Learning the Lesson

A Sermon on Romans 9:1-33

Originally preached April 26, 1963

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Romans 9:1-33 ESV KJV

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my … I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (ESV)

1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That 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. 9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11(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;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Sermon Description

In this sermon on Romans 9:1–33 titled “Learning the Lesson,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives a bird’s eye view of the entire chapter to show what can be learned. He says that contrary to what many believe, the Old Testament is not done away with or made obsolete for Christians. This can be known because the apostle Paul uses many Old Testament references and examples to explain the nature of the church, the Christian life, and salvation in Christ. Just as God chose the people in Israel in the Old Testament and passed by others, so also in the New Testament God calls out a people, the church, for His own purposes. Paul explains that being a Jew does not mean that one is a Christian, for not all who are born of Israel are true Israel. It is only those that God calls that are truly the children of God. This sermon presents many of the hard truths of Scripture, but it also shows how these hard truths are some of the most comforting. All of God’s truth is good news for those that love Him and who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Breakdown

The main point of the chapter is the tragic position of the Jews as a nation. Though they were God's chosen people, they were outside the church.
While dealing with the situation in his day, Paul lays down principles of universal application. We must apply the scriptures practically to our lives.
The first lesson is the value and importance of the Old Testament. It gives wisdom, comfort, and shows God's unchanging purpose.
We must never rely on natural birth, family, nation, religion, good works, or even our faith for salvation. Only Christ saves us.
Our relationship to Christ is the only thing that matters. We are justified in Him alone.
We must constantly examine ourselves to avoid presumption and ensure we are truly in the faith.
We must avoid reading the Bible with prejudice, humbly seeking truth. The Jews failed here.
Not all members of the visible church are necessarily Christians. We can't assume all are saved.
There is a difference between true continuity (spiritual) and false (physical). Succession alone proves nothing.
We should not be surprised if the church falls into apostasy. Israel did, and the church may. But God preserves a remnant.
Numbers do not matter to God. A remnant, a seed, is enough. Purity and faithfulness are what count.
We must avoid becoming a closed corporation with no concern for outsiders. Israel failed here.
We should expect revival and God's working in unexpected places and through unexpected people.
While valuing orthodoxy, we must avoid a spirit of prejudice or self-satisfaction which could lead God to bypass us.
We must walk humbly with God, giving Him all glory, praying to be used by Him and not quench His Spirit.

Sermon Q&A

What Key Lessons Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Draw from Romans 9?

What are the main lessons Lloyd-Jones derives from Romans 9?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans 9 offers several crucial lessons. The primary lessons include: the value of the Old Testament for Christians today; personal lessons about what we must never rely upon for salvation; lessons for the church about true spiritual continuity versus false continuity; and warnings about the dangers of presumption and prejudice. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this chapter shows God's sovereignty in salvation and provides practical applications for believers in understanding how God works both in individuals and in His church.

Why does Lloyd-Jones stress the importance of the Old Testament for Christians?

Lloyd-Jones stresses the importance of the Old Testament because it serves as "a great buttress to our faith" and provides "comfort and consolation." He points out that the apostle Paul constantly uses the Old Testament in his arguments throughout Romans 9. Lloyd-Jones identifies several reasons for its value:

It shows that "God's purpose is one" from Old to New Testament
It demonstrates that "God's method is always the same"
It provides historical illustrations that apply to personal situations today
It helps solve doctrinal problems by providing scriptural context
The principle of grace is "as obvious in the Old Testament as it is in the New"

As he states: "We must never face these problems in a kind of abstract manner... We must face them in the light of the teaching of the scriptures."

What does Lloyd-Jones say Christians should never rely upon for salvation?

Lloyd-Jones warns believers never to rely upon:

Natural birth - "The fact that our parents, grandparents or forebears were great Christians doesn't mean that we are Christians"
Family or national identity - "None of these things matter at all"
Religion - "The fact that you're a religious man doesn't of necessity mean that you're a christian man"
Belief in God alone - "You can believe in God and still not be a Christian"
Good works - "Though they're good works, they are valueless in the sight of God"
Even our own faith or belief - "It isn't my belief that saves me... if I say that I'm turning my belief and my faith into works"

He emphasizes: "We are what we are by the grace of God and by that alone."

How does Lloyd-Jones define true versus false continuity in the church?

Lloyd-Jones explains that false continuity is merely external, institutional, or mechanical - like the Jews claiming ancestry from Abraham or churches today claiming apostolic succession through laying on of hands. True continuity, however, is spiritual:

"The real continuity in the Church is the invisible. There is only one really continuous church. That is this invisible spiritual continuity of those who are born again, of those who are led of the spirit."

He argues: "The man who's in the direct line from the apostles is the man who preaches the doctrine of the apostles, the man who has the spirit of the apostles in him, not a man who has derived something mechanically from the laying on of physical hands."

Why does Lloyd-Jones say Christians should not fear for the future of the church?

Lloyd-Jones finds comfort in Romans 9 regarding the church's future, stating: "We need never have any fear about the future of the christian church. We need never be alarmed about the future of the people of God."

His confidence is based on God's sovereign preservation of a remnant: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved." He reminds believers that throughout history, even when it appeared the church might be destroyed, "God preserved a seed" and "He will preserve a seed always."

Lloyd-Jones affirms: "Don't be frightened. Don't be worried about the future of the church. This kind of thing has happened so often before. It's God who preserves, and he will preserve a seed always."

The Book of Romans

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

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