Romans 9:1-5

                                                                     Romans 9:1-5

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

 

The argument that justification is by faith alone and not by the works of the law may be misinterpreted to seem like Israel is being rejected.  Paul’s teaching that Gentiles have the same opportunity to salvation may seem like a rejection of Israel.  Paul wants to make it abundantly clear that Israel has not been rejected.  Much to the contrary, both he and God have great affection and love for Israel.

 

PAUL’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL: Paul goes so far as to say that if it were possible, he would be willing to be accursed in the place of unbelieving Israel so that they could be saved.  He calls the Holy Spirit as his testimony of his love and affection for Israel as a nation.  They are his kinsmen, and he loves them deeply.  Paul was called as an apostle to the Gentiles and faithfully took the message of Christ to many unreached places.  However, he always started his preaching in the Synagogues amongst his own people.  This was done out of love for them as well as out of a desire to establish local churches with qualified leadership.  The nation of Israel had become very exclusive in their treatment of those from outside nations.  Due to their prejudice, they could have seen Paul’s love of the Gentiles as hatred for them.  Paul makes it abundantly clear that is not the case.  We are all called to love all people from all nations.

 

GOD’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL: Not only does Paul love Israel, but God loves Israel very deeply.  They are His chosen nation, and He has blessed them richly and repeatedly.  They were adopted as a most favored nation.  God blessed them and made them a glorious and prosperous nation.  They were given revelation of God’s will and Word through prophets as well as the Scriptures.  All the patriarchs belong to them, and they have incredible promises that no other nation enjoys.  Jesus, the Messiah, was sent to the nation of Israel and He is a part of the nation of Israel.  There is no other nation about which such things can be said.  God’s love for the nation of Israel is undeniable.  What God is striving to make clear through His servant Paul is that God’s love for Israel is not exclusive.  He loves all nations like He calls all His followers to love all nations.  God is on mission to restore Israel and reach all people everywhere.  He invites us to join Him on that mission.

 

APPLICATION: Like Israel, we have been loved by God and chosen to be members of His family.  We must never allow our blessings to become sources of pride in our lives that would cause us to be discriminatory of other people groups or another individual who remains lost.  God is calling us to show His love to all people everywhere.  We must be willing to sacrifice our comfort and be willing to leave our homes and nations to demonstrate His unfailing love. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and   dignified in every way.    This is good, and   it is pleasing in the sight of   God our Savior,   who desires   all people to be saved and   to come to   the knowledge of the truth.    For   there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,   who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is   the testimony given   at the proper time.    For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying),   a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.   Prayer is one of the greatest privileges believers have and it should be one of our greatest priorities.  Too often our lives are more often marked by complaining about our circumstances and our political leaders than by prayers for them.  The government in Paul’s day
Read more