Paul's Burden for Israel

Paul’s Burden for Israel

Romans 9:1-5

In chapter 3:1-8 Paul began dealing with the question of what God would do with the Jewish nation.

Did they have any advantage at all? In chapter 9 he picks the thought up again. Chapters 9-11 focus on the nation of Israel. It’s interesting that this section follows chapter 8. In chapter 8 Paul tells us how secure our salvation is. Some may have wondered if salvation is so secure why does it appear the Jewish nation has lost theirs? That could be on Paul’s mind as he begins this section.

We will answer a lot of questions concerning Israel in the coming weeks. While the context is Israel there will be many applications for us all.

v. 1 What Paul is about to say is so unbelievable that he assures the readers he is telling the truth three separate times:

“I am speaking the truth in Christ” Paul loved Jesus. He was speaking from the love he had for His Lord. He would not use the name of Jesus lightly.

“I am not lying” Paul was a moral man. He knew that lying is a great sin.

“My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit” Here we see two precious things affirmed Paul was telling the truth:

1) His conscience. Everyone has a conscience. The conscience of an unbeliever is affected by the sin nature. Titus 1:15 says that the lost person has a defiled conscience. Paul was saved and his conscience in this matter was clear. If he had been lying he would have known it by his conscience.

2) The Holy Spirit. This is the only way to truly trust the conscience. When a person is saved the Holy Spirit lives within them. He works alongside the conscience.

Paul had not violated his conscience, nor had he grieved the Spirit.

Paul is about to tell people how much he loves the Jewish people. Why might people doubt this?

Here’s a few reasons:

1) Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. He preached in synagogues, but his main calling was to the Gentiles.

He often sided with them in theological discussions.

He traveled with them to preach.

He stayed in their homes.

He worked alongside them.

Some may have thought Paul had abandoned his own people for the Gentiles.

2) Paul was harsh in preaching to the Jews. He told them in no uncertain terms that their heritage would not save them. They needed Christ.

3) Paul appeared to some to cast aside the Laws and traditions of the Jews. His preaching encouraged people not to trust the Law for salvation. This was taken by some in the wrong way. Paul loved the Law. He also knew it could not save anyone.

When you are committed to God there will be people who misunderstand you. Even among your own family some may think you don’t love them anymore. We cannot help the way people perceive us. We must live for God and trust the Holy Spirit to do His work.

v. 2 “That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart”

Paul was like Jeremiah who wept over the spiritual state of his people. Paul carried with him a heaviness that was never fully interrupted.

This is the state of the Christian. We rejoice in our salvation, but we are burdened for others who are not saved. We carry this burden with us every day.

We ought to be burdened about individuals that are lost. Who are you burdened for specifically? Is there someone you think about daily when it comes to salvation? There should be.

v. 3 Now we come to the part that is hard to believe.

Paul wishes that he could be:

“accursed” = anathema (eternally condemned)

“cut off from Christ” Paul loved Jesus. He looked forward to leaving this world and being with Him.

Essentially Paul is saying “If me going to hell would mean the Israelites would go to heaven, I would go to hell.”

Any of us could say that but very few could say it truthfully. Paul said it truthfully.

It’s not possible. We cannot switch places with one person in eternity, much less a nation.

Notice how Paul speaks so dearly of the Jewish people:

“my brothers” He grew up with these people. He loved them.

“my kinsmen according to the flesh” Here he shows the distinction. They are his brothers but not spiritually.

The relationships we build with family are real. It is hard to think someone we love may be lost. Being kin to a Christian doesn’t save you. Let me give you a few reasons we should be burdened about those we are kin to:

1) If we are burdened, we are more likely to accept the reality of the danger they are in.

2) If we are burdened, we are more likely to pray for their salvation.

3) If we are burdened, we are more likely to witness to them.

4) If we are burdened, we are more likely to live for Christ in front of them.

Let me ask you a question: Who would you switch places with so they could go to heaven? I know it’s not possible, but if it were, who would you switch places with?

Now, when is the last time you shared the gospel with that person. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’d go to hell for someone if you’re scared to witness to them. Hell is a lot scarier than sharing the gospel.

v. 4-5 Verse 4-5 show the benefits the Jewish nation have. Paul gives a list of privileges they possess.

1) They are Israelites. They are the descendants of Jacob. They are a chosen nation who were united under the worship of the One True God. God called this nation out of Egypt and set His love upon them.

2) They are God’s adopted nation. Adoption, in this context, does not speak of individuals. God adopted Israel as a nation. He called the nation His “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22).

3) The glory. When Israel traveled through the wilderness the shekinah glory of God accompanied them. The presence of God was manifest visibly during the day and night (Ex. 16:10). When the Temple was built His presence was in the Holy of Holies.

4) The covenants. God made promises to this nation. He began with Abraham (Ge. 12:15-17). He continued with Jacob (Gen. 28:1-4), and David (2 Sam. 7:8-16).

5) The giving of the Law. God gave the Law to Moses (Exodus 19-31).

6) The worship. God instructed Israel with great detail on how He was to be worshipped (Hebrews 9:1).

7) The promises. There are many promises found in the OT. The greatest are the promises of a coming Savior (Isa. 9:6).

8) The patriarchs. God gave the Israelites great men of faith like Abraham & Isaac. These men stand as examples of great faith and integrity.

9) The Christ. This is the greatest privilege of the Israelites. The Savior would come through them.

The end of verse 5 is a reference to the deity of Jesus.

Jesus is God.

Jesus is over all.

Jesus is blessed forever.

Israel had amazing privileges. Yet most of Israel was lost and remains lost until now. This is a warning for those who are blessed with privileges of God. We can easily apply the blessings Israel received with the blessing many in our own nation have received.

Many who are lost grew up in a home where there was:

The Word of God. Taught, lived, believed.

The worship of God. They went to church.

The people of God. They were familiar with people who lived for God and were a testimony for Christ.

The promises of God. They witnessed a family that clung to the promises of God and even saw them realized.

The Christ. Christ was in their home.

When someone has these blessings our burden for them is even greater if they are lost. We wonder if they will ever be saved. They have already rejected so much.

What can we do? We can do like Paul.

Carry the weight of their soul upon ourselves.

Pray that God will open their eyes.

Love them.

Plead with them.

I believe when we die the burden of the lost is removed. I don’t think we think about lost people in heaven. I don’t know how we could do that without sorrow. When God wipes away every tear it could be that hurtful memories are erased.

Until we meet Christ it is our responsibility to carry the wight of the lost. We should weep for them. We should long for them. We should never gloat over the lostness of a person or a nation.