Ephesians 1:13–14
> “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)
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The Spirit’s Seal and the Believer’s Responsibility
Every believer who truly belongs to Christ is sealed with the Holy Spirit at conversion. The Spirit’s presence in us is the guarantee that those who have Him possess the promise of eternal life.
Paul’s point in Ephesians is not that the Spirit’s presence is unconditional, but that the Spirit Himself is the pledge—the down payment—of what is coming. The seal confirms ownership and identity, not automatic perseverance.
God has promised that His Church will always have the Spirit in her midst. But Scripture never says that every individual who once received the Spirit will always continue to walk with Him.
➡️ The presence of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee—but the presence of the Spirit is not guaranteed.
Those who have the Spirit have the hope of eternal life—but that hope must be guarded, not presumed.
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Led by the Spirit: The Ongoing Condition of Sonship
Paul clarifies this in Romans 8:14–16:
> “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Notice: it says “as many as are led by the Spirit”—not “as many as were led.” Sonship is proven by present obedience, not past experience.
Our assurance cannot rest on what God did for us once; it must rest on whether we are now walking in the Spirit. This is why Paul warns:
> “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2)
Yesterday’s obedience cannot sustain today’s salvation. That is why believers are told to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
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Life or Death: Walking According to the Spirit
Romans 8 also shows that having the Spirit does not unconditionally guarantee perseverance:
> “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:12–13)
Paul is not warning unbelievers here—he is warning Christians who already have the Spirit. The Spirit gives life to those who obey Him, but those who return to the flesh invite death.
Later, Paul reinforces this same truth:
> “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7–8)
The seal of the Spirit confirms that we belong to God, but it does not mean we can live contrary to Him without consequence. Hence the warning:
> “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
The Spirit’s seal is meant to secure, not excuse, us.
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Saved Already—but Not Yet Completed
Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 forms a consistent picture:
> “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17)
> “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23)
We have already received the Spirit as a deposit, but the full inheritance is still future. Our salvation is real, but it is not complete until the end. We have assurance, but it is conditional assurance—secured in Christ, maintained by abiding in Him.
> “But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a Son, and we are His house if indeed we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:6)
> “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:12–14)
“Brothers” already—but not yet resurrected to eternal life.
Security—yes. But conditional, not unconditional. Saved already, but not yet glorified.
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The Spirit Empowers—but Does Not Override
Receiving the Spirit means we have the power to overcome sin. But it does not mean we will automatically walk in that power.
> “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brothers, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:11–13)
The Spirit enables obedience, but does not force it. God gives us grace, but warns us not to waste it.
> “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.” (Ephesians 4:22)
> “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.” (Ephesians 5:5–7)
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The Spirit’s Presence: Our Hope, Not Our License
The presence of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee—but the presence of the Spirit is not guaranteed.
That statement captures the heart of the matter. The Spirit’s presence gives us hope, assurance, and confidence that we belong to God’s people. But Scripture never teaches that His presence remains unconditionally with those who turn to sin.
The Holy Spirit seals the faithful for redemption, but He can be grieved, resisted, and ultimately withdrawn from those who harden their hearts.
The Spirit is the deposit that gives us reason to hope.
But the Spirit’s continuing presence is not promised apart from faithfulness.
Salvation is both gift and calling—a finished work in Christ, yet a race that must be finished in us.
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Selah
The presence of the Spirit is the guarantee—but the presence of the Spirit is not guaranteed.
He seals us for redemption—but only as we continue to walk in Him.
> “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
Author: Christopher C. Chapman
Christopher is a disciple of Jesus Christ who lives in Indonesia as an evangelist with his wife and children.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
Perfect Love Removes Terror, Not Reverence
Scripture says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). John is not removing the fear of God. He is removing the terror of condemnation for those who abide in Christ.
A child does not live in dread of punishment—they hope in their Father’s love. So the one who walks in Christ should not constantly fear death or hell. If a believer lives every day terrified that they might be damned, something is wrong. They have not yet understood the Spirit’s witness:
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:14–16)
We are not waiting for wrath. We have hope of eternal life:
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)
But that confidence only belongs to those who walk in love and obedience:
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:16–17)
This boldness in judgment belongs to disciples, not rebels. True love doesn’t remove obedience—it produces it.
Holy Fear Keeps Us From Sin
Fear of God is not the dread of being struck at random. It is the sober awareness that God cannot be mocked and we will reap what we sow:
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7–8)
Jesus commands this fear:
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
This fear is not panic or paranoia—it is wisdom.
