Romans Chapter 9 The Sovereign God Message One

In order to find the mindset of Paul we should return briefly to Romans 8:1 and 8:28-39. We want to discover two things about him as he moves from one thought to the next.
The first is his declaration of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He completes his statement to the glory of God on a high note in exaltation of the Lord and the position of His saints. Now, imagine that he takes a moment to reflect on his position in Christ, and yet the position of those individuals he dearly loves, and the nation he loves in a position of separation from the Lord. They had declared Paul to be their enemy, deserving death –

Acts 9:22-23 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

Yet, his love for them was never diminished. He was not their enemy and his desire was that they be saved. This brings us to the second thought that was considered and must be answered –

If God is true and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus; if there is not anything that can separate the believer from the Love of God and this is the position ordained by God for the believer in Christ before the foundation of the world: is God just in His rejection of His elect nation Israel? If God can cast off His nation, He can also cast off His church. This question must be answered! Paul presented the answer in chapters nine through eleven.

I. Paul revealed his personal desire. Romans 9:1-5 The Israelites to be saved.

A. He Sorrowed for them. Romans 9:1,2

1. His plea. Romans 9:1

He humbled himself before them and presented his plea in the company of two witnesses that knew his heart and mind, The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He promised the readers that he had no other motive than to see them come to the Lord for salvation, he was not lying to them.

2. His passion. Romans 9:2

His passion for the people is full, all encompassing. We might refer to Paul’s words to the believers in Rome –

Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

We note this his passion is full here also: “…great heaviness, and continual sorrow…”

Paul understood their standing before God and the condemnation they were under through their unbelief.

He had given himself wholly to the Lord. His life was only about the Lord. His heart is revealed from his testimony in –

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

His love for his people is reflective of the love of God and the words of Jesus as He wept over Israel –

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Because of his Paul’s love for them –

B. He Sought for their good. Romans 9:3

He would give himself, if possible! He could not take their place, as there is only One qualified and the offering had already been made. This being the case, He did the only thing he could do. He gave his life by living for them –

Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Paul’s life was about others having eternal life in the Lord.

C. He Set forth their advantages. Romans 9:4,5
Israel were God’s chosen people. No one could contest this truth. God had blessed them above all the people of the earth.

1. Israelites. Their heritage in Jacob.
2. The Adoption.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

3. Glory. The presence of God among them. Sinai, The Tabernacle, The Temple.
4. The Covenants. Promises (unconditional and conditional) to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Nation, David, Jeremiah.
5. The Law. Given at Sinai
6. The Service. Levitical priesthood, the offerings, the service.
7. Promises. The Messiah. The everlasting Kingdom.

Notice the completeness of the blessings of God upon His people –

Isaiah 5:1-5 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

The Jews needed to remember God’s Word that judgment is sure but also He will not completely destroy them or cast them out. A promise is left to them –

Isaiah 60:10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

Individual salvation in the Lord and national salvation to come.