Romans 9-10: The Gospel and Israel
Application: The student will pray to have a burden to win lost souls to Christ.
THE FOCUS VERSES GIVEN TODAY LEAD US INTO CHAPTER 10 BUT THERE ARE SOME STRONG WISDOM WORDS IN CHAPTER 9 THAT WILL SET OUR HEARTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CHAPTER 10 AS WE ENTER IT.
THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS IN A PRIVILEDGED POSITION WHEN IT CAME TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
IN CHAPTER 9 PAULS EXPRESSES HIS SADNESS THAT ISRAEL HAD SQUANDERED THIS POSITION OF BEING THE CHOSEN NATION WHEN THEY REJECTED JESUS AS THEIR MESSIAH.
DESPITE CENTURIES OF FAVOR FROM GOD, AND HAVING BEEN ALLOWED THE SUPREME HONOR OF HAVING GOD’S SON GIVEN TO THEM, THEIR HARD HEARTS LED THEM TO RECEIVE HIM NOT.
THIS REJECTION BROUGHT CALVARY AND THE HEARTBRAKE OF PAUL FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE WHEN THEY FORSOOK THE GIFT AND CLUNG TO THEIR FALSE LEGALISM.
PAUL KNEW HE WAS SENT UNTO THE GENTILES BUT HE NEVER LOST HIS LOVE FOR ISRAEL AND HE ALWAYS HOPED FOR SALVATION TO ARRIVE FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE IN FULL.
CHAPTER 9 PRESENTS THE TEACHING OF GOD’S PAST DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL, CHAPTER 10 PRESENTS GOD’S DEALING WITH ISRAEL DURING PAUL’S LIFE, AND CHAPTER 11 PRESENTS GOD’S FUTURE PURPOSE FOR ISRAEL.
WE HAVE LEFT THE CHAPTERS OF DOCTRINE GIVEN IN 1 – 8 AND NOW CHAPTERS 9 – 11 WHICH ARE DISPENSATION WITH ROMANS 12 – 16 TO PRESENT DUTY.
PAUL DEFINES ISRAEL AND HIS SORROW FOR THEM IN VERSES 1-5.
HERE IN CHAPTER 9 PAUL WILL PROVIDE US WITH SEVERAL SPECIFIC THINGS THAT IDENTIFY ISRAEL FOR HIS READERS.
ONE: THEY WERE ADOTED AS A NATION BY GOD AND HE DECLARED IT IN EXODUS 4:22 SAYING THAT ISRAEL WAS HIS SON. GOD SAID IT AGAIN IN HOSEA 11:1 WHEN HE SAID HE CALLED HIS SON OUT OF EGYPT.
TWO: WITH ISRAEL GOD SHOWED HIS GLORY WHICH WAS NOT GIVEN TO ANY OTHER NATION. IN EXODUS 40:35 HIS CLOUD OF GLORY WAS SO THICK IN THE TABERNACLE THAT EVEN MOSES COULD NOT ENTER.
NO PEOPLE OTHER THAN ISRAEL HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF GOD.
THREE: GOD GAVE ISRAEL THE COVENANTS MANY OF WHICH HE HAS ALREADY FULFILLED AND ALL THE REMAINDER WILL ALSO BE FULLY FILLED AS HE HAS PROMISED.
FOUR: GOD GAVE ONLY TO ISRAEL HIS LAW. HE ANNOUNCED THIS IN EXODUS 19:5 AND SAID THEY WERE HIS “PECULIAR TREASURE” TO HIM. THE LAW OF MOSES POINTED THE NATION FORWARD TO THE REDEEMER AND JESUS TESTIFIED TO THIS FACT ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS.
FIVE: SERVICE AND WORSHIP TO GOD WERE DEFINED BY HIM AND GIVEN ONLY TO ISRAEL TO KEEP, WE KNOW THAT IN THE MELLENNIAL KINGDOM ISRAEL WILL ONCE AGAIN BECOME HIS PRIESTS.
SIX: GOD GAVE HIS SACRED PROMISES TO ISRAEL. HE PROMISED IT TO ABRAHAM, TO MOSES, AND THEN TO JOSHUA, AND HE GAVE IT EXACTLY AS PROMISED. ALL OF PALESTINE WAS SO PROMISED AND MOST OF IT IS NOW THEIRS WITH THE REMINDER STILL UNDER PROMISE TO THEM EVEN TODAY.