Illustration:
Gravity is deadly. We don’t panic every moment that gravity will crush us. But we never dance on the edge of a skyscraper. A right fear keeps us away from danger.
So it is with God. He is holy. He is Judge. We flee sin because sin leads to destruction. That is not superstition; that is faith.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
This is more than “respect.” It is trembling sobriety before the Holy One.
Fear and Assurance Work Together
We are not under wrath now—but God is impartial. Therefore we do not play games with grace.
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29)
Fear does not steal confidence; sin steals confidence.
Living in holiness produces boldness; living in rebellion produces terror. Those who “willfully continue in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth” should expect judgment:
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.… The Lord will judge His people.… It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26–31)
The solution is not to erase fear—it is to walk in obedience so fear becomes protective, not punitive.
Fear That Leads to Faithfulness
Philippians gives the balance plainly:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13)
Since God is working in us, we dare not receive His grace in vain:
“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2)
We do not coast. We do not presume. We fight:
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
Love gives assurance.
Fear guards holiness.
Grace empowers obedience.
Judgment sobers us to stay the course.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)
Summary
- Perfect love casts out the terror of condemnation, not the fear of God.
- The Spirit gives assurance to those who walk in love and obedience.
- The fear of God keeps us from sin, like respect for gravity keeps us off the ledge.
- We do not dread sudden wrath—we walk confidently with Christ.
- But we know God is holy and impartial, so we never treat grace lightly.
- We work out our salvation with fear and trembling, because God is at work in us.
The fear of God is the fear of displeasing the Father you love, not the terror of being abandoned while you walk faithfully with Him.
This is not perfectionism—Christ is our righteousness. But it rejects casual faith. It is the narrow road: confidence in Christ, combined with vigilant holiness.
The Gospel is NOT about YOU!
Many times when Chiristians think about the Gospel they think about the good news about salvation from sin, death and hell. Thought this is certainly an important aspect of “the Gospel” it is not the primary aspect. The tendency for modern Christians is to make the Gospel about them and their salvation. But the biblical Gospel is first and foremost about Christ and His kingdom. To illustrate this tendency, let’s consider the following verses:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Savior and believe in your heart that He died for your sins, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:8-9? NKJV
These are very familiar verses. But did you catch the fact that verse 9 is misquoted? Here is the correct quotation:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:8-9 NKJV
Can you spot the difference? In the first quotation is talks of Jesus as Savior who died for our sins. But the verse actually talks of Jesus as Lord and points to the fact that God raised Him from the dead. This might seem like a small difference, but actually it completely changes the focus of the message. The misquoted version puts the emphasis on us and our salvation, but the biblical quotation puts the emphasis on Christ and His kingship as the risen Lord. Though it is certainly true that Christ is our Savior Who died for our sins, this is secondary to the fact that He is the risen Lord over God’s kingdom.
If you take a few moments to read through the first public proclamation of the Gospel after the resurrection of Christ in Acts chapter 2 you will note something quite surprising; though Peter refers to the death of Jesus Christ, he never mentions that Jesus died for the sins of mankind. Instead, he mentions the death of Christ only in order to emphasize the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God. The conclusion of his Gospel presentation is found in the following verse:
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
– Acts 2:36 NKJV
Peter’s emphasis is not on Jesus dying on the cross for our sins; he doesn’t even mention that fact! His message is focused on the fact that God has raised Jesus from the dead to be Lord of all. This is the same emphasis we read about in Romans 10:8-9. The Gospel is first and foremost about the risen Lord. I encourage you to skim through the book of Acts and note that in every public proclamation of the Gospel the apostles and evangelists never mention that Jesus died for the sins of mankind. This is not to say that Jesus did not die for our sins on the cross, it is only worth noting so that we see that though HIs death on the cross for our sins is an important aspect of the Gospel message, it is not the primary emphasis of the biblical Gospel. The primary and central emphasis of the Gospel message is that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord!
What difference does this make? I mean, if both His death for sin and His position as Savior as well as His resurrection from the dead and His position as Lord, are part of the Gospel message, why emphasize the latter above the former? If for no other reason, we should do so because the biblical writers emphazize the latter in their public proclamation of the Gospel. But also because what we emphasize in our Gospel proclamation will affect how people respond to the Gospel and how they walk out that response.
