Introduction

(Read Text) Well, many of you know that we have reached the most controversial chapter in Romans and one of the most controversial chapters in the entire Bible. I can’t think of another chapter in the Bible that inspires such passionate debate among Christians as Romans 9.

That’s primarily because this chapter is the point of the spear that divides Calvinists and Arminians. And nothing gets Christians fired up at each other quite like a good ole Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate. And Romans 9 presses the central issue of the debate, who ultimately determines who will be saved? Is it God’s choice or man’s choice? Romans 9 has a lot to say about this fiery issue.

In the process it opens a second can of worms, the problem of evil. This is another complicated and very sensitive subject because we all suffer and because the Bible says that man of the people we love are headed toward hell. If God is all-powerful, he could stop it all immediately, and if he is good, we think he ought to. But he doesn’t.

Why not? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow so much suffering? How could God condemn my loving uncle to hell? These are hard question. Once again, there’s probably no other place that the Bible presses this issue more specifically than Romans 9. And God’s answer is not easy to stomach. Rather, it is highly offensive to the natural man.

But that’s not all. The primary concern of Romans 9–11 is the place of Israel in God’s plan of redemption. And this issue is at the center of another major divide—the divide between dispensationalism and covenant theology. This issue dramatically shapes how you read the Bible, how you understand prophecy, the mission of the church, and the nature of God’s people. It’s a big deal, and again, Romans 9–11 is central to the debate.

So, we’re going to be opening some big cans of worms over the next couple months. I’m sure it will create some interesting conversations. But hopefully, our journey will end in the same place it does for Paul. Notice his conclusion in 11:33–36. That’s where we want to end up. We want to understand God as best we can, not so that we can exalt in ourselves but so that we love and worship him more passionately. So, let’s work to keep that focus.

That said, our text for today is Romans 9:1–5. It gets right to the divide between dispensationalism and covenant theology. But even more importantly, this passage will challenge you to be zealous for the salvation of the people nearest to us. That’s a challenge we all need. The passage consists of two sections. First, vv. 1–3 challenge us to be…

I.  Be zealous for the spread of the gospel (vv. 1–3).

Notice that 9:1 takes a dramatic turn from Romans 1–8. Romans 8 ended on the highest note praising God for the assurance we enjoy in the gospel. But now Paul suddenly shifts to defending his evangelistic zeal for the Jews? So, why does he make such a sudden turn? What is the connection?

As always, it’s helpful to put ourselves in the shoes of the original audience. For 1,500 years God had worked almost exclusively through the nation of Israel. But now Paul is traveling all over the world preaching the gospel he just articulated in Romans 1–8, including the claim that Jews and Gentiles are equal before God, and that the Gentiles don’t need to obey the Law of Moses. It’s a radical change. It was offensive to many Jews, even Jewish Christians.

In fact, it would be very easy for someone to read Romans 1–8 and accuse Paul of stripping the Jews of the blessings God had promised them in the OT. It’s not even hard to imagine some Jews accusing Paul of being anti-Jewish or calling him a traitor.

Verses 1–2 certainly give the impression that Paul had heard that accusation before. “Paul, you’ve abandoned your own people. You love the Gentiles more than the Jews. You’re a traitor!” And even those who were sympathetic to Paul, they might be asking a far more concerning question. “Has God broken his promises to Israel? And if he can break a promise to them, how can I be sure he will keep all the promises God made to me in chapter 8?”

So, Paul must explain why God has not broken a single promise. He also wants to put the Jews at ease by expressing his ongoing love for the Jewish people. Therefore, he begins in vv. 1–3 by expressing his zeal for the Jews and his longing to see them receive the gospel. He prefaces it all in v. 1 by declaring the sincerity of his desire.

Paul’s Sincerity (v. 1): Notice that v. 1 never actually gets to Paul’s point. That doesn’t happen until vv. 2–3. Rather, v. 1 simply consists of 3 qualifiers which all emphasize the truthfulness of what he is about to say. I have to think that means that Paul had heard many people harshly accuse him of betraying the Jewish people.

Therefore, he goes to great lengths, even calling two members of the Trinity as witnesses, to emphasize that what he is about to say is the absolutely true and sincere expression of his heart.

He ties the first two qualifiers to his new life in Christ. He’s saying, “As a new creature in Christ, I assure you, positively, that I am telling the truth. And if I’m not being clear enough, negatively, I am not lying.” Paul really wants the Romans to believe him.

He understands that an honest reputation is a precious stewardship. That’s a good reminder for us all. Don’t be sloppy with the truth. When you speak, you don’t want people to think, “Well, you have to take what Tom says with a grain of salt. He likes to run his mouth, and he likes to sensationalize things.” No, be careful with the truth so that people have no reason to doubt what you say. That confidence a precious stewardship.

