Romans 9:6-13 Not as though the word of God has taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:… I. IS INDEPENDENT OF EXTERNAL PREFERENCES AND HUMAN MERIT. 1. The phrase — (1) Implies the eternal purpose of God to save them that believe; (2) proceeds from free grace; (3) is determined by the reception or non-reception of the truth, which is an act of free-will. 2. The proof supplied by the history of the elect people. (1) By the difference in the moral condition of the Israelites (ver. 6; chap. Romans 2:28, 29). (2) By the different relations in which the immediate descendants of Abraham stood to God (ver. 7, 8; cf. Matthew 3:9; John 8:39). The same difference obtains in the Christian Church. II. IS DEPENDENT UPON DIVINE PROMISE. 1. The whole work of grace is matter of promise, and affords hope of a better life. 2. This is shown by the examples quoted (vers. 9, 13). 3. Hence it follows that we can only be partakers of the promise by a believing reception of it. (J. Lyth, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: |