(Rom 10:1) “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2)  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”  To this very day people, saved and unsaved alike, confuse zeal for God evidence of salvation. A person can be sincerely wrong. Salvation is an experience that takes a time and a place. One truly sees what Jesus did for them, turns in heart from their sinful life asking God for mercy, and He responds giving the gift of everlasting life

Rom 9:31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32)  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33)  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” When it speaks here of not being ashamed, it is not referring to an individual not being ashamed of being a follower of the Lord Jesus. It is saying, “Everything you have embraced by trusting the Word of God shall be fulfilled”: (2Ti_1:12)  “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  

Rom 9:31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32)  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33)  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Specifically the stumblingstone is righteousness comes by faith in Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection instead of one’s own efforts. The standard for heaven is perfect righteousness which only the Lord Jesus possesses.

(Rom 9:30) “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.” Important to remember –  faith is not righteousness. Christ’s righteousness is given to the person who responds rightly to the gospel, repenting, asking for the forgiveness and everlasting life (Rom 3).

(Rom 9:28)  “For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (29)  And 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.”  The word “short” here is speaks of acting quickly. The word “work” is referring to the things He has said in prophecy. The Lord faithfully fulfills ever Word He has said. Praise Him, for that work has been upon the saved, vessels of mercy.

(Rom 9:27) “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:”  Remember, this chapter is dealing with people groups rather than individuals: the nation of Israel; Gentiles as a group – people. The nation is not at this time “God’s people”, that is future. Today a remnant is saved just as a remnant of Gentiles is saved compared to the whole.

(Rom 9:25) “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. (26)  And 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.”  At least five hundred years before Christ the Jewish nation was told, there will be others beside you that are called “Mine”. I cannot but wonder if our minds can truly comprehend, “We are now God’s children.”

(Rom 9:23) “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (24)  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”  The riches of His glory: mercy and forgiveness; the sacrifice of His beloved Son for unworthy sinners; placing them in His Own family through adoption plus giving them an inheritance. Yes indeed, this speaks to the riches of His glory! I am one of the  vessels of His mercy.

(Rom 9:22)  “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (23)  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”  Here we can plainly see that the Lord has a purpose in all things He does and allows. The Lord will be glorified not only in His mercy towards us, but also in His grace in longsuffering to the lost. He will also be glorified when all stand to before Him to be judged.

(Rom 9:20) “Nay 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? (21)  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”  The Lord desired to have a people who would respond out of a good heart to the cross, as a result loving Him. Those who do not still honor Him as the contrast holds forth the other: (Eph 2:7) “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”  Praise His Name!