Romans 9 is too often neglected because it bothers the sensibilities of many who want a sort of synergism. Defending monergism is only one of Paul’s goals. He is writing to gentiles. These gentiles are immature in the faith or have no faith at the present time. They are unincorporated. Paul is explaining the basic gospel to them throughout Romans. Yes, these are the basics. His goal is to show that Justification is not merely for Israel. He accomplishes his purpose, here, by showing that not all Israel is justified before God.

Paul would himself be cut off to see all his kinsmen saved spiritually. There is unceasing grief in his heart because many Israelites are not justified according to God—even though adoption belongs to them, the law was given to them, the covenants were made with them, the temple rituals were provided to them, and the great promises of God were made to them. They do not lose their place in the flesh. They are not replaced in the flesh, but not all of Israel is spiritually secure in their God. He proves his claim from the Old Testament.

First, God did not call all of Abraham’s descendants His people—only the descendants of Isaac. Second, even when Isaac’s wife, Rebekah’s, children were not yet born, God had destined Esau to serve Jacob. God loved Jacob and hated Esau (cf. Malachi 1:2) before they could even breathe. This hatred was not a malicious hatred but reflected the fact that Esau was outside His spiritual people. God favored Jacob like He favored Adam and Seth and rejected Cain in Genesis 4. 

So, not everyone born of physical Israel is spiritual Israel. Israel is and always will be the covenant nation, but not every Israelite is part of the kingdom of God. Why not? God has not predestined every Israelite to be conformed to the image of Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul is using the case of Jacob and Esau to show that God’s work of election with them is normative for His spiritual people. Paul has already argued that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone—which is impossible without the work of predestination; “…though [we] were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad so that God’s purpose according to His choice will stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls” (v. 11).

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