Sermon Tone Analysis

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SLIDE 3

Romans 9:1-

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SLIDE 4

Romans 9:4-

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SLIDE 5

Romans 9:

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INTRO:

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Paul is basically, beginning a new message beginning at chapter 9.

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In the previous chapters, the argument has been laid out with clarity and conviction… we receive and experience salvation… not according to the demands of the law… not by our works or by our effort…

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But solely by the grace of God.

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We are not bound to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law.

We are unable.

And fortunately, Jesus has fulfilled them on our behalf.

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We stand in the grace of Jesus, as those who have fulfilled the law… not because of our heritage or our birthright…NOT because we are born into a certain family, tribe or nation....

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But solely, because of faith on our part, and THE loving grace on God’s part.

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The message ended with a promise… that we are… not just conquerors… we are… super conquerors… because God is on our side… because His love cannot be separated from us..

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We are incredibly, and amazingly blessed.

You can’t walk away from , and 8 without amazement.

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And yet… in all of this, there was probably a question in the minds of the Roman church… there was still, a nagging thought…

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If God’s promises for us are so great… well, what about Gods promises to Israel?

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If this new, great, amazing message for anyone, Gentiles included is so great… well, what about Israel?

Has God abandoned them?

Has He washed His hands?

And if so, what if He decides later to abandon us and wash His hands of us....

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In , , and 25… Paul was opposed and even arrested because of His message… -that the Gospel was available to the Gentiles.

The Jews took great offense, that this man who was formerly a devout Jew, is now bringing a message of salvation to Gentiles… claiming that Jesus was actually the true Messiah.

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Some would be regarding Paul as a traitor… even amongst those who were in the church at Rome…

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And so… in true form, Paul anticipates this opposition… and lays out a very important lesson beginning in .

It’s a lesson about Israel.

What’s the story?

Where do they fit in?

Has God washed His hands of them?

Has Paul given up on his own people?

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Paul knows these questions exist… so Paul takes some time to answer them.

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SLIDE 6

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Romans 9:1

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I appreciate the tone that Paul is setting forth in verse one.

- Verse two and three are full of emotion.

- And I don’t know about you, but when I hear emotional pleas… I immediately wonder if it’s an act.

Don’t you?

The bigger they play up the emotion… be it a preacher, a politician, a protester, or a salesperson… the more I wonder if I’m getting snowed.

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I don’t know if this would have been an issue in Paul’s culture… but based on his sincere plea in verse one, I’m thinking that maybe… it was.

- In three different ways, Paul is letting his readers know… that he is sincere.

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I know, that those of you who think I’m a traitor to Israel might think that I’m lying… but I am speaking the truth in Christ.

Then he restates it, communicating how emphatic this statement is… I AM NOT LYING.

- Then, a third time… I know, that those of you who think I’m a traitor to Israel might think that I’m lying… but my conscience bears me witness in the HS.

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What Paul is about to say in verse two and three needs to be received as being true.

This is his heart… this is how he honestly and sincerely feels about this issue.

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What is all this heartfelt emotion about?

In what regard, does Paul have great sorrow and anguish?

On whose behalf is Paul willing to sacrifice himself for?

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The end of verse three tells us… for his kinsmen… according to the flesh.

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Up until this moment, Paul has been speaking extensively about his kinsmen according to the spirit.

He regards his spiritual family, in Christ as being a real and true family… - But in the flesh, he was born from the tribe of Benjamin… from his flesh, he is from the nation of Israel.

In his flesh, he is a Hebrew.

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And concerning these kinsmen, according to the flesh… Paul declares… that he wishes he could trade his life… even his own salvation, if it meant that Israel would be saved.

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He doesn’t rejoice that the majority of Israel has rejected the Messiah.

He mourns it deeply.

He mourns for those who do not embrace the truth that he embraces..

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I have to say… I think the church could benefit from a little more mourning.

Think with me for a moment… how do we generally deal with people we disagree with?

How do we deal with people who don’t see things as we do?

How do we deal with people who embrace different doctrines and follow after different teachings?

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Here’s what I have a tendency to do… I have a tendency to draw a line in the sand… and declare that I am on my team, and they are on their team… and my team is better than their team.

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Paul could’ve said… “Oh, those dumb followers of a dead religion!

I have found truth and those losers are floundering in their old ways.”

- Paul could have set himself apart… and because he had truth, and they had a lie… he could have elevated himself over them… and dealt with them harshly.

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But that’s not what he does… even though they, as a group, had persecuted Paul… he doesn’t cast hatred and aspersion towards them.

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But we have a tendency to do this… it’s natural, and it’s easy to fall into it.

To curse the Christians who follow after false doctrines because we embrace true doctrine.. or to criticize and demote the Christians who follow after petty and shallow platitudes because we study the whole counsel of God.

Or to shake our social media fists at those who practice a form of Christianity that is devoid of the Gospel, while we are saved and blessed fully in the Gospel.

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I have a friend… a pastor friend… who is one of the most passionate and devoted guys I know.

I respect his zeal and his commitment to give his all for Jesus.

However… when it comes to his fellow Christians who don’t believe exactly as he does… He’s just mean.

- I’m often a bit uncomfortable with the judgment he casts towards

Paul mourns deeply for the lost and the deceived.

The ones who hated him… the ones who beat him… the ones who had him arrested… the ones who hired assassins and plotted his death… - Paul doesn’t hate them back… Paul mourns deeply for them… because they don’t know the freedom and the blessing that he knows in Jesus.

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He’s going to re-state it with clarity at the beginning of chapter 10

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SLIDE 7

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When Paul writes to Timothy, he challenges him to do his best to present himself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

… you’ve heard this verse before… ...

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Then, after telling him what to do, he tells him what to avoid… - to not participate in irreverent babble… (vs.

16)… to avoid those who preach false ideas about the resurrection (vs.

18).

To cleans himself from dishonor, (vs.

21)… then he gets real direct in vss 22-26…

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flee youthful passions… pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.. Avoid foolish controversies… Don’t be quarrelsome, but be kind.... able to teach, patiently enduring evil… - Then vss 25-26 is where he brings this message home.

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SLIDE 8

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I said earlier… that the church would benefit from a little more mourning… I’m going to add to this… - gentleness.

- We would benefit from gentleness when we interact with our opponents.

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This is what a worker who is approved by God will do… this is the tenor of our approach, if we are rightly handling the word of truth.

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In … we find the Jewish people hating a man name Zacchaeus.

Why?

Because he was a wealthy tax collector.

He was an agent of Roman government, and that made him a traitor… a sinner… a horrible person.

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But… as they hated this man, and turned their backs on him… Jesus loved him, and received him.

Zacchaeus became a believer in Jesus and was a changed man.

- When the Jews grumbled that Jesus showed this horrible tax collector compassion.... JESUS SAID THIS:

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SLIDE 9

Luke 19

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Back to … this is Paul’s desire concerning his kinsmen according to the flesh… THEY ARE LOST.. and he wants to see them saved.