Romans 9:10-13 // Favouritism and God

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans 9:10-13)

Paul is really getting enthusiastic here, and as usual when our friends are getting hyped up, we sit back and think, what is he thinking?

What Paul writes is true, he is writing under inspiration. But to base infant baptism, predestination and cheap grace on this text would be extremely premature (no pun intended).

God knew what Jacob and Esau would be like, he knew they would both be rotten in their own way. But he knew who would repent and put his trust in him (Romans 8:29) and chose him rather than Esau. The point Paul is making is that Jacob was declared righteous (sort of) before he was even born, proving that you don't need to do anything to be declared righteous. So the point is that salvation is not earned, it is given by God. God knows who will accept this gift, but this is not the point (indeed, it is completely useless speculation to debate predestination) the point is that the gift is not conditional on deeds, because no deeds were done when God already showed favour to Jacob.

This is why God can declare me righteous now. I am not truly righteous in my behaviour, but God is going to get me there. As a baby, Jacob was not truly righteous but God knew he was going to get there just like me. To be learning from Jesus, submitting, is to be on the path to righteous behaviour, to be on that path is to be declared righteous, and saved. Amen.

It is interesting that Paul says the unborn children had done no good or evil yet. This text blows the so-called doctrine of Original Sin out of the water, God's word has declared that unborn children have done no evil. They have not even done evil through their parents or ancestors. Unborn children have done neither good works nor sin, they have nothing to repent of, nothing to be saved from. The soul that sinneth it shall die. It is once we personally sin that we need a saviour, and personally sin we have, to our shame and discredit.