Romans 9 and the Story Paul Was Telling

God is faithful! His word has not failed!
These are the foundation-laying, faith-building, and heart-warming words that the Apostle Paul gave to us in Romans 9. Poetically written, symmetrically presented, structurally solid, and spoken with deep emotion, Romans 9 presents Paul's masterful answer to his objectors who cried-how can you say that Jesus is Israel's Messiah when so many of our people do not believe? He answered, God is faithful. His word has not failed. Let me show you how. But the beauty of Romans 9 has been lost. It has been lost in a controversy over its meaning as different sides in a centuries-long debate have used it as an arsenal for weapons. Is it possible to regain what Paul was saying? Is it possible to hear freshly the story that Paul was telling?