Argumentative Essay

Argumentative Essay based Rom 9:6-16

            The book of Romans was written by Apostle Paul and focuses on various aspects of the Christian doctrine. The apostle had a concern that many people were strangers to the gospel despite Gods’ promises being made good to the spiritual seed of Abraham. In chapter nine, Paul sought to provide answers to the objections against the sovereign conduct of God and in administering mercy and justice. The sovereignty is found in God’s dealing with the Jews and the Gentiles. Jews have fallen short of owning to their justification not by faith, but by the works of the law. The Jews rejected the gospel, but that did not break God’s promise to the patriarchs.

            God’s promises shall be fulfilled, and His grace does not run through blood but to all people who believe in him. For instance, God knew Esau and Jacob as being born in sin since they were similar to other children of wrath. They would have lived in sin forever, but God made a wise and holy decision to change Jacob’s heart leaving Esau to lavish in perverseness. The story of Esau and Jacob sheds light on the divine plan of God to the fallen race of man. The scripture has a discussion of the difference between a Christian who professes and the real believer. The externally visible privileges are rested upon many people who are not the children of God. Thus, there is a need for the use of God’s appointed grace to humankind. Everything that God does is just and holy and God’s grace appears to all people though no one deserves it due to the sinful nature of man. The saved people ought to thank God for his grace and those to perish will suffer themselves for the failure of tapping into God’s Grace (Ferguson, 1993).

Deterministic interpretation

            According to the deterministic interpretation of Romans chapter nine, God has the right and power to save whoever he wants and damn whoever he wishes to. The method of interpretation is determinate since God determines the people to be saved and those he will lose. The form of interpretation has a strong case since Paul says that God has mercy on whoever he chooses and hardens whomever he chooses. (vs.18). He also demonstrates God’s sovereign election about God’s choice of Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau. It appears that God chose to “love” Jacob and “hate” Esau since God’s choice of people depends on whom he shows mercy and not on human will. The way Paul shows the relationship between God and humans is evident of the deterministic interpretation of the selected verses (Laplanche, 1992). Paul teaches that God makes some vessels for destruction to demonstrate his wrath and power and others to display his mercy. The wrath or favor is not based on what God finds in them, but on His free decision. However, I think that the case for deterministic interpretation is mistaken since the conclusions made do not align with the true meaning of the verses. God is not a deterministic being but performs his duties wisely and flexibly.

            The deterministic interpretation of Romans 9 contends with the God manifested in Jesus Christ who offered his son on the cross for all as a demonstration of love. According to the deterministic interpretation, the love of God would only appear to some people whom he wishes which are contrary to the reality of the cross.

            God has not broken His covenant as alluded in the deterministic interpretation of the selected verses. The assumption that Paul considers individual salvation is untrue since he is concerned with explaining whether the word of God has failed or not. Many Jews who listened to Paul’s teachings thought that their nationality and obedience to the law were the most important things. However, if salvation was availed to all including Gentiles by their faith, then Jewish nationality and obedience to the law counted for nothing. The Gentiles strove for righteousness by external observation of the law instead of faith (Laplanche, 1992).

            The way Paul answered the objection of election to vocation, not salvation shows his concern with God’s relationship to the nation and not with individual salvation. The covenant of God’s promises was not based on people’s nationality and external obedience to law, but the divine ability to choose whoever he wanted. Paul illustrated the explanation by referring to the choice of Isaac and Jacob made without any consideration of their merits. Paul gave the examples to defend God’s right to choose whoever he wanted as he has always been.

The economy of salvation

            The economy of salvation is part of the divine revelation in the Christian tradition dealing with God’s creation and subduing the world. God accomplished his plan for salvation through the church. The elements and resources revealed by God are necessary for salvation through the scriptures. The ultimate expression of Christian theology is the teachings of Jesus Christ as achieved on the cross. Jesus' sacrifice was adequate to pay for our sins and is seen as not guilty before God. Through the economy of salvation, God gives the way to salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice and human beings accept salvation through faith and being loyal to God (Burns, 1976).

