But if we are not to read salvation and condemnation as applicable in parallel to the elect and non-elect respectively from before the foundation of the world, why does Romans 9 make use of such language? Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will harden whom I will. Honor, dishonor. Mercy, wrath. Glory, destruction.

And it’s quite clear from Rom 9:11, 11:5 etc. that these distinctions arise particularly between how God deals with the elect and the non-elect. Moreover, Rom 9:11, Eph 1:4 etc. state that election was purposed before the foundation of the world, before any had been born or done good or evil. Isn’t this then an inevitable parallelism, the calvinist continues to ask. Even the Arminians acknowledge the parallelism – which is why rather than deny it, they seek to interpret election itself corporately.

The interpretation of Rom 9 hinges on 2 key Observations, and subsequent points, which needs the following context first –

The Children of Promise

The idea is simple.
1. Rom 9:8 states that the promises of v.4 and the Word of God in such promises (v.6) are applicable only to the children of Promise.
2. The children of promise are chosen or elected by God before the foundation of the world (Rom 9:11, Eph 1:4) for adoption as children to Himself in Christ (Eph 1:5).
3. As the adoption, the elect obtain an inheritance in Christ – and this is purposed by God of His own counsel (Eph 1:11).
4. This inheritance is not by the law of our works, but by a Promise of God received through faith (Gal 3:9,18)
5. The promised inheritance is in receiving the Blessing of God, namely the Spirit (Gal 3:14)
6. This promise is reaffirmed by an oath over the already immutable counsel of God seen in the above point 3 (Heb 6:17).

Linking Rom 9, Eph 1, Gal 3, Heb 6 – we see that the elect are immutably promised an inheritance in Christ from before the foundation of the world. And by implication, the non-elect are not made any such promise.

The observations that arise from this and their inferences are seen next..