Romans 9:6-9

I think we have all heard the saying, “We are all God’s children.” While I believe we are all His creation, Scripture makes it clear that we are not all His children. In fact, Scripture even refers to those who are children of the evil one (1 John 3:10). So, perhaps a little further study is warranted!

Paul, being the master debater that he is, zeroes in on an important distinction: not all of Abraham’s physical descendants are considered his children in the spiritual sense.

Remember, many of the religious leaders argued with Paul, and even with the Lord Himself, that because they were descendants of Abraham, they were in right standing with God. Their confidence rested in their lineage rather than their relationship with God.

Paul challenges that thinking by reminding them that Abraham had more than one son, yet the covenantal promise continued through Isaac, not Ishmael. It wasn't simply a matter of being born into Abraham's family. It was about God's promise and His purposes.

Now, before anyone becomes too comfortable trusting in their lineage through Isaac, Paul takes the argument a step further in Romans Chapter 9 that Isaac had twin sons, Jacob and Esau. They had the same father and mother, yet God chose Jacob to carry forward His covenantal purposes. This choice was made before either child was born or had done anything good or bad.

Interesting, isn't it?

Paul is making a powerful point. God's purposes are not established by human ancestry, personal accomplishments, or even our best efforts. They originate with God and His promises.

But what exactly does it mean to be a child of the promise?

I believe we find an important part of that answer in Abraham himself. Scripture tells us that Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Abraham's relationship with God was founded on faith. He believed what God had promised, even when circumstances seemed to contradict that promise.

And that brings us to Jesus!

Paul explains in Galatians 3:29 that those who belong to Christ are Abraham's true heirs and recipients of the promise. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become children of God—not because of our family history, religious traditions, or personal goodness, but because we have placed our faith in the One God sent to redeem us.

Think about that for a moment.

We cannot inherit a relationship with God simply because our parents were Christians, because we grew up in church, or because we belong to a particular denomination. We must personally respond to God's invitation and receive His Son.

As John 1:12 reminds us, those who receive Christ and believe in His name are given the right to become children of God.

There is a difference between being created by God and being born of God!

Paul's argument in Romans 9 is primarily about God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His sovereign purposes in choosing the line through which those promises would be fulfilled. But as we follow his teaching throughout the New Testament, we discover the wonderful truth that God's family extends beyond physical ancestry to include all who belong to Christ through faith.

And that includes you and me!

What an incredible privilege! We have been invited into the family of God, not because we earned our place, but because of His grace and our faith in Jesus Christ.

So, the question is not simply, “Who are you descended from?” but rather, “Who do you belong to?”

Being a child of God is not about our earthly heritage but our heavenly relationship. We become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and through Him, we become heirs of the promises of God.

Now that's something worth celebrating!