Election Though Not Born Romans 9:11

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome, “For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;”, and in chapter nine and verse eleven of Romans, Paul parenthetically wrote to his readers concerning, “election” though “not yet born” where we read:

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls;)

The verse begins, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “the children” or “the offspring and engendered” “being not yet born” which means “having not at that time begotten or birthed”, “neither having done” or “not exercising, practicing, accomplishing, committing, perpetrating or performing” “any good” which refers to “one certain useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful or happy thing” “or evil” which means “or one certain bad, wrong, wicked, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive or baneful thing”. Paul referred to the way the unborn children of Rebecca had done neither “good” nor “bad” while they were in the womb.

The verse continues, “... that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls;)” Paul added the words, “that the purpose” which means “so the setting forth, placing and showing” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “according to” which means “down from, throughout and toward” “election” or “the picking out, choosing and decree made from choice” “might stand” which means “should remain, abide, continue, and not perish”, “not of works” or “not in any way by means of or through business, employment, acts, deeds or that which any one is occupied”, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and” “of him that calls” which refers to “pertaining to God who invites, receives the name of and bids aloud”. Paul declared that “works” were not the reason for the “election of God”, but according to His own will He “chose” whom He desired.

When we consider these words of Paul, we understand that it is God's choice to whom He favors, and there are no “works” which may be done to earn it. God knows in advance who will and will not believe and trust in His Son Jesus Christ, and He bases His “call” upon His advanced knowledge. In this example, Paul sets forth the ground work to show while in the womb “Jacob” was called and not “Esau”. God has opened the door for “whosoever” to “believe and trust” in His Son Jesus, and He knows who those people are. Based upon that understanding, wouldn't it be wise to be ones who put their “faith and trust” in Jesus Christ?

Next time we see Paul tell his readers, “the elder shall serve the younger”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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