Child of the Promise
A Sermon on Romans 9:6-9
Originally preached Nov. 30, 1962
Scripture
6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That is, They which are the …
Sermon Description
How do Christians today rightly understand the division between Isaac and Ishmael? In this sermon on Romans 9:6-9 titled “Child of the Promise,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses the promise given to Abraham to give him innumerable descendants, to make his name great, and to establish nations and kings through his line. Though Isaac and Ishmael were both sons born to Abraham making them children of his seed, through God’s sovereign plan Isaac was chosen as the one to fulfill God’s covenantal promises. It had nothing to do with Isaac himself; he was chosen even before he was born. This particular and covenantal calling of Isaac to be the child of promise reminds believers today that God’s calling is not dependent on their works and activity or on their intrinsic merit. It is entirely God’s production and according to His sovereign plan and purpose. It is God’s choice and calling that matter.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is dealing with the objection brought against the Gospel, particularly by Jews.
- His argument is that God's promise has not failed. God's word has not fallen to the ground.
- The meaning of the term "Israel" needs to be properly understood. Not all who are descended from Israel are the true Israel. There is an Israel and an Israel.
- God's promise is limited to the true Israel, not the more general Israel that includes all descendants of Jacob.
- Paul demonstrates his point using the example of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Though both were Abraham's sons, God's promise was established through Isaac, not Ishmael.
- The word "seed" has two meanings: a natural descendant and one who carries on the covenant. Though Ishmael and Isaac were both Abraham's seed naturally, only Isaac was the seed of the promise.
- The word "children" also has two meanings: natural descendants and those who are children of God through faith. Not all of Abraham's children are children of God. Only the children of promise are counted as the seed.
- Isaac was the child of promise, born according to God's promise, not just Abraham's natural son. The promise produced its own children. Isaac was born of the Spirit, not just the flesh.
- God chose Isaac as the seed before he was even conceived. Isaac's birth was the result of God's promise, not the other way around.
- Nothing matters except the spiritual birth, which is always of God, never of the flesh. The case of Isaac proves this.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 9:6-9
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the fundamental proposition in Romans 9:6?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the fundamental proposition in Romans 9:6 is that "the word of God has not failed." He emphasizes that the promise of God has not fallen to the ground. The reason this is true, despite the apparent rejection of the Jews, is found in a proper understanding of the term "Israel." As Lloyd-Jones explains, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel," meaning that there is a distinction between the physical descendants of Jacob (Israel) and the true spiritual Israel to whom God's promises apply.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the difference between Ishmael and Isaac in relation to God's promise?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while both Ishmael and Isaac were natural sons (seed) of Abraham, only Isaac was the child of promise. He points out that both were Abraham's children by natural descent, but God specifically chose Isaac as the one through whom the covenant would continue. The important distinction is that Ishmael was born "after the flesh" (merely by natural means), while Isaac was born as a result of God's promise and divine intervention, making him "born after the Spirit." This distinction demonstrates that God's promises are not transmitted through natural descent alone.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the timing of God's choice regarding Isaac?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that God's choice of Isaac was made not after he was born, but even before he was conceived. He emphasizes that "the promise was made with respect to Isaac not only before he was born, but even before he was conceived." Furthermore, Isaac was born because of the promise, rather than the promise being given because he was born. This underscores Lloyd-Jones' point that God's election comes first, and the fulfillment follows from that election rather than the other way around.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones interpret the phrase "in Isaac shall thy seed be called" in Romans 9:7?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that the word "called" in this verse means more than merely reckoning or designating. He argues that it carries the meaning of "calling into being" or "vocation" rather than just "designation." He connects this with Romans 4:17 which speaks of God "who calls into being things that were not." Therefore, the phrase means that God would bring into being and produce his true spiritual seed through Isaac, not just name or reckon them. This interpretation emphasizes God's active role in creating and bringing into existence his chosen people.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is the significance of the phrase "at this time will I come" in Romans 9:9?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones sees significant meaning in this phrase, connecting it to Genesis 21:1-2 where "the Lord visited Sarah as he had said" and "did unto Sarah as he had spoken." He explains that this phrase indicates God's direct intervention in the conception of Isaac. The phrase "at this time will I come" shows that God Himself was active in causing Sarah to conceive, despite her advanced age (over 90) and Abraham's age (99). This divine intervention demonstrates that Isaac was truly born by the power of the Spirit, not merely by natural means, making him "more than the son of Abraham."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the meaning of being "children of promise"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that being "children of promise" means being born as a result of God's promise and power, not merely through natural descent. He states that "the children of the promise are counted for the seed" means those who are produced by the promise are considered the true spiritual seed and the children of God. Using Isaac as the example, he explains that just as Isaac was born because of God's promise and intervention (since Sarah was past childbearing age), so Christians are born spiritually through God's promise and power. This spiritual birth "is always of God, that is never of the flesh."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the story of Isaac with the doctrine of spiritual birth?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws a direct connection between Isaac's birth and spiritual rebirth in Christians. He cites Galatians 4:22-29 where Paul explicitly states that "as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." Lloyd-Jones concludes that just as Isaac's birth required divine intervention because Abraham and Sarah could not produce a child naturally, so spiritual birth requires divine intervention because it "is always of God" and "never of the flesh." He states, "Isaac is really born of the Spirit," making him the pattern for all who are born again.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones refute the Jewish belief about being Abraham's descendants?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones refutes the Jewish belief that all natural descendants of Abraham are automatically included in God's promises by showing that even in Abraham's own family, not all his descendants were chosen. He points out that while the Jews argued "we're all Abraham's children... everything applies to us, we are already saved," the case of Ishmael and Isaac proves otherwise. God specifically selected Isaac, not Ishmael, though both were Abraham's sons. This demonstrates that "natural descent is not the thing that matters" and that "God's purpose applies to and is worked out in only those who are born of the Spirit."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.