            The scripture reveals that there is a difficulty in reconciling the rejection of the unbelieving Jews with God's promise as well as the physical blessings bestowed upon them. As Paul explains, God fulfills the mandate of reconciliation in different ways that include explaining the true meaning and purpose of the promise, by proving the absolute sovereignty of God, showing the rejection of the Jews, and fixing the reason for Jew’s rejection. The apostle Paul explains that when God said that he would be a God to Abraham and his seed, he never meant all the seed in the flesh. The blood of Abraham was not significantly important, but he purposed it with a limitation to such and such things. The promise was appropriated to Isaac and not Ishmael, to Jacob and not Esau, and now to the believing Jews who embrace Christ and Christianity. The typical rejection of Esau and Ishmael were examples of the people who reject the gospel.

The Gift of Perseverance

            Saint Augustine speaks of his reverence to a God who is remote, distant, powerful, all present, and mysterious. In his explanation of the gift of perseverance, Augustine proves that a man who perseveres in Christ to the end is God’s gift. It is a mockery to ask of God something which is not given by God. According to the teachings, the grace of God is not given according to the merits of the receivers, but to some, it is based on God’s mercy and to others by the righteous judgment. The perseverance by which Christians persevere in Christ to the end is the gift of God, and it is uncertain whether one has received the gift so long as he is alive. Whoever falls before they die is said not to have persevered. A person who remains faithful to God for a short period is much better than another who served for many years but failed severally (St Augustine, n.d).

            The case of Jacob and Esau is much stronger in explaining God’s salvation and shows that the carnal seed of Abraham was not necessary for the promise but only to those God has appointed. Both were sons of Abraham by one mother, but their difference came before they were born. Paul writes to justify God and his mercy and truth by calling the Gentiles and taking them to church and have a covenant with himself while he continued to talk to the Jews who persisted in unbelief (Ferguson, 1993).  Some of the people boasted of their association with Abraham, but God’s grace does not run in the blood nor are the benefits of salvation inseparably associated to the external church privileges. God operates in the council of his will and not according to the law of the commandments that the unbelieving Jews subscribed to.

On Rebuke and Grace

            Augustine also discussed “on Rebuke and Grace” on which he is concerned with the Catholic faith in law free will, and grace. According to the teachings, the grace of God through Jesus Christ is the only way that men get deliverance from evil. The lack of using the grace of God makes people do no good since grace enables people to act out of love. The rebuke of the evil people who have not received grace is neither unjust nor useless since they are evil by free will. Perseverance is good and a gift of God but the rebuke of those who fail to persevere should not be neglected. A person who reverts to evil and continues till death deserves eternal damnation. It is the reason for some to receive the gift and others not to.

            Christ helps us to persevere and without Gods grace we cannot continue in the perseverance. According to Augustine, the number of the predestined to whom the gift is given is certain and cannot be increased or decreased. It is not known who belongs to number and who does not, hence necessary to rebuke all those who sin lest they are subject to perishing. Rebuke is not prohibited by grace and grace does not deny rebuke (Schaff, 1886).

            In Romans, Paul explains that not all Israel are of Israel since many people are in the lineage of Abraham and Jacob, but are far from being Israelites who ought to be interested in the saving benefits of the new covenant. In the case of Isaac and Ishmael, both were from the seed of Abraham, but Isaac got into a covenant with God and Ishmael was rejected and cast out. The children of the flesh have a relation to Abraham in flesh, but do not automatically qualify to the children of God. The unbelieving Jews boasted of their relation with Abraham in regard to the flesh and sought for ways to justify themselves in the flesh by the carnal ordinances abolished by Christ.

            In the latter section of the verses, the apostle maintains and proves the sovereignty of God. He is perceived as the one who distributes rewards and punishments in regard to the law and the covenants and who gives grace and favor to some people and denies others. The different interpretations of the verses help to understand more about God, his love, and grace upon humankind.  

References

Burns P. J. (1976) The Economy of Salvation: Two Patristic Traditions; Theological Studies, Vol. 37; (4) 598-619, DOI: 10.1177/004056397603700403

Ferguson E. (1993) Doctrines of Human Nature, Sin, and Salvation in the Early Church, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0815310706, 9780815310709

Laplanche, J. (1992). Interpretation between determinism and hermeneutics: A restatement of the problem. The International journal of psycho-analysis, 73(3), 429. (Also available at  Writings of Augustine: A Treatise on Rebuke and Grace; Retractions Book II. Chapter 67. Christian Literature Publishing Co.

St Augustine (n.d) On the Predestination of the Saints and on the Gift of Perseverance, 

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in nursing paper writing services if you need a similar paper you can place your order for medical essay writing service online.