Romans 9:6-9 (KJV)

6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

I am sometimes asked how I feel about the Christian men's movement called Promise Keepers. I would be more excited if it were called "The Promise Keeper Movement" and the emphasis was more on God's faithfulness to His promises than on our performance.

1. God's Purposes Are Never Frustrated (v.6).
   God chose the Israelites in ages past to favor them among all the nations of the earth. The Lord said to Israel. "You only have I known among all the nations" (Amos 3:2). This favored nation status was based upon a covenant between God and the people. We call this "The Old Covenant" and it is premised with "If you . . . then I will . . ." The blessings of this covenant were real -- the nation of Israel would have a land they would call their own, they would be fruitful in the land, and they would be a nation feared by other nations -- if they fulfilled their end of the bargain. However, Israel broke the covenant and "God divorced them." Does this mean God has failed? No. God's purpose in the Old Covenant is to sow "man's inability to perform!" Man, because of his sinful nature, takes pride in his accomplishments (Romans 10:1-9).
2. God's People Are Never Forgotten (vs. 7-8).
   In spite of Israel's sinful rebellion and pride in refusing to admit their sin, God chose to bless certain people from within Israel, and outside of Israel (Gentiles) according to His grace and His set promise. This unconditional grace is given to people called:
   1. The true Israel . . . "for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel" (v.7).
      "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly . . . but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart" (Roman 2:28).
   2. The children of God . . . "That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God" (v.8). Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael was born in an attempt by Abraham to help God -- Sarah was too old to bear a son However, God never recognized Ishmael as Abraham's son. "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, and get thee to Moriah" (Genesis 22:1). Ishmael and Isaac are an allegory of the importance of resting on God's grace.
   3. The children of promise . . . "(These) are counted as the true seed" (v.8).
      God's grace is driven by His promises and His eternal purposes. His entire purpose throughout history is to reveal man's sinfulness and His own holiness. Where is man's sin, God's holiness, and sovereign grace most clearly seen? Jesus Christ, the eternal, holy God, is the person in whom we put our trust. "Now brethren we, as Isaac was, are the children of promise" (Galatians 4:28).
3. God's Promises Have Never Failed (vs. 9). Is God trustworthy? Can you fully lean on that which He has promised? Of course. You must first know what He has promised and then realize He is on His timetable. "For this is the word of promise, 'At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son'" (v.9). At this time is in the Hebrew, "At the appointed time" (Genesis 18:10). All of God's promises have never failed. He brings things to pass on His timetable.