What is God's foreknowledge in Romans 9?
In Romans 9, God's foreknowledge is His prior knowledge of who would become believers, linked to the concept of election. It does not make God unfair or leave the unsaved without a chance, because the door to the sheepfold is open at ground level to whosoever will choose to enter.
Les explains that in Romans 9 the whole concept of election and foreknowledge of God concerns who would become believers. The unsaved person does not have to worry or fret about it, nor take the attitude, 'I don't have a chance unless God elects me.' Les points to John 10's shepherd and sheepfold: no one comes into the sheepfold but by the door; any other way makes them thieves and robbers. The door is at ground level—not on a high sheer cliff, not across a raging river, not beyond an impossible mountain range. It is in front of every human being, and all they have to do is choose to go through it. If they don't, it is not God's fault.
More Questions
Where in Romans 9 does the sovereignty of God especially show up?
God is sovereign, Les stands constantly on the sovereignty of God and will never back away from it, and the coming verses of Romans 9 will especially show it.
How should we understand Romans 9-11 in relation to the Old Testament?
We must tie Paul's teaching in Romans 9, 10, and 11 to the Old Testament account.