Does God Keep His Word?

Romans 9:1–6 NKJV

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. 6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,

Personal Background with Romans 9

Romans 9 is a challenging chapter. There are many who completely avoid Romans 9,10,and 11. They see these as some sort of unrelated diversion to the message of Romans. Some have said that it is for Israel and therefore doesn’t relate to the gentile church. Although it certainly relates to Israel by addressing to big question of why Israel has rejected their own Messiah, I believe that we will see that it is most certainly written to the church and for the church and is not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles.

Although chapter 9 of Romans has been instrumental in many peoples understanding of God’s sovereignty in election, that is not the main theme of this Chapter.

It is to answer the question that of whether or not God’s Word is effective.

Paul answers this question in verse 6

Romans 9:6 NKJV

6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,

If God’s covenant with Israel has been broken by the Gospel then how can we trust the Gospel? So we see that Romans 9 is not a diversion from Paul’s thesis

That the Gospel is the Power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Rather it answers a very key question at this pointy in the letter.

Paul has just told us the that the process of salvation by faith is a work of God that begins before we are even born. An inevitable process which brings us through being called, justified, and glorified. And that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. All truths which should give us an unshakable confidence in God and the completion of our salvation. However, none of that is worth anything If God’s promise to Israel has failed. God said “I will be your God and you will be my people”. But now Paul tells us that not only can Gentiles also be God’s people but that there are some Jews who are not. In fact speaking on the whole, Israel has stumbled at the stumbling stone and the church (the people of God) are predominately Gentiles.

So the question is “Did God forsake Israel?” Did He break His covenant? Because if He did then how can we trust that He will not forsake us? All of the powerful claims of Romans 8 are in jeopardy without Rom 9.

Romans 9 Teaches us some very challenging things about who God is. So before we begin we must determine if we are going to believe that God is who He says He is or do we prefer to have an understanding of God that is compatible with our culture, and our ideas. Many people, when confronted with who God is walk away from Him. Some reject the Word preferring to make a god that suits them. Others stand in awe. Who will you be?

1. Paul’s Great Sorrow

Romans 9:1–3 NKJV

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

Paul goes to great lengths to convince us of his honesty on this point.

1 I tell the truth in Christ

Paul tells us in the affirmative I tell the truth but not only that his assertion that he speaks the truth is consistent with the fact that he is in Christ and Christ is in him as he writes these things.

2. I am not lying

The negative. Not lying even stretching the truth on this matter

3. My conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit

Our conscience may sometimes be wrong, however the Holy Spirit will use the conscience of the believe to convict if we are at fault. Paul states here that his conscience under the influence of the Holy Spirit bears witness within himself that he speaks the truth.

I can think of no other way that Paul could confirm his honesty on this matter. Considering that Christ taught that we should let our yes be yes and our no be no, as we studied in our Bible Study last Tuesday. Paul wanting to give all the confidence he can to those who will read this letter of his honesty on this point gives these three assurances to his word.

Why?

Because what he is about to share is both unbelievable and unprovable. Paul’s heart aches for his unbelieving countrymen.

Romans 9:2 NKJV

2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

Only those who have close family and friends can relate to this burden that Paul carries. Paul knows that you are either those who God foreknew or you are not. And he knows that many of his fellow Israelites are not foreknown of God, they are accursed as we will see. And yet his heart breaks for them. He has great sorrow and continual grief in his heart.

We may have grief now for our lost loved ones but it will not always be the case. One day Christ will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more sorrow. Many have asked me how they can ever get past the grief of a loved one who ends up in hell. Some have speculated that for us to have no sorrow in heaven God must wipe all memory of our lost loved ones. There is no such teaching in the scripture. How ever it is all we know is there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more pain. I believe that when we see Him we will be like Him and we will have perfect understanding and with that perfect understanding we will not grieve for those who reject Christ. But now we grieve, and it’s right to grieve for the lost as Paul does here.

How much does Paul grieve? This is why I think Paul had to emphasis his honesty so much.

Romans 9:3 NKJV

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

Apparently the translation “I could wish” is very close to the original Greek here. He means I could entertain the such a wish if it were a possibility. As we have just seen in Rom 8 nothing can separate us from the love of God so it is clearly not a possibility. However, if it were Paul could imagine himself being accursed the word is anathema and it means literally to be a curse in this usage it means to be cut off from God for eternity. This is the position of his all those who reject Christ and this is the position of Paul’s countrymen. He is saying that he could if it were possible wish that he could trade places with them, that he could be lost and Israel saved. This is a small glimpse of the love of Christ manifested in Paul. This is what Christ did for us.

Galatians 3:10–14 NKJV

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

2. Israel’s Special Privileges

Romans 9:4–5 NKJV

4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

1. The Adoption

2. The Glory

3. The Covenants

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David

4. The Giving of the Law

5. The Service of God

6. The Promises

Particularly relating to the the Messiah

7. The Fathers

Not only Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but also the fathers of the twelve tribes, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David

8. The Messiah

Most of all Christ according to the flesh, because of course Christ is eternal always existing God not created but begotten according to the flesh. And God chose Israel to be His people through which He would save the whole world. To Abraham He said in you all families of the earth would be blessed.

All these privileges granted to Israel, God’s chosen people and yet Paul says that they are accursed and Paul says if it were possible he could wish himself to trade places.

But then there’s a problem. If Israel is God’s chosen people who He has granted all these privileges then why are they lost? Did God abandon His people? Did He not keep His Word?

3. Not All Israel

Romans 9:6 NKJV

6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,

Paul denies the idea that God’s Word has failed.

Paul briefly addressed this very topic in

Romans 3:1–4 NKJV

1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

In our passage he says that not all Israel who are of Israel. That is not all the descendants of Jacob are true Israel.

Paul tells us that there have always been two Israels, those who were genetically Israel and those who were spiritually Israel. As we will see God’s Word of promise has always been to the spiritual Israel and is effective. There has never been a dispensation where God Saved people purely because of their genetics. Faith has always been the means of Justification.

The same in true of the church. Not all who are members of a church are the true church. Being a member of a church will not save you. Being in a Christian family will not save you. Only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be saved.