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I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--
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I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
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For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
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the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
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Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
The first reason Romans 9 is not about individual election for salvation is that Paul makes it very clear what he talking about . Paul is filled with sorrow for the elect people of God , the Israelites . Why is he filled with sorrow for them? Because they have rejected Christ , betrayed him and have killed him. They had enormous privilages , which included
1. Adoption as sons
2. Divine Glory
3. Covenants
4. Law
5.Temple Worship
6.Promises
7.The Patriarchs - Abraham , Isaac , Jacob
8. Christ - the incarnate Son of God
These were Paul's brother's in the flesh ,the Israelites , as opposed to the Christians who were brothers in the Spirit and in Christ,who were from both jews and gentiles.
Paul in the first 5 verses of Romans 9 is talking about his anguish for his brothers in the flesh , the Israelites. He is even willing to go to hell , if only that would save them.
In Romans 3 , Paul says 3
Then what [a]advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What then? If some [b]did not believe, their [c]unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be!
Israel was entrusted with the revelation about God. Something is entrusted so that it's purpose is fulfilled by those to whom it is entrusted. They were entrusted with the revelation , so that they can take it to the gentiles , be a witness to the gentiles. They had an advantage over every other nation. They had the revelation. Even when some did not believe , it did not change their previlaged status as God's Elect.
What was the problem of God's elect? The last part of the chapter 9 addresses the question. Here Paul summarises chapter 9
30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33 As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Their problem was their approach to salvation. They pursued a law of righteousness, whereas the gentiles who received the gospel of Christ , obtained it by faith.
Earlier in Romans 2,3,4 Paul explains how righteouness could not be obtained by observing the law of moses because everyone has sinned and has broken the law . They can only be saved by faith in Christ. The law of faith as Romans 3 says.
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 [r]For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works [s]of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the [t]circumcised [u]by faith and the [v]uncircumcised through faith is one.
By Grace through faith was the formula of God for salvation put into effect through Christ. The Jews were not able to accept this. The gospel of grace through faith in Christ became a stumbling block for them.
We must understand this important concept . Gospel is not a lawless concept. The conflict is between Law of Faith (in Christ) vs Law of works (Mosaic or anyother). God way is law of faith in Christ. Jews were trying to be justified by law of works , by observing the mosaic law.
The first clarification is that Israel are the elect of God , privilaged ,even though as a nation they rejected the Saviour Christ and gave him up to be crucified. Contrary to popular belief that God's elect do not resist him,Israel's story is one of rejecting God through and through , culminating in the rejection of the Son of God.
The first reason Romans 9 is not about individual election for salvation is that Paul makes it very clear what he talking about . Paul is filled with sorrow for the elect people of God , the Israelites . Why is he filled with sorrow for them? Because they have rejected Christ , betrayed him and have killed him. They had enormous privilages , which included
1. Adoption as sons
2. Divine Glory
3. Covenants
4. Law
5.Temple Worship
6.Promises
7.The Patriarchs - Abraham , Isaac , Jacob
8. Christ - the incarnate Son of God
These were Paul's brother's in the flesh ,the Israelites , as opposed to the Christians who were brothers in the Spirit and in Christ,who were from both jews and gentiles.
Paul in the first 5 verses of Romans 9 is talking about his anguish for his brothers in the flesh , the Israelites. He is even willing to go to hell , if only that would save them.
In Romans 3 , Paul says 3
Then what [a]advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What then? If some [b]did not believe, their [c]unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be!
Israel was entrusted with the revelation about God. Something is entrusted so that it's purpose is fulfilled by those to whom it is entrusted. They were entrusted with the revelation , so that they can take it to the gentiles , be a witness to the gentiles. They had an advantage over every other nation. They had the revelation. Even when some did not believe , it did not change their previlaged status as God's Elect.
What was the problem of God's elect? The last part of the chapter 9 addresses the question. Here Paul summarises chapter 9
30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33 As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Their problem was their approach to salvation. They pursued a law of righteousness, whereas the gentiles who received the gospel of Christ , obtained it by faith.
Earlier in Romans 2,3,4 Paul explains how righteouness could not be obtained by observing the law of moses because everyone has sinned and has broken the law . They can only be saved by faith in Christ. The law of faith as Romans 3 says.
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 [r]For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works [s]of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the [t]circumcised [u]by faith and the [v]uncircumcised through faith is one.
By Grace through faith was the formula of God for salvation put into effect through Christ. The Jews were not able to accept this. The gospel of grace through faith in Christ became a stumbling block for them.
We must understand this important concept . Gospel is not a lawless concept. The conflict is between Law of Faith (in Christ) vs Law of works (Mosaic or anyother). God way is law of faith in Christ. Jews were trying to be justified by law of works , by observing the mosaic law.
The first clarification is that Israel are the elect of God , privilaged ,even though as a nation they rejected the Saviour Christ and gave him up to be crucified. Contrary to popular belief that God's elect do not resist him,Israel's story is one of rejecting God through and through , culminating in the rejection of the Son of God.
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