Then just to be sure, Paul adds, “My conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit.” In other words, Paul’s conscience is not the least bit bothered by what he has say. He is certain the coming claim is true. And in case someone claims his conscience is seared, he appeals to the indwelling Spirit as another witness. Paul didn’t feel any conviction from his conscience or the Holy Spirit that he was lying. He was being absolutely truthful. Again, I hope you could say the same about everything that comes out of your mouth. Then Paul finally gets to his assertion. Verses 2–3 express…

Paul’s Sorrow (v. 2–3): Paul wants to be clear that this is no token expression of sympathy. Rather, v. 2 uses strong language to describe intense sorrow of the soul. Paul grieved over the lost condition of Israel.

That’s because almost 1500 years prior, God told Abraham that he would be the father of Messiah. For 1500 years Israel had waited and endured. Now the Messiah had come! He provided salvation for all who believe. This is the one they were waiting for!

So, in town after town Paul pleaded with his people to receive their Messiah. Praise the Lord that some responded with faith, but most were hostile to the gospel. In fact, the Jews in Thessalonica, Berea, and other places were often Paul’s harshest opponents. They violently opposed Paul and those who believed his message. It broke Paul’s heart because he loved his people, and he desperately wanted to see them saved.

What about you? Do you grieve for the lost souls in your family? Do you think often of the fact that they are bound for hell unless they receive Christ?

Parents, is there anything you want more for your kids than to see them know the Lord and walk in him? What would they say matters to you based on how you invest your time, passion, and energy? I hope your passion for their souls exceeds your passion for their success, popularity, and friendship.

What about your coworkers, your neighbors, and the people of our community? Do you spend more time fuming about how irritating they are and about their politics, or do you grieve for their lost souls, and are you working to reach them? What does your prayer life say about what matters to you? Are your prayers consumed with worldly cares or with zeal for the Great Commission?

All of us should be challenged by Paul’s zeal for the souls of his people. Pray that God would give you a deep burden for your family members, your neighbors, your coworkers, your classmates, and your community.

And then work to grow it. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If you want to grow a strong burden, invest in reaching people. Pray often for their salvation. Share the gospel. Invite them to church. Listen to their heart. God will grow your vision and your passion. And he will use you to reach them.

That’s what Paul did. He prayed for his people, and he worked to reach them. In fact, the first place he would go when he visited a new town was to the Jewish synagogue. He desperately wanted to reach them.

In fact, notice his claim in v. 3. That is quite the statement. Paul says that if he could, he would sacrifice his own soul for the redemption of Israel. It’s so strong statement that we might want to explain it away, but there’s nothing else it can mean. The word translated “accursed” is anathema. It always refers to eternal damnation.

Of course, Paul didn’t want to be damned or separated from Christ. Christ was his life, his greatest possession. As well, Paul couldn’t possibly trade his soul for the souls of the Jews. Only Christ can atone for sin. Paul knew this. That’s why he says, “I could wish that…” I could do this.

But he would still do it if he could. Moses said something similar following Israel’s rebellion with the golden calf. He prayed to the Lord, “If You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written” (Ex 32:32). Paul makes the same request. He was willing to give his soul for Israel if it were possible.

Again, you can’t do that for your loved ones. But what are you willing to sacrifice to reach those whom you love? And more to the point, what does it take to stop you from pursuing them with the gospel?

All of us are probably ashamed of how often we value peace more than we do the souls of those we love. We often want their love, and we want relationship more than we want to see them in heaven. Maybe you have compromised your testimony at work because you value a promotion more than your employer’s soul.

Therefore, we must remember often that eternity is at stake. Yes, God is sovereign, but from a human perspective, if people do not hear the gospel and believe it, they will go to hell for all eternity. Evangelism is crucial.

We need to pray that God would give us a vision for the lost, courage to risk everything for the souls of men, and wisdom to say the right thing at the right time. Then we need to step out in faith. Ask a question. Start a conversation. Invite them to church. When the opportunity is right, be bold. As you do, watch your burden grow, and see what God may do. God can save anyone. So, the first challenge of our text is, be zealous for the spread of the gospel. The second challenge is very different but also very important.

II.  Don’t presume on God’s grace (vv. 4–5).

Later, I’ll explain why I believe that the central application for us of vv. 4–5 is to not presume on God’s grace. But for now, notice that…

God blessed Israel with great privileges. Verses 4–5 tell us more about Paul’s “kinsmen according to the flesh.” His passion for their souls wasn’t just about national pride or patriotism. They were and still are God’s chosen people.

First, they are “Israelites.” To this point in Romans, Paul has mostly used the word Jew, but throughout Romans 9–11, he most uses the name Israel. That’s because Jew is an ethnic title; whereas, Israel is a covenant name.

It originated in Genesis 32:28 when God renamed Jacob as Israel to symbolize his special love for Jacob and his descendants. From then on, the name Israel represented God’s electing grace toward them. That grace only compounded the tragedy of Israel’s rebellion. God chose Israel for himself, but they rejected their own Messiah.

The rest of v. 4 lists several blessings that came from this choice. I do want to emphasize that Paul uses the present tense when he says that the blessings of v. 4 belong to Israel. Remember that Romans 9–11 factors heavily into the question of Israel’s ongoing role in God’s redemptive plan. Covenant theology claims that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred to the church. But Paul says that they still belong to Israel. We’ll say a lot more about that as we work our way through these chapters.

