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Chapters 9-11 looks at the role of Israel in God’s plan for salvation of the world. Looking back at Chapter 3 we see that the Jews had a distinct advantage over Gentiles in knowing about God, but they turned their backs on His commands. Chapter 4 gives us Abraham, the ancestor for the Jews through Isaac and Jacob, as an example of faith as the path to God.
In some ways, chapter 9, is a sharp turn in the letter. The Israelites were adopted into God’s family with glory, and covenants, the Law, the temple, and all their ancestors that led to Jesus. They were sons by birth, but not by faith. God had chosen them, not Israel choosing God. It is God’s plan, not man’s. Israel rejected God’s plan. The result was that now Gentiles were shown/given the way to be children of God. Gentiles have a shot at righteousness even though they have not pursued it. A remnant of Jews will be saved.
***Outline
9:1-5 - Concern for Jews
9:6-8 - God’s word did not fail
9:9-13 - Sarah & Rebekah
9:14-18 - It Depends on God
9:19-21 - Why find Fault
9:22-29 - God’s patience
9:30-33 - Gentiles gained righteousness
1 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.
V. 1-2 - “I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.” - After the joy and exultation we saw in chapter 8, this is jarring change in tone. Paul wants to impress on us how much he care for the Jews - he’s telling the truth; he’s not lying, and the Holy Spirit confirms it in his conscience.
V. 3-5 - “I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ” - This is an astounding statement! Paul would be willing to go to Hell if it would mean Jews would come to Christ as Lord and Savior! Jesus Christ died and went to Hell for you and I, separated from the Lord, and then was resurrected to eternal life.
“My brethren, my kinsmen... Israelites...” - Paul asked a rhetorical question back in Rom. 3:1 “Then what advantage has the Jew?” His answer then was simple, “Great!” He will spend the next couple of chapters working out the details. Paul rues the fact that his fellow Israelites have worked so hard at ignoring God’s call to them.
The Israelites are special in God’s economy. He chose them, through His promise to Abraham - adoption as sons. The Jews did not pick God to bless them. A child does not tell a family it will adopt him. That adoptive family makes the choice. It is God who chose them. (Deut. 4:37, 10:15)
The Israelites did not generate a pillar of fire, or column of smoke to proceed or protect them. (Exo. 13:21, 22)They did not part the Red Sea, or collapse it again on the Egyptian army. (Exo. 14:15-31) They did not provide the water, or manna, or quail in the dessert to feed and sustain them. (Exo. 16) They did not generate the glory that proceeded them as they entered or conquered the lands. They did not cause fear in the nations because of Israel’s prowess. The nations feared Israel’s God.
The Israelites did not author the Law. They did not write the covenants and give them to God for Him to sign off. They did not design the tabernacle, nor the altars, or Ark of the Covenant.
The Israelites did not choose David to be king, nor did they sustain his family line from David time until that of Joseph and Mary.
“From whom is the Christ... who is over all,” - All the world is blessed because of the Jews. Jesus was a Jew, from the family line of King David. (See: Matt. 1:1-16; Luke 3:3:23-28)
I use the past tense tentatively, because Jesus is alive - He is not a “was” as in dead and gone. He was killed on the cross, was buried, and resurrected. I do not know if His re-birth ends the claim of Jewishness, because He is born anew and rules in heaven with God the Father. ”He is seated at the right hand of God." (Col. 3:1) In heaven, as God’s children, Jewishness or Gentileness would seem to be irrelevant, for there is no difference - we are God’s children. That is all that matters. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:34)
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