Meaning of Romans 9:6

Paul, in Romans 9, grapples with the apparent contradiction between God's promises to Israel and the reality of many Israelites not accepting Jesus as the Messiah. This verse directly addresses the question of whether God's faithfulness to his covenant promises has wavered because of Israel's rejection of Christ. Paul's assertion that "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" is a pivotal clarification. It distinguishes between a physical, ethnic lineage and a spiritual reality of being part of God's true people. This distinction is crucial for understanding God's plan of salvation, which extends beyond ethnic boundaries to include all who believe in Christ, both Jew and Gentile. The "word of God" here refers to His covenant promises, particularly those concerning a chosen people through whom salvation would come. Paul argues that these promises have not failed, but their fulfillment is understood through a spiritual, rather than purely physical, definition of "Israel."

Context and Background

The immediate context is Paul's deep sorrow and concern for his kinsmen, the Israelites (Romans 9:1-5). He passionately defends God's sovereignty and righteousness in dealing with humanity, particularly in the context of salvation. He has just presented the principle of God's election, using the examples of Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau, to demonstrate that God's choice is not based on human merit or lineage but on His sovereign will. This leads him to the present point: if God's promises are immutable, how can it be that many of the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not part of the salvation offered through Christ?

Key Themes and Messages

• God's Unfailing Word: The primary assertion is that God's promises are steadfast. His faithfulness is not contingent on human response.
• Spiritual vs. Physical Israel: Paul introduces a crucial theological distinction. "Israel" in its ultimate, salvific sense is not merely a matter of bloodline or ethnic descent. It refers to those who are truly God's people, characterized by faith and obedience, regardless of their ethnic origin.
• Sovereignty and Election: This verse reinforces the concept that God chooses whom He will include in His redemptive plan. This choice operates on a spiritual, not merely genealogical, basis.
• The Nature of True Belonging: True belonging to God's people is defined by a spiritual reality, not by outward physical descent.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse has profound implications for understanding who constitutes the "people of God." It teaches that outward religious affiliation or ethnic heritage does not guarantee inclusion in God's kingdom. Instead, genuine faith in Jesus Christ is the defining characteristic. For believers, it underscores the importance of a personal relationship with God through Christ, moving beyond any sense of entitlement based on background or tradition. It also calls for humility, recognizing that salvation is a gift of God's grace, not an earned privilege.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This concept of a spiritual remnant and a broader definition of God's people is present throughout Scripture. From Abraham, who was counted righteous by faith before the Mosaic Law and circumcision, to the prophets who spoke of a future restoration and a gathering of a faithful remnant, the idea of a spiritual seed has always been at play. Jesus himself spoke of "other sheep" that He would bring into His fold (John 10:16). The early church's expansion to include Gentiles without requiring them to become Jews first exemplifies this unfolding understanding of "Israel" as a spiritual entity.

Analogies

1. A Family Tree: Imagine a grand family tree. Not everyone whose name is on the tree is actively participating in the family's present life or sharing in its inheritance. Some may be estranged, while others might be adopted into the family. Similarly, physical descent from Abraham does not automatically mean one is part of God's true spiritual family.
2. A Nation's Citizenship: A nation has citizens by birth and citizens by naturalization. While those born within its borders are citizens by descent, those who are naturalized are equally legitimate citizens with full rights. In the same way, physical Israel represents those "born" into the covenant, but through faith, Gentiles can be "naturalized" into the true Israel of God.

Relation to Other Verses

• Galatians 3:29: "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise." This verse directly links belonging to Christ with being Abraham's true offspring, echoing the distinction made in Romans 9:6.
• John 1:12-13: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." This passage highlights the spiritual birth and divine origin of true believers, contrasting it with biological or human volition.
• Romans 2:28-29: "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from others but from God." Paul makes a similar argument here, differentiating between outward Jewish identity and inward, spiritual transformation.
• Matthew 3:9: John the Baptist, facing a similar assumption among the crowds, declared, "And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones." This prefigures Paul's argument by challenging the notion that mere physical descent guarantees a place in God's plan.