Romans Chapter 9 - Solicitude for Israel
9 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Paul is a Hebrew of Hebrews. He grew up in a Jewish home and became a senior official, a Pharisee a Doctor of the Law. He was persecuting the Christian way with zeal until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. Paul has a radical conversion after conversing with Jesus Christ. Now Paul is heartbroken for his tribe.
I am telling the truth in Christ (very serious way to start a sentence)
I am not lying (doubling down on the first statement)
My conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit (this goes to the deepest part of your beliefs)
- That I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart (broken heart for the lost)
- For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ (nothing could be worse than this)
- For the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh who are Israelites.
- How about you, is your heart broken for a specific person, family or tribe?
Paul is so concerned about his kinsmen; he could wish himself accursed; he would give up eternity if could just change their destiny. It’s urgent, it’s serious, it’s eternal. Do we care enough to feel that way toward someone or some group of people? This is a real heartfelt burden of love!
Who are Israelites
- Paul tells us who they are
- To whom belongs:
o the adoption as sons
o and the glory and the covenants
o and the giving of the law
o and the temple service
o and the promises
o whose are the fathers from whom is the Christ according to the flesh
o who is over all, God blessed forever
These things belong to the Israelites. The word says “To the Jew First” and “Then to the Gentiles” afterwards. The Jews are God’s chosen people from whom we got the Word, the God and all the promises and the Law and it is there bloodline that Jesus came from.
For all these reasons, the Jews should be included in the family of God
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
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