SEVEN: GOD GAVE ISRAEL THE FATHERS TO BEGIN HIS RELATION MEANING ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB,
EIGHT: GOD CHOSE ISRAEL TO RECEIVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL WHICH IS THE MESSIAH, PROMISED IN GENESIS AND FULFILLED EXACTLY AS PROMISED. HEBREWS 12:16 TEACHES US THAT JESUS TOOK NOT UPON HIMSELF THE NATURE OF ANGELS BUT RATHER TOOK ON THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.
AFTER GIVING SO MUCH GOD GAVE PAUL SOME OF THE MOST HOPEFUL WORDS OF THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT CONCERNING ISRAEL IN 9:6:
“… For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
THE THE LORD ALLOWS US TO KNOW THAT THE SPIRITUAL OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM ARE AS MUCH A PART OF ISRAEL AS THE PHYSICAL OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM WHO BELIEVE.
PAUL WILL TEACH THIS SAME TRUTH IN GALATIANS.
PAUL LATER AGAIN TEACHES THIS MATTER IN QUOTING HOSEA 2:23 WHEN HE SAID:
“I will say to them which were not my people thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God.”
IN VERSES 30-31 PAUL HAMMERS THIS POINT BY SAYING THAT THE GENTILES WHO HAD NOT FOLLOWED RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE ATTAINED IT WHILE ISRAEL WHICH FOLLOWED THE LAW HAD NOT.
WE CANNOT LEAVE CHAPTER 9 WITHOUT GIVING STRONG HONOR TO PAUL’S TEACHING HERE ON THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION.
IN INTERESTING PARENTHESIS IN VERSE 11 PAUL PRESENTS THE STRONG PROOF OF THE DOCTRINE:
“(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.”)
VERSE 13:
“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
VERSE 18:
“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”
THE QUOTE GIVEN IS FROM MAL 1:2-3 AND THE STATEMENT WAS ONLY MADE BY GOD AFTER BOTH BOYS HAD LIVED OUT THEIR LIVES AND NATIONS HAD SPRUNG FROM EACH ABOUT 2,000 YEARS LATER.
ESAU’S NATION WAS MUCH LIKE HIM, RECKLESS, PRIDEFUL, AND HAVING THEIR BACK TURNED TO GOD.
GOD KNEW THIS AND IN HIS SOVEREIGN WILL CHOSE THE ONE HE KNEW WOULD SERVE HIM, WHICH WAS JACOB.
NOW TO COMPLETE THE PASSAGE ON ISRAEL’S STATUS, PAUL IN VERSES 27-28 QUOTES ISAIAH 10:22-23 AND SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE AS NUMEROUS AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, A REMNANT OF THAT LARGE NUMBER WILL BE SAVED.
IN VERSES 30-31 PAUL MAKES HIS FINAL THRILLING STATEMENT CONCERNING THE GENTILES AND THE JEWS.
THE GENTILES WHO DID NOT FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE ATTAINED IT AND HAVE DONE SO THROUGH FAITH.
THE GENTILES, WITHOUT WILLING IT OR BRINGING WORKS HAVE FOUND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD BY ACCEPTING AND BELIEVING IN THE MESSIAH SENT.
BUT ISRAEL, WHICH HAD FOLLOWED AFTER THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HAD NOT ATTAINED RIGHTEOUSNESS.
IN VERSE 31 PAUL CLOSES THE MATTER BY SAYING WHEREFORE?
HE IS ASKING WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?
BECAUSE ISRAEL SOUGHT IT NOT BY FAITH BUT BY WORKS OF THE LAW. THAT WAS THEIR STUMBLINGSTONE AND AT THAT IMPORTANT ITEM, THEY STUMBLED.
ISAIAH 8:14 & 28:16 BOTH GIVE PROPHECY OF THIS STUMBLING.
WE ARE NOW READY TO CONSIDER CHAPTER 10, WHICH WILL REPORT THE DESIRE OF PAUL FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE FROM WHICH HE CAME.
THE THEME OF CHAPTER 10 IS THE STATUS OF ISRAEL AS A LOST NATION.
OVERALL ISRAEL REMAINS A LOST NATION TODAY.
THE REASON THEY ARE LOST IS THAT CHRIST WAS THE END OF THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
NOW PAUL TURNS TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN.
THE CONCLUDING VERSES OF CHAPTER 9 BROUGHT THE NEED FOR THIS TRANSITION.
PAUL CONFIRMS ALL OF THIS MOMENT BY VERSE 1:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
JESUS HAD ALSO CONFIRMED THIS STATUS IN LUKE 19 WHEN HE TOLD ISRAEL THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE DEFEATED AND NOT ONE STONE WOULD BE LEFT STANDING.
