Most of us have either family or friends who are not saved, who are not believers or followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is your sibling, or cousin, or maybe a good friend at your gym. Or maybe it is someone even closer and more beloved, such as your spouse, your parent, or your child. We pray daily for their salvation. In our brief Scripture passage today, we read of how distressed and anguished St. Paul is over those in his family that may not be saved, and not just extended family, but even more particularly, those of his countrymen as a whole, the nation of Israel. Let’s see what he has to say from the opening verses of chapter nine of Romans.
The Apostle Paul had always had a strong burden for the lost. That is readily seen with his numerous missionary journeys, the Epistles he wrote, and the numerous hardships, including physical assaults, that he endured while spreading the Gospel message. However, these opening verses in chapter nine are one of the most emotionally charged passages that he wrote. Paul had a very strong and heartfelt burden for the salvation of Israel, and a deep sorrow over their rejection of Jesus, the Messiah. As we will see in this study, God gave them many special privileges, which makes their unbelief an even greater tragic reality.
Paul begins with a very strong affirmation of how distressed he is over the lost condition of his countrymen (vs. 1-3). This isn’t just fancy rhetorical language, it is his solemn testimony. He has great sorrow and continual grief because they have rejected their Messiah. Paul even goes so far as to say that if he could, he would give up his own salvation, wishing he were “accursed from Christ”, if they would only turn to Him (vs. 3). Of course, since Paul was saved, he could never lose his salvation, and such a bargain is not possible. Everyone must come to Christ on their own. No one can make a bargain with God on behalf of someone else’s salvation. However, this expresses the extremity of his love for them. Moses prayed something similar when the people of Israel sinned against the Lord by making the golden calf (Exodus 32:32).
Next Paul listed eight God-given blessings that belonged to Israel (vs. 4-5). These were special graces and blessings that God gave to them. Because of each, the people should have believed in Jesus, but because they didn’t, it only heightened the tragedy of their unbelief. First was their national adoption. Paul was not speaking of personal salvation, but how God chose Israel as His covenant people (Exodus 4:22). Israel also had the Shekinah glory, the visible manifestation of God’s presence with them in the tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem.
Over the centuries, God had made numerous covenants with them, such as the Abrahamic, the Mosaic, and the Davidic covenants, along with the promises of the New Covenant with the Lord Jesus. Israel was the recipient of God’s redemptive agreements through these covenants. He also entrusted Israel with His revealed Word. No other nation or people had God’s specific Word at that time (Psalm 147:19-20). They had been given and instructed in the Temple worship, the sacrifices, and the priesthood, each God-ordained means of approaching Him.
Israel had been given many promises by the Lord, both Messianic promises, kingdom promises, and prophetic assurances. As a nation, they had the Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were the foundation of God’s covenant dealings. And then Paul gives the crowning point, the greatest privilege, and that was that the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, came from their flesh, their lineage. He came from them “according to the flesh”, but is also “over all”, a reference to His deity. He is both God and man, simultaneously.
Israel’s unbelief does not mean that God’s promises have failed. The Apostle Paul will later proclaim in this letter to the Romans that God’s sovereign election and plan are still intact. Because of their revelations and privileges, Israel had greater accountability. Because the Lord Jesus came through the people of Israel proves that God is faithful. Their rejection cannot undo God’s redemptive plan. Paul’s sorrow over them reflects God’s own heart. The Lord is not indifferent to Israel’s current unbelief. He has a future plan for them, as we can read in Romans 11. Though some of the people of Israel came to Jesus during the days of the early Church, and to this day some continue to accept Him as Savior, the nation as a whole rejected their Messiah, despite immense privilege. However God’s plan for Israel continues.
As Paul gave us the example, we too need to model deep compassion for the lost, both those in our families and circle of friends, our fellow countrymen, and the world at large. It is a serious thing to reject God’s revelation. Those who have had the privilege of hearing the message of the Lord Jesus have a greater responsibility before Him. We also need to pray for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. As we see in Romans 11, God still has a future for them. God is faithful. He keeps His promises even when people fail.
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