Romans 9:24
“Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”
Context:This verse is part of the larger passage in Romans 9, where the apostle Paul discusses God’s sovereignty in choosing whom He will have mercy on and whom He will harden. In this particular verse, Paul emphasizes that God’s calling is not limited to the Jewish people but is extended to both Jews and Gentiles.
Here are a few key points to consider in studying this verse:
God’s inclusive calling:The verse highlights the inclusive nature of God’s calling. In the Old Testament, God’s covenant relationship was primarily with the nation of Israel. However, through Jesus Christ, God’s salvation plan expanded to include people from all nations. This idea is also emphasized in other parts of the New Testament (e.g., Ephesians 2:11-22), where the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles is broken down through Christ.
God’s initiative in calling:The verse implies that it is God who initiates the calling. The phrase “whom he hath called” emphasizes that it is God’s choice and action to extend His call of salvation. This aligns with the biblical teaching that salvation is a result of God’s grace and not based on human merit or ethnicity (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The unity of believers:By including both Jews and Gentiles in His calling, God brings together people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities to form one body of believers. This emphasizes the unity of the Church, which is not bound by worldly divisions but is united in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
Context of Romans 9:This verse is situated within a broader discussion in Romans 9-11, where Paul addresses the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. He explains that although Israel, as a nation, had largely rejected Jesus as the Messiah, it does not mean that God has abandoned them completely. Paul emphasizes that there is still a remnant of Israel who believe in Jesus, and he holds out hope for the salvation of his fellow Jews. The inclusion of Gentiles in God’s calling is part of God’s plan to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy and bring them to faith in Christ.
