Oakland International FellowshipPaul J. Bucknell
Great Hope for True Israel
Romans 9:1-13Handout
The fact that those in Christ will escape condemnation is great, but what about those who do not believe in Jesus? Paul appears to be picking up a loose end from verse 8:1 for those who question God’s faithfulness to the Jews (also 3:3). What about the Jews who possessed the promises of the Christ? Paul responds by showing how God is both just and faithful.
A)God is Just (Romans 9:1-5)
➡God’s condemnation justly comes upon all who are not in Christ, even if they have the promises of God.
9:1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.(NASB used)
✦Paul’s sorrow (9:1-2)
•Paul has “great ______” (2) because Israel did not recognize her Messiah (Christ) and now suffers condemnation. No fulfillment but rejection – “Crucify Him!”
•Like a dramatic movie – Israel’s tragedy as a nation to ‘miss’ Christ brought “unceasing grief” to Paul’s heart (2).
•Paul’s great ______made himwilling to be accursed and separated from Christ (3), reminding us of Moses’ plea for His people (Ex 32:31-33). This led to Paul’s arrest and being sent to Rome where he wote the Book of Romans (Acts 21-27).
✦God’s favor (9:3-5)
•God clearly favored the Israelites: (also see 3:1-3).
-Adoption as sons: Redemptive event?: “______to Me every first-born…it belongs to Me” (Ex 13:1-2).)
-Glory (glory of God’s presence and Word)
-Covenants (e.g. Noahic, Mosaic)
-Giving of the Law (Revealed in the Pentateuch)
-Temple service (The temple was in Jerusalem)
-Promises (e.g. Can pray and find God’s help–2 Chr 7:14 “If my people…)
-Fathers (The privilege of having ancestors like Abraham, Jacob, David in their lineage.)
-Christ according to the flesh (Christ is the long awaited Messiah)
✦Two powerful theological statements (9:5)
Two theological arguments clarified in one sentence, “Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.” “It is clear from this passage that Christ is the God who is over all. The one who is over all has nothing over him, for Christ does not come after the Father but from the Father.”[1]–Origen
•(1) Christ became ______(countering the growing Gnostic cult which considered the flesh evil).
•(2) Christ was ______, and not just a subordinate of God (counters Arianism and Jehovah Witness).
B) God is Faithful (Romans 9:6-13)
➡God is always faithful even if ‘His people’ do not believe. “Their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?” (Romans 3:3)
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;7 neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 For this is a word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.” 10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER. 13Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”
✦God is faithful. God’s Word did not ______. (6)
•Inconsistent? (6) “But it is not as though the word of God has failed.”
•Faithful to God’s promises. “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Romans 9:6).
-“THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”(7)
-“AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.”(9)
✦God is selective (7-12)
•Selective (7-9). God chose Isaac’s descendants for spiritual blessing rather than all of Abraham’s children–such as to Ishmael (Gen 21:13). (Matthew 8:11-12).
•Timing (10-12). Even before Isaac’s twins were born, the LORD chose to bless (or love) Jacob rather than Esau.
•Salvation by ______(11). We are not chosen because of pious works but simply due to God’s gracious choice, “not because of works, but because of Him who calls” (11). This should humble us.
Summary
Paul forcibly carries and defends two biblical arguments in these 13 verses: God is just and faithful and at the same time furthers His purpose, establishing the Gentiles part of the new people of God.
Discussion questions
1)Do you think Paul’s compassion, his willingness to go to hell for others, is appropriate or excessive? Are you compassionate?
2)Are you part of God’s people? What assures you of this?
3)What does it mean to you to be part of true Israel (9:6)? What similarities does this have with the church?
Romans 1:1-7 A Sneak Preview1/3
[1]Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Vol VI, (IVP) p. 246.