{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Romans 9:1-18 - Predestination Defined","description":"Welcome to the Romans 9 Podcast! Mike and Kevin share their insights from the Book of Romans as they dive into Romans 9:1-18. 9 I speak the truth in Christ\u2014I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit\u2014 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. God\u2019s Sovereign Choice 6 It is not as though God\u2019s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham\u2019s children. On the contrary, \u201cIt is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.\u201d 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God\u2019s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham\u2019s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: \u201cAt the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son. 10 Not only that, but Rebekah\u2019s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad\u2014in order that God\u2019s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls\u2014she was told, \u201cThe older will serve the younger.\u201d 13 Just as it is written: \u201cJacob I loved, but Esau I hated.\u201d 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, \u201cI will have mercy on whom I have mercy,     and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\u201d 16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God\u2019s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: \u201cI raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.\u201d 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version\u00ae (NIV). Copyright \u00a91973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.\u00ae Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. All unmarked Scripture quotations are also taken from the New International Version\u00ae (NIV), unless otherwise noted. This content uses fewer than 500 verses and is intended strictly for non-commercial, teaching, and ministry purposes. We are operating within fair use guidelines and are currently seeking formal permission from Biblica where required.   ","author_name":"Grace Coach","author_url":"http:\/\/gracecoach.org","html":"