The first blessing he mentions is that God adopted Israel as his sons. 8:14–17 just mentioned the significance of our adoption through Christ. We are sons of God, and we have a glorious inheritance awaiting us in heaven. Similarly, God chose Israel to be his children. That doesn’t mean that they were all genuinely born again. Most were not. So Israel’s adoption is a national one, not an individual and eternal adoption. Still, God made a marvelous commitment to the nation.

Next Paul says that Israel possesses “glory.” Some believe that Paul is thinking of eternal glory, but simpler view is that God blessed Israel with the glory of his presence. That began in the exodus through the pillar of fire and cloud, and it continued until the time of Ezekiel. God’s manifest presence was a huge blessing of God.

Israel also possessed several unique and special covenants. God made great promises to them in the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, and the Davidic Covenant. No one else had promises like these.

God also gave Israel the Law. We might think that’s more of a curse than a blessing, but the Law was a tremendous blessing. In Deuteronomy 4:6–8, Moses said that if Israel obeyed the Law, other nations would look at them and say, “‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lordour God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”

Sometimes, we are tempted to despise God’s Law and to think I’d be much better off just doing my own thing. But that is never true. The commands of Scripture are for your protection and good. They are grace.

Next, God gave Israel “the temple service.” This is a reference to the sacrificial system and all the other rituals surrounding the tabernacle and later the temple. I am so thankful that I don’t have to go to a temple and offer a lamb to approach God. But I’d much rather offer a lamb than be cut off from God’s presence.

Nothing in the universe is more precious than God’s presence. The temple service gave Israel the opportunity to be near to God. It was a great blessing.

As well, God gave Israel tremendous “promises.” We already talked about this with covenants. God made some great promises to Israel, and God always keeps his promises.

Then v. 5 adds that the “fathers” also belonged to Israel. That’s a reference to the patriarchs, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Jews rightly took great pride in these ancestors to whom God demonstrated marvelous grace.

But the greatest grace that God gave Israel is the last one in this list (v. 5b). From the time of Abraham, Israel’s great hope was the coming of Messiah. Someday, God would send them a perfect prophet, priest, and king. He would fully declare to them the truth of God. He would heal all their sin and provide complete access to God. And he would deliver Israel from every enemy and provide peace and prosperity. All of Israel’s hopes centered in him.

Then he came, just as God promised. And v. 5 powerfully affirms both his deity and his humanity. First, he was an Israelite “according to the flesh.” Just as God promised, Jesus was born to a descendant of David in the town of Bethlehem. He was just as much a man as any of us in this room.

But he was also much more than a man. The NASB says Jesus “is over all. God blessed forever.” He is sovereign over the universe and forever blessed. That’s a clear affirmation of his deity. But we should probably translate this statement as being an even stronger statement of Jesus’ deity. The ESV represents the translation most think is best when it says, He “is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever.” Jesus was not just a great man; he is “God over all.” There is none like him.

But he became flesh, and John 1:11 says “He came to His own,” speaking of Israel. He preached to them like no one ever had. Then he suffered as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment for every Israelite sin and for the sins of the entire world.

Through his death and resurrection, John 1:12 promises, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” Why did Paul have such tremendous zeal for the salvation of Israel? It’s because we are all born into this world, in the words of v. 3, “accursed, separated from Christ.” We are all sinners who are doomed to eternal damnation.

But if you receive Christ, God gives you the right to become a child of God. And how to you receive him, John says you “believe in His name.” You believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God and that he paid the penalty for your sin on the cross. You believe him and receive him. And you become God’s child.

Have you done that? Have you acknowledged Jesus as your Lord and the only Savior of your soul. Have you received him as your Lord and your Savior? If not, we’d love to talk with you about how you can be saved, how you can become God’s child, and how you can know that you will be with him in heaven someday. Please receive Christ.

Because the sobering reality is that the truthfulness of this message and even knowing this message does not guarantee your salvation. Sadly, v. 5 says that Christ is only related to most of national Israel “according to the flesh.” He is their physical relative, but he is not their Savior because they have not believed the gospel. John 1:11 says tragically, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”

Most didn’t think they needed salvation. They had all the blessings of vv. 4–5. They were God’s people. They had the Bible and the sacrifices and the promises. But none of those things changed the fact that they were condemned sinners who needed a Savior.

So many people today are in the same boat. “I don’t need to be saved. I call myself a Christian. I’m a good Lutheran, Baptist, or Catholic. I’ve known the Bible my whole life.” On and on it goes. Don’t presume on God’s grace. All of God’s blessings are real and significant, but the only one that will save your soul is the last one, Jesus Christ. You must receive him as Lord and Savior. Without him, the other blessings mean nothing. With him, they are wonderful graces.

Please receive the gospel. And then Christian, rejoice in the salvation you enjoy and then embrace Paul’s burden to reach the lost. Share the gospel this week. Long for the salvation of those around you.