Islington Baptist Church
April 14, 2002
Romans 9:1-5
Scriptures: Romans 3:1-8, Philippians 3:1-9
8 special blessings that those born Jewish have
In Romans 3:1 Paul asks this question: “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?”
Paul’s answer is this: Romans 3:2 “Much in every way! And then he gives one reason: “First of all they have been entrusted with the very words of God.”
Today we are starting a new series that is going to be centered around Romans 9-11. I have chosen these chapters because they raise, and to a degree, answer important questions for us regarding what our views of Jewish people are to be today.
The importance of doing such, given what is currently going on in Israel right now and given the current negative, and almost worldwide sentiment towards Jews.
Paul’s question and answer from Romans 3:1-2 is followed up in Romans 9:1-5ff. (please turn there with me) (READ TEXT)
8 special blessings that a person born Jewish has to draw on.
Major caveats:
a. Does not mean that a Jewish person is any better than anyone else.
b. These blessings do not give Jewish people a special in with God in respect to salvation. The way of salvation is the same for all people: by faith in Jesus Christ.
The blessings that Paul here lists that belong to those born Jewish.
1. The adoption by God as sons
The O.T scriptures communicate to us that the nation of Israel had been specially set apart by God above all the other nations and that they were God’s children
Now note this: this adoption as sons and daughters prefigured and pointed to our adoption as the children of God. Our adoption as the children of God is as different as night and day, as compared to the Jewish nations. Our adoption means that we are saved and that Heaven is our home. The Jewish nations adoption as sons did not have this meaning.
2. The divine glory
As a nation the Israelites had behold the glory cloud of God. Through the wilderness God had led them by a pillar of holy fire by night. Upon the temple the glory cloud of God’s presence had descended. After meeting with God, Moses face would be so radiant and bright from the presence of God that he would have to veil his face.
Paul says to us: this is one of the great privileges, above other people that the Israelites had and have in their history.
3. The covenants
God enters into relationship with people by means of covenants. With no other nation or distinct people group did God make covenants, yet with the Israelites he did—entering into relationship with them such means.
For us who are the followers of Jesus Christ, we are in relationship with God by means of the new, better, superior covenant, instituted by Christ and his shed blood at Calvary. For us who are Christians the blood of Christ has been spiritually applied to us and we have been cleansed of all of our sins and have access to God because of Christ’s work in our lives.
4. The receiving of the law
The 10 commandments is what Paul is talking about here. It was to the Jews that God firstly gave the 10 commandments—that they might know His holy standards.
Devout Jews treasure the law of God.
Yet note this: as we have learned week after week of late: the law cannot save. What the law does is to show a person and prove to a person how much of a sinner they are and how much they need Jesus to be their Savior..
5. Temple worship
Of all the nations of the world only the Jews had a temple in which the true God presenced himself in a special way.
In Christ, this to has been fulfilled, for we who are Christians are the temple of God—for by Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, dwells in each one who has given their hearts and lives to God in Christ.
6. The promises
Another privilege that Jews had and have by nature of their nationality is the promises of God. Promises that find their way back into the earliest chapters of the book of Genesis (Genesis 15,etc). Promises such as land, seed, blessing, being made into a great nation.
The OT scriptures are full of the promises of God, many already fulfilled, many fulfilled in Jesus Christ, some yet to be fulfilled.
My understanding of the scriptures is that God still has some promises to be fulfilled in regards to those of Jewish descent, promises that God will keep—for God is not finished with those who are Jewish yet. (note Romans 11)
7. The patriarch’s
Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, etc. To these great men of faith, these genetic founders of the people of Israel, Jews can trace their stock.
Now I know that some of you are very astute and are thinking of Luke 3:7-9 which says “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath! Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And not begin to say to yourselves “We have Abraham as our father’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The point is this: a Jewish person cannot hide behind the assertion that he can trace his lineage to Abraham—and somehow think that this earns him a ticket to Heaven.
However, Paul still does say, a special thing, at least in this life, a Jewish person does have is a link to Abraham and the other fathers of the nation—yet again note this: this special link is only good in this life and is really only good if the Jewish person in question is led to exercise the same saving faith that Abraham and the other fathers exercised.
8. From the Jews the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, is traced.
One of the great privileges a person born a Jew has is this: they have the same nationality the Savior of the world had. Jesus, being God in the flesh, was a Jew—this is a point we sometimes forget.
REVIEW AND COMMENTS
What advantage is their in being a Jew? Here in our text 8 blessings that Jews have, that no other nationality has,
However.
1. By and large those who are Jewish have not taken advantage of these blessings that are theirs. The evidence for such is this: they have not turned to Christ, to whom all of the listed privileges point and refer.
