Title: Paul's Great Anxiety and Suffering
Exposition to Romans 71
Paul's Great Anxiety and Suffering
Romans 9:1-5
Introduction: Paul has yet to break through the great Christian doctrine of “Salvation is through faith alone”. This doctrine also reached its climax in chapter 8 by the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit and the irresistible love of God. There can be no other law to condemn those who are in Christ. Everything a Christian experiences and tastes in his life will work together for good. Not only that, but who can separate us from the love of Christ? His joy and excitement seemed to soar into the sky. But Paul confesses that he also has sorrow and pain. “My conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.”
1. Paul's sorrow and heartache
Paul's dissertation from chapters 1 to 8 broadened his gaze and his mind universally. We have been witnessing to the Law and the Jewish people, “God's law of salvation through faith,” focusing on the great and wonderful work of salvation of God who saves mankind. However, in chapter 9, Paul suddenly confides in him the anguish in his heart. He turned his gaze to his fellow Jews. Despite God's great grace of salvation, Paul confessed that he was deeply saddened by the reason why the benefits were not reaching the Jews, and that it caused him great sorrow and pain that did not cease to exist in his heart. there is.
(1) This is a man's expression of Paul's own people. There is an instinctive love in people's hearts. Love for children, love for parents, love for friends, and love for one's people. The latter, in some cases, may take precedence over friends or family. Even if he realized the universal love of God and the universal truth of God's salvation, his love for his people could not but work in Paul's heart. He felt sorry for why the Jews were falling from God's saving grace, and he couldn't stand it in his love for his fellow countrymen.
2. Cursed and cut off ￡ Paul's resentment
Paul is deeply emphasizing the truthfulness of his suffering. “My conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit,” he says. The Christian's conscience is governed by the Holy Spirit. By expressing his sincerity in these expressions, Paul showed his heart how much he loved the Jews. It was to show his sincerity to the Jews who misunderstood him.
(1) When Paul speaks of “for my brethren, my relatives of flesh and blood,” it means that if it is to gain their salvation. In this way, Paul is saying that if he wants to be saved by his fellow Jews, even if he is cursed and cut off from Christ, he wants to be saved. Of course, Paul knows all too well that such a thing is impossible (Romans 8:38,39). What Paul said was merely an expression of his unfaltering truth and the earnestness he really wanted.
3. Jewish Privileges Pointed to by Paul
Paul was very sorry for the rejection of the Jews because of their unbelief. And as they lament over why they should be, they say a few things about the privileges they have received from God.
(1) We said that we were Israelites. When Paul refers to the Jews here as Israelites, he means that they are the children of Abraham. The Israeli are clearly of his descent. It is a nation that prospered because of one ancestor Abraham. And that Abraham was called by God to a special covenant. Thus, the pride and honor of the Jews who were born as descendants of Abraham are great. They had the Messianic covenant through Abraham, and there are several blessings.
(2) We said that we have the blessing of being adopted. The Old Testament gave special status to the Jews. He said, “Israel is my son and my firstborn” (Exodus 4:22). He said, “You are mine among the nations” (Ex 19:5). He called him ‘my son’ (Hos 11:1).
(3) They said they had glory. This glory is the glory that comes from their status and promises. This kind of glory had never been given to any other nation, but only to the Jews.
(5) They also said that they had worship services. Worship is the worship of God that gives glory to God. Israel was the only nation that worshiped God. God taught Israel to worship God only.
(6) They said they had promises. The promises to Israel are enormous. But they broke that promise themselves.
(7) It is said that the ancestors are also theirs, and if it is done in the flesh, Christ was born of them. Who are the ancestors of the Jews? Abraham was their first father, and Isaac and Jacob were their ancestors. These were all great patriarchs who received God's covenant and were guided by God by that covenant. Not only that, but even Jesus was born as a Jew with them physically. This Jesus is the God who is above all things and will be praised for generations to come.
Conclusion: Judging from this path, the Jews are the most blessed people in the world, and there is absolutely no way for them to be abandoned by God or excluded from the grace of salvation. Yet they fell from this glorious saving grace of God. Paul felt sorry for this, and he was tormented with great sorrow and heartache.