Romans 9:28-29

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 69 Chapter 9:28 – 29

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 28 “For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”
1. Paul’s reference here is Isaiah 10:22-23 “For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (23.) For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.”

a. We must understand, God never promised to save the world nor did He ever promise to save the majority of the world, however He did promise to save a remnant of them.

b. God defined it this way; Matthew 7:13 - 14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14.) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” – Meaning few will travel the road to heaven and multiple times more will travel the road to destruction.

2. “For he will finish the work…” God will finish His plan of salvation, not man because man saves no one, nor does man know whom the very elect are. This work is Gods and He will bring it to a conclusion.

a. We know of few saved in the tribulation period 144,000 Jews for sure but only a few more.

b. Israel is setting idle right now so when you figure maybe 15 million Jews today and only 144,000 is guaranteed salvation I would call that a small remnant of them.

3. I believe here in Romans while Paul gave reference it Israel because he quoted Isaiah 10:22-23, this is not totally about Israel because of the last part of verse 28 “…upon the earth.”
4. The word “work” means - something said – So it appears the proper word here should be “His Word” – and “…and cut it short in righteousness…” means - do concisely (using as few words as possible to give the necessary information) speedily – I believe this means God will save His decreed limited number through His word and cut salvation off when Jesus returns except for the very limited number in the tribulation period.
1. Verse 29 “And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.”
1. Isaiah 1:9 “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom , and we should have been like unto Gomorrah .”
2. “…Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed…” – The word “Sabaoth” means – host or army – He is the Lord of host, and had He not left us a remnant of saved the world would already look like Sodom and Gomorrah nothing left.
3. We must understand God has a decreed will and has by that will elected a small remnant to be saved and to work for others to be saved but one day that work will be cut short and Jesus will return and the day of grace and mercy will end for all except the Jews being saved in the tribulation.
4. Israel deserved to be brought to a quick end and so do we, but the end will not come until God has quickly finished His work.