Rom 9:1-13 "Our Own People"

Intro

When I was in lower elementary grades it was common for a birthday to be celebrated by the mother sending something like cupcakes for everyone in the class. There were some unwritten expectations of fairness in this birthday tradition. 1) Nobody in the class was to be excluded—same treat for everyone; and 2) it was acceptable to send extra for the office staff, but NOT for the other classes in the same grade.

When our kids were the same age we moved from a small town in Oklahoma to a larger city in Wisconsin. The Kenosha Unified School District implemented a restriction that all treats served in the school were to be prepared in a commercial-licensed kitchen. I don’t know if they were suspicious of the sanitation in some homes or if Paielli’s bakery had made donations to certain school board campaigns. Soon the home-baked cupcakes were replaced by shrink-wrapped Hostess cakes.

But the expectation remained that there was enough for everyone or there was to be nothing shared with anyone.

This understanding of fairness [everybody or nobody] shapes many expectations of life after death.

Some believe that life ceases with final breath and NOBODY goes to Heaven or Hell

Some believe that everybody goes to Heaven unless they are REALLY bad (murder, rape, warlords, etc.)

Some believe that how one dies makes a difference

- assuming that all who die heroically serving fellowman (soldiers, firemen, law enforcement, those who shield others from active shooters). I guess this assumes that my enemies must be God’s enemies. But think for a moment about the logic. During America’s Civil War (I picked that conflict because we sang Battle Hymn of the Republic earlier and both sides were Americans) the honor of a soldier’s death probably depends upon what side you were on. Nobody thinks there is a Yankee Heaven and a separate Dixie Heaven.

Some believe that God uses a Justice scale and entrance is based on good outweighing bad.

While I don’t know anybody who would say it out loud, Some believe the group of race or religion to which you cling determines outcome.

i.e. I’m American, America is (or used to be) a Christian Nation, therefore I am a Christian and will go to Heaven. This type of thinking was very popular in Paul’s day.

I’m a Jew, the Jews are God’s chosen people, if I go anywhere, I go to Abraham’s bosom. while Gentiles have no hope unless they proselytize.

This book in our Bible has spent the previous 8 chapters dispelling wrong assumption and saying that nobody get automatic entrance based upon their nationality or their innate goodness. IT REQUIRES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST that is graciously given individually based upon personal repentance and faith.

TRANSITION: Taking universalism off the list of options, since salvation is a personal matter, Paul clearly is genuinely concerned for those closest to him, and we should be concerned for others who are close to us!

The Disciple’s Genuine Passion (Romans 9:1-3)

I do not deny that the Scripture clearly promises that those who bless Abraham’s descendants will be blessed.

Some believe that the Day of Pentecost, Peter’s vision in Acts 10 and Paul’s statement in Galatians 3 means that all distinction between Jew and Gentile has gone away. [That understanding of Galatians must also mean that there is no longer any distinction between male and female.

Some mistakenly believe that Isaac’s descendants have had exclusive and limitless access to God’s family before Pentecost. But God did welcome foreigners like Ruth the Moabitess into the royal family.

I believe that the children of promise (Jews who are faithful to the God of the Bible) have an elevated position in God’s workings, But that is not the main flow in this text.

As I read the passion in these words I don’t get the sense that Paul is passionate because of their unique position, but more because they are his own tribe

apathy versus great sorrow and unceasing anguish.

No action with and without emotion.

Much could be said about political positions for and against modern Israelis. I could talk about food packages for Holocaust survivors. I could talk about demonstrations and violence against Jewish embassy employees.

The action that Paul is trying to stir is related to Abraham’s descendants’ awareness of Christ! It is their unawareness of Christ that stirs great sorrow and unceasing anguish.

Paul wants emotion to lead to action. We waste too much emotional energy on hypotheticals.

Have wished (KJV) versus could wish (modern translations)

This is one of the occasions where the old may be better than the new. The KJV is more grammatically precise, while the NASB, ESV, NIV, CSB capture the meaning behind the thought.

The Message (a paraphrase, not a translation) explicitly captures the meaning of Ro9.3 that prompts translators to add the word “could”. It is impossible to exchange one person’s faith for another’s so Paul is clearly meaning to be hypothetical.

