Predestination and God's Purpose in Romans 9: Questions from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Sermon

What is the main argument Paul is developing in Romans 9:10-13?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Paul is addressing the apparent contradiction between God's promises to Israel and their current rejection of the gospel. Paul's fundamental argument is that "they are not all Israel that are of Israel." This relates back to Romans 8:28-30 where Paul had emphasized the certainty of God's purpose for His people. The case of Jacob and Esau proves that God's choice is not based on natural descent but on His sovereign election. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "The argument, of course, is over this whole matter of the position of the Jews, regarded as a nation, with respect to the gospel of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ."

Why does Paul add the example of Jacob and Esau after already discussing Isaac and Ishmael?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul adds this second example because he's "a master debater" and "incomparable teacher" who anticipates objections. Someone might argue that the Isaac/Ishmael case doesn't prove anything because they had different mothers (Hagar was a pagan slave). But with Jacob and Esau, they had the same father and mother, were twins in the same womb, yet God chose one over the other. Lloyd-Jones states: "The apostle here has a very powerful and striking case, because Esau was the father of the people who became known as the Edomites... The apostle knows the attitude of the Jews towards the Edomites, and what he's really saying, in effect, to them is this... the Edomites, your old, traditional, hated enemies, were born of exactly the same father and mother as your father Jacob."

What is the significance of God choosing Jacob before the twins were born?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God chose Jacob over Esau "before either of them was born, and before either of them had a chance of doing either good or evil." This timing is crucial because it demonstrates that God's choice had nothing to do with the works or character of either person. As Lloyd-Jones states: "God's purpose is worked out through election entirely as the result of the action and the activity of God himself. It is completely independent of anything in us, our birth, our nationality, our good works, or anything else whatsoever." This shows election is God's sovereign choice, not based on foreseen merit.

What does "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" mean?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones clarifies that this phrase should not be taken in its absolute sense. He quotes Charles Hodge: "hate means to love less and to regard and treat with less favor." Lloyd-Jones compares it to Jesus' statement in Luke 14:26 about hating one's family, which doesn't mean literal hatred but placing God first in relative importance. The phrase indicates God's relative position toward each—He set His affection on Jacob, not Esau. Lloyd-Jones explains: "It is because of God's attitude towards him. God's favor is on Jacob, not on Esau. That is the relative position that they occupy face to face with God."

Why does Paul say God's purpose is "according to election"?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this phrase means that "God's purpose is something that is worked out through this process of election." The word "according" means "by means of" or "through." God uses the principle of election or selection as the method to accomplish His purposes. Lloyd-Jones explains that God works this way "in order that God's purpose might stand" – meaning that it will "continue to be," "not perish," "last," "endure," and "remain firm." This is the opposite of what the objectors suggested in verse 6 when they claimed God's word had "fallen down" or failed. God's sovereign election ensures the certainty of His purposes being fulfilled.

How does this passage prove that election is not based on foreseen works?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that Paul explicitly states election is "not of works, but of him that calleth." The timing is crucial—God chose Jacob before either twin was born or had done anything good or evil. This refutes the idea that God simply foresaw who would do good works and chose them accordingly. Lloyd-Jones states: "It isn't. It's got nothing to do with works at all... It's not that God foresees our good works... Works are entirely shut out. And then to emphasize it further, he puts it positively—it is not of works, but it is altogether and entirely of him that calleth."

Why is God's sovereign election important for our assurance of salvation?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that God's sovereign election guarantees the certainty of salvation. If salvation depended on us in any way, it would certainly fail. He connects this to Romans 4:16: "Therefore, it is of faith in order that it might be by grace to the end, that the promise might be sure to all the seed." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes: "If our salvation and our ultimate glorification at any point or in any way depended upon us, it would certainly fail. But he says it doesn't depend upon us in order that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand." This gives believers assurance that God will complete His work in them because it depends on Him, not on human effort.