2. When you and I run down the list of these privileges that are uniquely Jewish in nature what is very evident is that there is a fulfillment in Christ for each one. Each one leads to Christ and was intended to lead the Jews to Christ. Yet by and large what has happened: those who are Jewish have rejected Jesus.
3. Rather than being led to Christ by these they have put their confidence in these 8 things, counting upon them for their salvation.
In Philippians 3:3-9 Paul speaks of how he puts no confidence in the flesh and how whatever he once considered to be to his profit he now considers a loss for the sake of knowing Christ.
The tragic mistake of Paul’s Jewish brethren was to put confidence in the flesh…. (Today people who are Gentiles do the same…..)
4. In the body of Christ such blessings are not to used to elevate one over anyone else. For Galatians 3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
The rejection of Christ, by his Jewish brethren, to whom all these blessings pointed, broke Paul’s heart.
We must not overlook what is said in v.1-3 of our text. These words are loaded with intense feeling and anguish. Paul’s heart is broken for his Jewish brethren and their lost estate.
This reflects the kind of attitude we are to have for the lost, for those who are on their way to Hell.
The Bible in Ezekiel 18 says that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. In Genesis 6 in regards to God’s declaration that He was going to destroy the world by means of a world wide flood, it speaks of how God’s heart was filled with pain, as He considered the wicked and lost estate of the people on the earth whom He had made.
Such is the attitude we are to have
One very unique thing about Paul’s anguish over the lost and rebellious state of his Jewish brethren was his impossible desire to be cut off from Christ for the sake of his brothers.
So burdened and anguished over the Jews rejection of Christ and their being on their way to Hell is Paul that he makes it clear that he wishes he could trade his salvation and very life for the salvation of the Jews that he would.
What Paul says finds a parallel in Exodus 32:32. When Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the 10 commandments he found the people dancing around the golden calf and worshiping it as their god. In response to such Moses said “Lord, if it be possible, blot this sin from their lives, but if not, blot me out of your book”
In response to this, the Bible is very clear, and indeed Paul himself in the previous chapter is very clear, that it is impossible for a person who belongs to Jesus to ever lose their salvation. Just listen to what Paul says in the last 2 verses of chapter 8 “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In borrowing the language of v.3 we must note that Jesus was “cursed and cut off” for the salvation of the Jews and not just for the Jews- but the whole world.
Cursed is every one who hangs upon a tree is what the Bible says. This is exactly what happened to Jesus—and willingly so on his part, for the Bible says “He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus died that we might have life, eternal life, life to the full
While Paul’s wish is an impossible wish, it does speak deeply to us regarding the sacrificial lengths to which he was willing to go to share Jesus Christ with his Jewish brethren.
He held no regard for his physical life, and in the end he did die a martyrs death for his faith in Jesus Christ and directly so because of persecution at the hands of his Jewish brothers for whom he cared so much.
One other thing for us to note before we conclude this morning. Note the effect upon Paul that the contemplation of Christ for him had. Jubilant praise. Worship.
The contemplation of his Jewish brethren’s lost estate brought Paul to his knees in anguish. The contemplation of Jesus, his Savior, and the very mention of his name lifted Paul up to the heights in jubilant praise worship.
In Philippians 2:10-11 what does it say “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” That is worship.
CONCLUSION
Being born Jewish does not guarantee a person a spot in Heaven. One’s nationality has no bearing upon whether or not they will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell.
However, with that said, our text does list 8 special blessings that a person born Jewish has to draw on.
Because such blessings are theirs much is required of them, there is great accountability to God.
Note what Luke 12:48 says “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked”****
Just as those who are born Jewish have special blessings to draw on and refer to so to those born to dedicated Christian parents.
Such children grow up hearing of God and Jesus almost every day of their home lives. They are continually exposed to God’s word and His holy standards. Many effectual prayers are prayed for them by their parents and the church they attend. They are witnesses to the moving and power of the Holy Spirit. Etc, etc.
Yet, such does not save. Such does give these children any eternal advantages with God. And again as well the message of Luke 12:48 holds true.
These 8 blessings lead and were meant to lead the Jews to Jesus Christ.
The tragic mistake, the mistake which we see Paul deeply grieved over, is that the Jews have put their confidence in these blessings for their salvation- rather than in Jesus Christ to whom these things point.
Our responsibility as Christians is to point people to Jesus Christ, to sacrificially give of ourselves in such efforts, to care as God does for the lost estate of the people around us
We are also to take joy in our salvation, for in Christ we are secure, and the very contemplation of him ought to lead us, as it did for Paul, to jubilant praise and worship.