Romans 9:3 MSG

If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they could be blessed by him, I’d do it in a minute. They’re my family.

3. The Passion Translation (actually another paraphrase) also capture the intended meaning of Ro. 9.3

Romans 9:3 TPT

For my grief is so intense that I wish that I would be accursed, cut off from the Messiah, if it would mean that you, my people, would come to faith in him!

Much emotion, but still no action

Passion alone is hypothetical until passion compels testimony!

Emotion AND Action

Each week you see the 5/50 challenge before the welcome is given. 2 1/2 years ago I challenged all of us to pray for our neighbors because I believe pray would change our hearts so that we would want to put our compassion into action and care for our neighbors. If we genuinely care for our neighbors it makes them more responsive to allow us to share our compassion with words.

Notice words 3-5 of Ro 9.1 - sharing without caring comes across as judgment. Caring without sharing looks like apathy. Caring by sharing is compassion in action!

The Mission to Blessed People (Romans 9:4-5)

God is already at work! Our role is to help people notice what God is doing around them.

God’s working in Paul’s People

The adoption - Ex 6.7

The glory - Ex 40.34-35

The covenants - Gen 9:8

The giving of the law - Ex 24.12

The worship - Is 12.5

The promise - Josh 21:45

The patriarchs - Ex 3.6

The lineage of Christ from their race - Mt 1.1

God’s working in Our People

An ESSENTIAL distinction. – God sovereignly chose Abraham (Gen 12), since then nations have chosen the God of the Bible or other gods.

It was after the conclusion of the giving of Scripture that Rome gave preference to Christianity over paganism.

I deny whole-heartedly the claim that Jesus came to America to establish a church of latter day saints.

I’ve read the whole book, from Cover to maps, and never found the name America!

God has blessed our country because we have chosen to bless His people and honor Him. [When America chooses to pursue other gods or idols, He has never stated a covenant of faithfulness to us and we should tremble.]

Modern pundits deny that America was founded as a Christian country by citing various politicians from the mid to late 1700s, But do you know the story of the Mayflower Compact? 150 years earlier?

When the Pilgrims left England, they obtained permission from the King of England to settle on land farther to the south near the mouth of the Hudson River (in present-day New York). Because they chose to remain where they landed in New England, they needed a new permission to settle there. On November 11, 1620, needing to maintain order and establish a civil society while they waited for this new permission, the adult male passengers signed the Mayflower Compact.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, 

Look at our money

from the smallest coin to the largest bill that I frequently carry I see the words “In God we Trust”

Look in our Library

I randomly picked 3 books that I have not read, but will be available after this sermon for you to check-out from our church loan Library.

One of our country’s veterans (who is here this morning) has told me that “the country he enlisted to defend was much different than our country today”.

4. On this Memorial Day, we do well to remember, to reflect, and where necessary to repent!

TRANSITION: I promise not to take as much time talking about the next 8 verses as I have the first 5. But the Bible Author roots his passion and his patriotic concern within one more frame…

The Sovereign Purpose of God (Romans 9:6-13)

Paul does not equate being a good Jew with being a good Christian and we cannot equate being a good American, or a good conservative, or a thoughtful progressive with being a good Christian because God is redeeming for himself a bride from every tribe and every nation.

God doesn’t save all - because not all want to repent

God doesn’t save few - because His love is lavished upon humanity. He desires to save many that we would think are beyond mercy.

God desires to save more and invites us to preach the good news.

Conclusion:

We’ll pick up Ro 9.14 next week should the Lord not return for His Church and look further at how God’s sovereign choices are just AND merciful.

This week I call us ask God to stir our passion for our countrymen and to give us boldness to join Paul in speaking the Truth. This leads directly into our…

Light & Lamp Application:

Light for my Path

When our passion partners with God’s plan, the kingdom comes! When He does His part and we do our part His kingdom comes and His will is done on earth.

Lamps for my Steps

Consider the destiny of the unevangelized. What exactly does eternity look like for those who never hear about or believe in Jesus?

Ask God to stir your heart for the lost.

Prepare a baby step plan to put passion into action.

Response Song #116................ “Take the Name of Jesus with You”