Romans 9 shows that salvation depends on God’s grace and purpose, not on nationality, religious privilege, or human works. Paul begins by remembering that Israel was the nation of covenants, patriarchs, temple worship and God's promises, yet it had largely rejected God's Messiah! But, he says, "It is not as though God's word had failed... because it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are Abraham's offspring... and we recall that the sovereign Lord also said that Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated... which doesn't mean God isn't just because he said he will have mercy on whom he chooses... so that nothing depends on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy... for doesn't the potter have a right to do what he likes with the clay?... so God decides on whom he will have mercy... and he will call his people whom he will... for Isaiah says that though the Israelites be countless yet only the remnant will be saved... so what shall we say?... for the Gentiles obtained righteousness by faith but not Israel because they pursued it by works and not by faith... they stumbled over the stumbling stone (who was Christ)... but who trust in him will never be put to shame!"
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