9:25,26
Paul then quotes from Hosea 2:23 and 1:10. So why is Paul quoting from these verses? It is because the whole concept of salvation of the Jews (and the rest of the human race) is deeply flawed. The human way of looking at things is that we achieve salvation by earning it. So people who are earnestly seeking God and trying to do the right thing are to be honoured, and we think that they will indeed be saved, even deserve to be saved. This is not so! God chooses a people who are not His people. Those who rejected Him, and so were rejected by Him, become His people. Those who were not seeking God are found by Him. Salvation is the act and will of God.
9:27,28
Paul now quotes from Is 10:22,23 and 28:22. Paul is showing that it was never God’s plan that all natural Israel would be saved. Only a remnant would be saved. God would judge the earth. Many Jews thought they would be exempt because they were Israelites, and many other religious groups ever since have a similar attitude. But all are subject to judgement. So where does this leave the Christian? I thought Jesus had taken the judgement upon Himself. Yes He has. We are subject to the same error if we think God’s laws no longer apply to us, so we don’t deserve to be judged. If we deny that sin is sin then we are in big trouble.
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