Romans 9-11 must be read as a unit that builds to a wonderful climax. It contains some of the most difficult material in the Bible.
The first eight chapters of Romans make a powerful case that the news from heaven is the best possible news. Our problem was worse than we thought, and yet God acted graciously to save us through faith in Christ. The news of the gospel is so gloriously good that it defies description.
But is this news too good to be true? How do we know that we can rely on these marvelous promises of God?
To answer the question, “Is the good news of Romans 1-8 true?” Paul reminds us in Romans 9 that God made promises to Abraham and to the nation Israel. Paul asks: “Has the word of God failed for Israel?”
Romans 9-11 contain a complex argument that answers both philosophical and historical arguments that arise from the experience of the Israelites, yet when read read as a unit it builds to a wonderful climax.
This is some of the most difficult material in the Bible. It is going to challenge us both spiritually and intellectually. It will assault our pride. Yet the hard questions must be answered. It is not enough to just proclaim the good news without replying to the doubts, “Can I be sure it really works? Has God’s word never failed?”