceived by one man is emphasizing that though both Rebecca and Isaac were the parents by whom Esau and Jacob were conceived, and the children were conceived at the same time, God's choosing of Isaac was based on nothing other than God's Sovereign Desires to do so. As he states in verse eleven, "for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls." And so it is God's election of individuals to be His own is not based not on their merits, or lack thereof, but rather according to His own Sovereign Right and Will to do so. For God elects individuals to be His own, and or to fulfill His purposes in the earth (more on that later), that is the Scriptural truth and reality (consider John 6:37; 17:2; Acts 13:48; Rom 8:28-30; 9:22-23; Eph. 1:3-5, 11 etc.). As God said to Rebecca of the children in her womb, “The older shall serve the younger.” (see Gen. 25:23). Thus Esau the firstborn would be subordinate to Jacob. As God would later reiterate to the nation of Israel, through the prophet Malachi, when He said of them, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (see Malachi 1:2-3). That God hated (gr. miseo, Str 3404) Esau needs no apology from us. For God who creates all things knows the heart of all things, and thus does not and will not explain to us His Sovereign works and reasoning's in His election of some while rejecting others. We simply believe and trust that whatever decisions He makes about anyone or anything are fully in accord with His Perfect understanding and Perfect dealings with all people in all things. And so the Apostle Paul will address peoples inherent objections to this, through their own finite understanding of things, in the next section of Romans. 

Scripture Quotation

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Romans 9:1-5

¹ I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; ⁵ of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. 

Commentary
Preamble
The Apostle Paul having given one of the most encouraging discourses on each and every believers security In Christ, now turns to an issue close to his heart. And that is the redemption of the Israelites, God's covenant people. Given that they had for the most part rejected their Messiah, it seems one may have to wonder just how God's plans for their redemption would unfold. Now within this framework of Israel's redemption (chapters 9-11), the Apostle Paul will also enlighten us further about the election of both the Jews and the Gentiles to salvation. 

Vs. 1-3 And so the Apostle Paul begins by declaring his deep desire to see Israel saved. The Holy Spirit bearing him witness that what he is saying is his heartfelt longing to see God's covenant people brought into the fulfillment of their covenant relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed the Apostle Paul would say "I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart" because of the Jews separation from God. Indeed Paul will go so far as to say that if it were possible he himself would rather be accursed from Christ if it meant his own countrymen and brethren (according to the flesh), the Israelites would believe, and thus receive Christ as their Messiah, which will bring them into the Kingdom of God (vs. 1-3). For they had not, and thus the Apostle Paul suffered some of his worst persecution at their hands (consider Acts 9:22-23; 13:42-52, vs. 45, 50; 14:1-7, vs. 2, 4; 17:1-8, vs. 5-8; 17:10-15, vs. 13 etc.).  Indeed the early church likewise suffered severe persecution at the hands of unbelieving Jews. For just as they rejected and conspired to kill the Lord Jesus Christ with the unbelieving Gentiles, so they rejected and persecuted all who later followed Him, whether Jews or Gentiles (Acts 6:8-8:1-4; 10:34-43, vs. 39; 12:1-4 etc.). 

Vs. 4-5 The Apostle Paul now mentions six things which came from God through the Jews, but are in no way limited to them. The first being mentioned is "the adoption" (see Rom 8:15, 23, Gal 4:5; Eph. 1:3). The adoption pertains to us all who are called and chosen by Christ to be God's children (whether we were Jews or Gentiles, John 15:16, 19) this being verified to us by the Spirit of adoption i.e. the Holy Spirit within us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so it is that we must all be adopted into God's family. For no one is inherently born into God's family because of their lineage, we all must come into God's family by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son. That said, it must not be forgotten that the Gospel first came to the Jews, and was brought us all through them. 