HIS WARNING SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THEY KNEW NOT THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION.
CHRIST WAS WITH THEM AND AMONG THEM AND THEY RECEIVED HIM NOT.
PAUL TEACHES IN VERSES 2-3 THAT THEY HAD A ZEAL FOR GOD BUT NOT ACCORDING TO THE KNOWLEDGE.
THEY WERE IGNIORANT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRIED TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN AND WERE UNWILLING TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THE LORD WALKING AMONG THEM.
IN VERSES 1-5 ERROR OF ISRAEL IS EXPOSED.
PAUL SPEAKS WITH GREAT EMOTION CONCERNING ISRAEL AND ALLOWS THREE POINTS TO HIS TEACHING:
HE IS CONCERNED FOR THEM BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM.
HE SHOWS NO SUPERIORITY IN HIS WRITING, RATHER
HE HUMBLY HOPES FOR THEM.
HE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THEM AS HE GREW UP AMONG
THEM AND WAS ONE OF THEM COMPLETELY.
HE TEACHES THAT THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC AND SINCERE BUT THOSE ARE NOT ENOUGH.
ISRAEL IS SINCERE BUT IS SINCERELY WRONG.
THE ERROR INSIDE ISRAEL IS THAT THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY IGNORANTOF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOW IT IS EXTENDED TO MANKIND.
THEY HAVE BEEN WELL INFORMED FOR CENTURIES BY THE PROPHETS OF GOD BUT THEY PERSIST IN THEIR OWN FORM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THEY TRY TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THE LAWAND THEY ARE PERISHING SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE THE LAW IS ALREADY FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS GIVEN TO THEM EXACTLY FOR THAT REASON.
HOWEVER, ALMOST ALL OF THEM REMAINED IN UNBELIEF.
AFTER THE ERROR WAS EXPOSED AND EXPLAINED, PAUL NEXT EXPOSES THE TRUTH.
HE ILLUSTRATES THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF JUSTIFICATION THROUGH KEEPING THE LAW AND BEING BLESSED IN ANY WAY EXCEPT CHRIST ACCEPTANCE.
PAUL USES THE WORDS OF MOSES IN THE FAREWELL SPEECH OF MOSES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN FIND THE SPIRIT OF HIS LAW IN THEIR HEARTS AND MOUTHS BY SERVING THE ONE THE LORD HAS SENT.
HE TELLS THEM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ASCEND UP TO HEAVEN AT SOME FINAL DAY RESURRECTION TO FIND SALVATION.
JESUS HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO DWELL AMONG US TO BRING THAT SALVATION AS GOD’S GIFT.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO GRASP THAT THE DEFINITION OF FAITH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A HEART BELIEF IN THE REALITY OF THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.
THE BASIS FOR THIS TEACHING ON CONVICTION IS SEEN IN PAUL’S WORDS IN VERSE 11:
“Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.”
IN THIS CHAPTER, PAUL IS BRINGING A MESSAGE VERY STARTLING TO THE JEWS.
JEWS WHO HAD ALWAYS, FOR MANY GENERATIONS, FELT THEY MUST KEEP ALL THE LAW PLUS THE ADDED RULES OF THE PHARISEES WERE NOW BEING TOLD SUCH BELIEF IS INSUFFICIENT FOR SALVATION.
PAUL NOW SAYS FAITH OVERCOMES ALL THOSE LIMITATIONS AND RULES AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENTILES AND JEWS, FOR BOTH ARE TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD & ABRAHAM ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST.
NEXT HE SAYS THAT HOW WILL PEOPLE KNOW THIS NEW AND WONDERFUL TRUTH WITHOUT SOMEONE TELLING THEM?
HOW CAN PEOPLE BE TOLD UNLESS THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE SENT TO TELL?
THE GOSPEL IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF MANKIND BUT THOSE WHO ARE YET LOST MUST BE TOLD ITS TRUTH.
IN VERSES 16-21 PAUL SAYS GOSPEL WITNESS IS NEEDED AND EVEN THOUGH THE JEWS ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THIS NEW TRUTH, THOSE WHO KNOW IT MUST SHARE IT WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT.
HERE IS A MESSAGE AS STRONG TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.
THE CHURCH CANNOT, IN THE LIGHT OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THE FATHER’S PURPOSE, AFFORD TO MISUNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVANGELISM.
THE CHURCH TODAY MUST NOT REPEAT THE FATAL ERROR OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.
