November 20
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Introduction
This morning we will continue our walk through the book of Romans into chapter 9. Chapters 9-11 are a little bit different. We do not want to skip them, there are things here that we have to understand. We need to have a working knowledge of the doctrines presented here, if we are going to claim to be Christians.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.
We cannot skip things or dance around things, if that is the heart of God in Hosea, and God does not change, then I want to understand these things. I want to get it.
There are some really difficult passages to understand here - things that are difficult to wrestle with.
As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
is one of those passages.
It is also important that we take these three chapters together, as much as we can.
If you read just Romans 9 - you might develop a God does it all, what I consider an extremely calvinistic view. God predestines, God calls, we just sit around and things happen to us.
If you only read Romans 10, then you might develop a theology where God barely involved in your salvation at all. You work it out. You are the one who confesses Jesus is Lord with your mouth and are therefore saved. Its all up to you.
There is truth in both of those chapters, we have to consume them together to understand salvation the way that God intended. Romans 11 seems to pull the other two chapters together to help us get it.
We should also understand that it is hard. And Paul didn’t understand it all himself. He ends these three chapters with this beautiful doxology.
Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?
And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Message
This morning we are only in Romans 9:1-5, because there is an issue here we need to see.
I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit—
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.
The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
Several of the scholars and commentators on the book of Romans that I have been studying agree that the break between chapter 8 and chapter 9 is a time where Paul probably told his scribe to go home for the day, and when they got together again, they started on chapter 9. It is a new chain of thought, a new thought process. And Paul starts this way.
I speak the truth in Christ.
Paul is writing, but he is calling on the highest authority he knows.
He says I am not lying. In Ephesians 4 Paul tells us to put on a new nature and not lie to one another.
My conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit.
As believers we know that the words Paul is writing here are absolute. He says that the Holy Spirit has tested them, and we know - because they are included in scripture today - they have been protected by God for centuries.
In American, he is saying “As God is my witness, I swear on my granddaddy’s grave this is the truest thing I ever did say”
Why does he say that?
Because the next thing that he says is a little bit unbelievable.
You lay down guarantees when what you are saying could be debated.
It seems a little bit ridiculous.
Its the biggest fish you ever caught in the smallest puddle you’ve ever fished.
You lay on the fat for the sake of the thing you’re about to say.
So what is he building up?
I have great sorry and unceasing anguish in my heart.
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.
Paul is writing about the nation of Israel. The Jewish people. His people. Before coming to Christ, these were his only people. He was zealous for their causes. He persecuted Christians.
There were people who would question what Paul was saying here.
Because He changed. He used to be the best of the Jews. And he gave all of that up. His primary identity now is as a Christian.
And now he writes, I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
We go from hope and joy in Chapter 8, to a sudden realization that there are so many that do not have it. That cannot receive it. People that Paul cared about.
His new understanding of God, the Salvation he now understood - they couldn’t have. And it hurt.
Paul had a burden for them. He loves them.
This may not sound like love language, he calls them cursed here. But it absolutely is.
These were his people and they were going to hell.
They rejected Christ.
He says
If I could - I would take their place if they could take mine.
This is now the most important thing to him.
He would take their place in hell if it could work out that way.
The thing is - Paul understands it.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.
The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.
Paul had a personal passion for the Lost.
Paul had a personal passion for sharing the gospel.
So he did.
And here - he tells us how deep that passion is.
If you know Paul’s story, we know that his passion caused him to endure some really difficult things - which is part of the reason I believe that he is writing to us here in Romans 9.
Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.
Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea.
On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers;
toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.
Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.
Our Passion dictates our behavior.
What we are passionate about determines how we use our resources.
There are times where our resources are forced out of our hands. Where the realities of life consume everything we have - our obligations outweigh our passions.
But most of the time, what we are passionate about, determines how we use our resources.
A personal passion for the lost, will lead to personal interaction with the Lost.
There is a story about two Salvation Army officers who set out to start a new work, only to meet with failure and opposition. Frustrated and tired they appealed to the General to close the mission. General Booth sent back a telegram with two words on it, "TRY TEARS". They followed his advice and they witnessed a mighty revival (2).
We get passionate about sports, music, vehicles, activities..... Our passions dictate our behavior.
Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.
Paul knew the people around him were lost. - We have to acknowledge this.
Paul cared so much for the lost that he wanted to take their place.
Develop a passion for the lost:
Understand their plight, know their story.
Be involved in their lives.
Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them.
3. Pray for God to give you that heart.
Warning to the lost.
Affiliation with the things of God is not the same as salvation through the Gospel
Romans 9:3-5 ESV
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
So my question to us this morning is....
What are you passionate about?
Try tears.