"the glory", Pertains to God's Presence amongst God's people, which in Old Testament times most clearly seen and portrayed by the Ark of the Covenant amongst them (1 Sam 4:21). Both the Tabernacle and later the Temple was the dwelling place of the glory of God's Presence. In the N.T. times each and every believer becomes the Temple of the Lord, and thus has within them the glory of God, both individually (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16-7:1) and specifically as a body of believers we bear the glory of God collectively (Eph. 2:20). Which is why how we conduct ourselves in and outside of the house of faith is so important. and which is why reverence inside of the house of faith also matters. 

"the covenants", Both Old and New Covenants came through the Jews, the Old now being superseded by the New, which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself ushered in with His crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead (Matt. 26:26-29; 2 Cor 3:5-11; Hebrews 8:7-13; 12:18-24). 

"the giving of the law", The Law was given through Moses to govern the nation of Israel. It was to stand as God's witness to all nations and peoples that the Israelites were God's people (Deut. 4:6). And so it is that the Jews were not only to observe the Law but they were down through the centuries the keepers of it's written ordinances. Now the Law though commanded of them to observe was also to teach them that by their own works redemption could not come to either the Jews or Gentiles, since no one can keep the Law to eternal life (Acts 15:7-11; Gal. 3:10-14). Rather the Law serves as a Tutor which points all people to God through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (see Gal. 3:19-25). Similarly the Law (though written on the hearts of every born-again believer) is not what governs either the church, or the individual believers within it (Rom 6:14; 7:4-6). Rather we are under the New Covenant, and thus we are governed by the Lord Jesus Christ whose Word and Spirit is to govern us, since both grace and truth is found there (Matt. 7:12; John 1:17; 2 Cor 3:5-9, 18; Gal 5:16-23). Now for those who reject the grace of God and continue on in their unbelief, self-sufficiency, and or sins, the Law will be the means through which God judges them (1 Tim 1:7-11).  

 "the service of God", Again began with and was entrusted to the Jews. Now as this pertains to Israel, this was the priesthood and all of it's rituals and ceremonial ordinances, Sabbath's and or commanded festivals/feast days that they were to observe when Moses received the Law and all of it's statutes and ordinances on Mount Sinai from God (Ex 19:20-). None of which could bring their redemption, but were directly, or indirectly, pointing them to the Day of Redemption, when the Lord Jesus Christ would suffer crucifixion death for our eternal redemption from sin and death. And so it is that Jesus would say of the Law, and thus the service of God through it: "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."  Luke 16:16 Now there is a future fulfillment of the service of God according to the Law that the Israelites will fulfill during the Lord Jesus Christ's millennial earthly reign, but their observance of the Feast of Tabernacles then will be during a time where through it God tests both them, and those nations who dwell on the earth with them (see Zechariah 14:16-21). Then at the end of that time there will be one last Satanic rebellion which will be destroyed by God by fire (Rev. 20:4-10), before the Lord Jesus' Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), after which the Everlasting Kingdom will be ushered in (Rev. 21:1-22:5). Now as the service of God pertains to us in the New Covenant era, every believer is to serve God through the Lord Jesus Christ with whatever gifts and talents and in whatever capacities and opportunities He provides us with to serve Him (See John 12:26; Col 3:23-24). 

"the promises" That is the Scriptural promises of God all came through the Jews, but are not at all limited to them. 

Vs. 5 Finally the Apostle Paul mentions in verse five that through the Jews came the fathers, i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph to whom God promised not only His blessing upon them but through them He would bring His blessing into the world, specifically through the King that would descend from them, the Messiah, i.e. the Christ, "who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen

And so God's blessing is now extended to one and to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, whether they are a Jew or a Gentile. The only question then is have you received Jesus as the eternally blessed God, as King of kings and Lord of lords, who brings life everlasting and blessing to all who repent and believe in Him. For that is what God requires of everyone, to honor and obey Him, by believing in and obeying His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom He has committed all judgment, (John 5:22-30). Now for those who do there is the promise of remission of all their sins and everlasting life here and now, but for those who do not there is also God's promise of everlasting wrath on them (John 3:34-35). And so the choice is ours to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and have new and everlasting life by faith in Him. Therefore I urge you make a decesion  for the Lord Jesus Christ today!

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.