Romans 9

Friday, 9 August 2013

For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,… Romans 9:3

Here we have the explanation for Paul’s comments in verses 1 & 2 which stated that he was being truthful in Christ and that his conscience bore witness in the Holy Spirit concerning his sorrow and grief of heart. And what was the reason? It was for the sake of his fellow “countrymen according to the flesh,” meaning his Jewish brethren, the people of Israel.

His burden was so great for them that he says, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren.” It is astonishing how many scholars come to this verse and reject the plain sense of what Paul is saying. It is simple, direct, and to the point. If he could, he would trade his own place in Christ for the sake of the salvation of his people. Scholars simply cannot conceive that he means what he says and they go into great and lengthy discourses on why he doesn’t really mean this.

The verb Paul uses for “I could wish” is ēuchomēn. It is in the imperfect tense, indicative mood, and middle or passive voice. The translation “I could wish” is exactly what he is saying, not “I did wish” or “I would, but” or any other forced translation. Paul truly meant what he said, just as Moses meant the same thing after Israel’s great sin of idolatry at the base of Mount Sinai –

“Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.'” Exodus 32:31, 32

Paul was fully aware that one cannot take the place of another in eternal damnation. However, it didn’t change the feelings he had concerning the matter. This is the reason for invoking the name of Christ and the witness of the Spirit in the first two verses of chapter 9. The person who truly understands the state of the afterlife for those who fail to receive Christ’s gift is then impelled by the highest sense of responsibility to share that message. And his heart should be so broken for their state that they would likewise be willing to take their place rather than see them perish.

As we move through chapters 9-11, we will see Paul’s thoughts on Israel, both in his present and into the future. When one sees the church as replacing Israel, then of course they would try to force a translation other than what Paul clearly intended. But when we see that their rejection of Christ is not the end of the story for them, Paul’s words make all the more sense.

Life application: How broken is your heart for the lost around you? And not just those whom you love or are close to, but those with whom you have no affiliation at all except the bond of humanity. When we look at ourselves as sinners saved by grace, then how can we not look at those around us and feel the pain of a broken heart at their fallen state?

Heavenly Father, I may not share the same politics or ideologies of those around me, but I share the common bond of humanity. I once was blind to the truth of Your word and was on the wide path leading to destruction. Now that my destiny has changed, give me the desire and the ability to lead others onto the narrow path which leads to life. Break my heart for the lost around me, O God. Amen.

Thursday, 8 August 2013

….that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. Romans 9:2

This is the continuation of the previous half of Paul’s thought. He had stated that he was speaking the truth and that his conscience bore witness in the Holy Spirit to this fact. His heart truly had “great sorrow and continual grief.” The reason for this pain will be explained as the chapter unfolds and as he writes his great dialogue on the state of Israel during this time of their rejection of Christ Jesus.

What Paul shows us here, and what we will find throughout the New Testament, is that there truly is a time for grief. As Solomon puts it in Ecclesiastes 3:4 –

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

At the same time as bearing his grief, Paul was also filled with joy continually (e.g. 2 Corinthians 7:4). From this we learn that there is room for both states in the heart at the same time and that there is nothing wrong or deceptive with it. Our lives can be filled with joy immeasurable at the prospect of eternity with Jesus and yet broken at the unsaved status of those we love. Paul shows us that this is so and therefore we can confidently live in the same manner without belying the joy of our salvation.

Life application: There is nothing wrong with grieving. In fact, it would show a failing in us if we didn’t grieve over the lost. Let your heart be broken for that which breaks the Lord’s heart.

Heavenly Father, my life is filled with joy, peace, and contentment at the promise I have in Christ. I am full to overflowing in this way. And at the same time, my heart grieves for those who haven’t received the peace and salvation which You freely offer to all. Please open the eyes of those I love to the truth of the good news. This is my prayer today. Amen.

Wednesday, 7 August 2013

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,… Romans 9:1

After eight detailed chapters concerning deep theological and doctrinal truths, chapter 9 suddenly turns in a new direction – the state of the Jewish people in the world and their status before God at Paul’s present and into the future. This discourse will continue through chapter 11. After this section will come Paul’s exhortations to the church in Rome to close out the book. Because of the seemingly unrelated nature of Romans 9-11, it is often called a “parenthesis” in the book. But the importance of Israel as a people is an integral part of what God is doing in human history.

The “church age,” also known as the “Dispensation of Grace” will not continue on forever. Depending on how you interpret the rest of theBible, and especially Israel’s status, your expectation of what will occur after the church age will be completely different than someone who perceives Israel’s future role differently. In other words, “Is God through with Israel?” “Has the church replaced Israel?” “Is there still a plan and purpose for the people of Israel?” What is correct and how can we tell?

In 9:1, Paul begins with “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying.” What he will relate to us is either truth or it is a lie. If it is a lie, then nothing else he has said can be held as reliable either. In other words, his words here are either an anchor which holds fast for the entire epistle, or they are the cunning deception of a man who desired to pull his audience into the depths of a raging ocean. By invoking the title of “Christ” in his vow, he is making a claim that Christ is, in fact, God. This can be determined from the Old Testament, of which he once served as a Pharisee. In Deuteronomy 6:13 it says –

“You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”

By invoking Christ in Romans 9:1, he is either blaspheming the name of the Lord (Jehovah) or he is claiming that Jesus is the incarnate Word of God – Jehovah in the flesh. After claiming the truth in Christ and affirming it, he reaffirms it by calling on the Holy Spirit as a witness to his conscience. The matter which he will state is of such importance to him that he has brought the very fellowship of the Spirit who resides in him into the matter. In essence, either I am crazy, or the Spirit testifies to the truth as a witness along with me.

Life application: Jesus, as well as the apostles after Him, tell us to let our yes be yes and our no be no. In other words, let our words be of such weight that when we speak, those around us will know they are the truth. At times, however, a matter may be of such importance that we must invoke God in our words. Invoking anything less than God is idolatry. Let us never flippantly invoke God’s name and let us never invoke any thing in creation when making a vow.

Lord God, sometimes I find that just being still in Your presence and thinking on Your greatness is the most wonderful place to be. I can think on Your creation and all its beauty. I can think on Your word and all its lessons, and I can think on what You have given me in the life of Your Son. At times like these, I am filled with the joy of Your presence. Thank You for the quite moments with You. Amen.