Romans 9:1-18
Key Verse: 9:18....  “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”

· Paul’s Anguish (1-5)

1. What is the reason for Paul’s great anguish of heart? How does he reveal his shepherd heart for his own people of Israel (1-3, Exodus 32:32)?

2. What are the spiritual blessings and responsibilities which God had given Israel (4,5)? Can you think of any New Testament equivalents? (Cf. Matthew 5:1-16)

3. Which privilege is the greatest (5)? What privilege and responsibility had they refused?

· True Israelites (6-13)

4. What problem is raised by Israel’s failure (6)?  How does Paul answer? What kind of children of Abraham did God choose to include in his world salvation work (6-9)? What does this teach us about God?

5. What is God’s purpose in election and predestination? What can we learn about God from his dealing with Rebekah and her twin sons (10-13)? (See also Jn 15:16, Ro 8:15, 16, 28, 29)

· God’s Sovereign Power (14-18)

6. What problem is raised by God’s way of dealing with Jacob and Esau (14)? What is God’s basis for predestination in world salvation? Who was Pharaoh and how did God use him in his world salvation work? (See Ex 5:2, 7:13, 10:1,2,20)