If a sinner hears that the Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins so that we can be forgiven of our sins and go to heaven if we believe He is the Savior Who died for us, this will not necessarily lead to the repentance that leads to life. One could sincerely believe those facts and yet continue in rebellion to Christ without a second thought. On the other hand, if they hear from us that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by God the Father to be Lord of all, and they sincerely believe this message, they will immediately understand that they are required to submit their lives to His Lordship. We must present Jesus Christ as the risen Lord that has power to save because He died for our sins, and power to judge those who continue to live in rebellion to His lordship because He is Lord of all.
Though the Gospel certainly includes the fact that Jesus died for our sins so we could be forgiven of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life, this is not the primary emphasis of the Gospel, but a consequence of it. The primary emphasis of the Gospel is the lordship of the risen Christ. And from this risen King salvation flows to those who will submit to His lordship and trust in His gracious mercy. The Gospel is first and foremost about Christ and His kingdom; then, and only then, is it about us and our salvation.
A Brief Note:
Let me make a quick note for those who might be wondering why Acts does not emphasize the atoning death of Christ, but it seems to be mentioned everywhere in the epistles (i.e. the letters of the apostles). The difference is found in the audience. When preaching to the lost, the emphasis is on the lordship of the risen Christ. We point to Him so that people will submit to Him and find salvation in HIm. But when the apostles wrote to believers they answered the question as to why the risen Christ can save us, namely because He died for our sins and rose again to give us new life. Since the epistles were written to believers, the apostles explain in more depth how Christ saves us.
2 Great Errors About Salvation
Intellectual
1. Salvation comes through believing certain facts ABOUT Christ instead of ENTRUSTING OURSELVES TO Christ
Many believe they are saved because they believed certain facts about the atonement. But doctrines cannot save us. We must entrust ourselves to the One Who is risen to save! Don’t trust doctrines ABOUT Christ; TRUST CHRIST!
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, because He at all times lives to make intercession for them.
Transactional
2. Salvation comes through a PAST TRANSACTION with God instead of an ONGOING RELATIONSHIP with God through Christ based on a faith that works through love
Many believe they have eternal life because they made a transaction with God in the past. Salvation is NOT yesterday; salvation is TODAY! It is not found in a transaction, but in a risen Savior! Trust in Christ! Trust Him TODAY, not yesterday!
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Working together with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” For He says:
I heard you in an acceptable time, and I helped you in the day of salvation. Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.
Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 22-24 – Vessels of Mercy: Jews & Gentiles?
In this series, we are not going through Romans chapter 9 in depth. My goal is merely to give us some key cross-reference passages to help us come to a clear understanding of what Paul is communicating in Romans 9.
Let’s take a look at 9:22-24:
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
In Romans 9:21 Paul refers to the nation of Israel as a lump of clay. He derives this analogy from Jeremiah 18:1-11. He tells us that God is able to use this lump of clay (i.e. Israel) in whatever way He so desires. And He has chosen to bring forth from this one lump of clay both vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. Then in 9:22-24 Paul lets us know who these vessels are.
Continue reading “Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 22-24 – Vessels of Mercy: Jews & Gentiles?”
Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 19-21 – Who is Arguing with the Potter?
In this series, we are not going through Romans chapter 9 in depth. My goal is merely to give us some key cross-reference passages to help us come to a clear understanding of what Paul is communicating in Romans 9.
Let’s take a look at verses 19-21:
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Romans 9:19-21
Here we have God represented as the Potter Who has sovereign authority over the clay. But those represented by the clay take issue with how God has dealt with them. Who are these people? In what way do they feel they have been misused by God? These questions are not difficult when we follow Paul’s argument from 9:1 up to 18.
Paul started off by telling his readers that Israel had been prepared for the promises of the New Covenant. But in their rebellion they rejected the Messiah and chose to boast in their ancestry and their devotion to the Law of Moses, instead of embracing the promises of God that are “Yes and Amen” in Jesus Christ. Their pride caused them to stumble over the stumbling block, and God in turn judged them by hardening them in their unbelief. They had sinned, and God justly judged them for their sin. But not only did He judge them, but He used their sin to further His purposes and bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. In this way, their sin did not hurt God’s glory in the slightest but actually magnified His grace to the nations. This is exactly what He had done with Pharaoh, which is why Paul used Pharaoh to represent the unbelieving nation of Israel in verse 17: “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.’“
Continue reading “Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 19-21 – Who is Arguing with the Potter?”
Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 14-16 – Hardened Pharaoh = Hardened Israel
In this series, we are not going through Romans chapter 9 in depth. My goal is merely to give us some key cross-reference passages to help us come to a clear understanding of what Paul is communicating in Romans 9.
Let’s pick up in verse 14:
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
Rom 9:14-16
In verse 14 Paul refers back to his argument so far in Romans 9:6-13. His argument has been that God has the right to choose His people based on whatever conditions He so chooses. The unbelieving Jews of Paul’s day imagined that they were God’s chosen people Israel because they were naturally descended from Abraham. But Paul points out that it was not all of Abraham’s descendants that received the promise. He argues that God limited the heirs by rejecting Ishmael and Esau.
Continue reading “Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 14-16 – Hardened Pharaoh = Hardened Israel”
Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 6-13 – God’s Sovereign Prerogative
In this series, we are not going through Romans chapter 9 in depth. My goal is merely to give us some key cross-reference passages to help us come to a clear understanding of what Paul is communicating in Romans 9.
Up to this point (Romans 9:1-13), Paul has been trying to illustrate that God does not reckon His people according to lineage or according to obedience to the Law of Moses. He has done this by appealing to the history of the Hebrew patriarchs in verses 6-13. We have noted that Paul is having a hypothetical debate with his unbelieving countrymen. He has been defending God’s sovereign right to limit citizenship in Israel on whatever condition He so chooses. So let’s follow his argument all the way through verses 7 to 13.
He points out that though Abraham had two sons, the promise he received from God was only inherited by Isaac. What is interesting about this is that Isaac was not the firstborn son, and so, according to custom, it should have been Ishmael that received the promise. Paul’s countrymen would have quickly acknowledged that this decision was God’s prerogative.
Paul goes on in verses 10-13 and reminds his hypothetical debate partners that God did the same things with Isaac’s sons. Esau was Isaac’s firstborn, but God sovereignly chose to give the promise to the second-born son, Jacob. He made this decision before the twins were even born. Again, the Jews of Paul’s day would have had no objection to this arrangement but would have acknowledged that God was just in His choice. This would be acceptable to them, not only because God is sovereign, but also because Jacob was their ancestor, and so God’s choice happened to benefit them.
Continue reading “Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 6-13 – God’s Sovereign Prerogative”
Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 10-13 – Who Is Jacob? Who Is Esau?
In this series we are not going through Romans chapter 9 in depth. My goal is merely to give us some key cross-reference passages to help us come to a clear understanding of what Paul is communication in Romans 9. Most of these passages come from Paul in the book of Romans, Galatians or Ephesians. But we will also look to some of Old Testament passages he cites, as well as other related passages.
In the last post we saw that Paul, in Romans 9:6-9, uses Isaac, the child of promise, to represent the Church of Jesus Christ made up of Jewish and Gentile believers. And he points his finger at his unbelieving countrymen and suggests that they are like Ishmael, the son of a slave women. This was clarified by referring to Galatians 4:21-31 and Romans 4:13-16. Now we want to turn to the next section in his argument found in 9:10-13.
10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
Rom 9:10-13 NKJV
Continue reading “Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 10-13 – Who Is Jacob? Who Is Esau?”
Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 6-9 – Who Are The “Children of Promise”?
In this series, we are not going through Romans chapter 9 in depth. My goal is merely to give us some key cross-reference passages to help us come to a clear understanding of what Paul is communicating in Romans 9. Most of these passages come from Paul in the book of Romans, Galatians, or Ephesians. But we will also look at some of the Old Testament passages he cites, as well as other related passages.
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”
Rom 9:6-9 NKJV
In the last post, we looked at Romans 9:1-6 and noted what issue Paul intends to discuss in the chapter. He is asking and answering two primary questions. He is pointing out to the reader that Israel was promised the New Covenant, and yet they have for the most part rejected it. Firstly, he wants to answer why it is that Israel has rejected Christ and the New Covenant in Him. And secondly, he wants to let us know with confidence that this has not hindered God’s promise and plan. In 9:6 he told us that the unbelief of Israel did not thwart God’s promise to Israel because Israel is not reckoned according to natural descent. In 9:7-9 he is going to expand on this idea and present evidence for his assertion.
Continue reading “Keys to Understanding Romans 9 : 6-9 – Who Are The “Children of Promise”?”
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