UNBELIEF IS MAN’S FAILURE
Romans 9:1-5 - August 22, 2004
Pentecost 12
ROMANS 9:1-5
1I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the 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. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
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Dearest Fellow-Redeemed and Saints in the Lord:
Scripture, as we know it, is full of encouragement. Our lessons today (GENESIS 15:1-6; HEBREWS 11:1-16) spoke of people of faith. Scripture also contains the failures of mankind. Encouragement or failures--you and I learn from these examples. The root source of all these failures and mankind’s failures, especially the spiritual failures is always unbelief. The examples are many. We look back towards the beginning. Adam and Eve’s first sin stands an example of unbelief. They listened to Satan and thought they knew better than God. At the Tower of Babel mankind put his confidence in himself and built a tower to reach God. The purpose for the tower came tumbling down; and mankind’s language was confused. Judas, a chosen disciple of Christ, faced his own destruction because of a trust in himself that lead to unbelief. Man was chosen by God to believe, but ends up selling himself short and fails because of unbelief. Man’s failure is unbelief.
Salvation on the other hand is God’s success. We are reminded in Titus: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" (TITUS 3:4,5a). We are going to look at God’s divine mercy today. We are going to use as our theme
UNBELIEF IS MAN’S FAILURE. We learn that I. Some give up God’s glory
II. But God does not give up.
I. SOME GIVE UP GOD’S GLORY
It is a very serious matter that Paul is addressing in the beginning of Romans 9 this morning. This seriousness is seen in the fact that Paul expresses his personal feelings. 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Paul was extremely saddened by what had happened. Even though the apostle Paul is expressing his personal feelings that does not make God’s word any less true. These words in Romans are still inspired by the Holy Spirit. They are still the very words and thoughts that God wants written for and to mankind. That assurance is seen at the opening of this chapter. 1I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit. Paul expresses his own deepest feelings, his personal concern; yet, as he points out, this is not just his personal concern or his own deepest feelings, these are also the words inspired by the Holy Spirit. What a special encouragement it is to see the personal feelings of Paul also realizing that this is exactly what God wants us to know.
What is the reason for Paul’s great sadness and sorrow? Paul is sorrowful because there are some who were once saved but now are lost. God’s chosen people gave up on God’s glory. They did not want to believe the obvious—Jesus of Nazareth was the promised messiah, Savior of all mankind. Those who should have known better no longer appreciated or cherished the salvation God had provided for them. In the midst of his sadness and sorrow Paul wants us to learn from this failure of man. Paul writes that he is saddened because of Israel. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the people of Israel. The people of Israel, here Paul does not address them as God’s children, were the ones who had given up God’s glory. Their unbelief had become their failure.
Listen again to Paul’s great concern for the salvation of these people. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ, for the sake of my brothers. Paul was willing to cut himself off from God’s love. Last week at the end of the 8th chapter of Romans Paul wrote that nothing could separate us from God’s love. Now here as chapter 9 begins Paul writes these words, "I wish I could be separated. I wish I could be cut off because of the children of Israel." Israel had given up, and Paul was saddened. Paul was willing to be cursed, eternally cut off, in order that the children of Israel might be saved.
Israel had failed because of unbelief. The Jewish nation had hardened its heart against the fact that Jesus was the Messiah. They could not and would not believe that this lowly carpenter was the fulfillment of the promises God had made to their first parents, Adam and Eve. Israel also failed, because they did not want to share the Gospel with the Gentiles. They looked at themselves as Abraham’s children, God’s chosen people. The Israelites concluded that no one else in the world would dare to be chosen before and above them. Because of that, they gave up God’s glory in unbelief. It was their failure. Unbelief in God’s promises and fulfillment was Israel’s failure. They gave up on God’s glory.
Very sadly still today the world also gives up on God’s glory. There are many who in unbelief have failed. They have given up God’s glory even though God’s glory can clearly be seen all around. Paul describes for us in Corinthians: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, (and, at times, believers also) so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 CORINTHIANS 4:4). The god of this age has blinded people. Today we could even say the gods of this age, because there is more than one god that blinds mankind--the god of wealth; the god of prestige; the god of fitness; the god of ourselves. We easily can become slaves to whatever might master us. At times we are slaves to our lifestyles and hectic schedules so that even the church schedule is forgotten.
How often haven’t we in our life made plans or decided to do something on our own? Yet, in a very clear way God changes those plans. Sometimes it takes a long time for us to understand God’s change for us. How often haven’t we disappointed ourselves? We may think that we have the answer and know what is right. Jeremiah describes that as turning way from God. He says: "This is what the LORD says: ’Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD" (JEREMIAH 17:5). When we depend on our strength, this is what happens--our heart turns away from the Lord. We forget that God is in control. Unbelief is man’s failure.
Maybe sometimes when we are in the church, we feel that we are exempt or that the church is exempt. That is not always the case. We have to look closely at what man is teaching in God’s church, how shepherds are leading. Listen to this from Jude: "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" (JUDE 1:4). Do these words sound familiar? Our world has changed the grace of God into immorality and has denied Christ. There are leaders in some churches who say there is no teaching against homosexuality. They would teach what difference does it makes as long as there is love. These false teachers have crept in and taken their unbelief and turned the church into a failure. Some give up God’s glory.
Unbelief and failure are man’s doing as some give up God’s glory. Thankfully, God does not give up.
II. BUT GOD DOES NOT GIVE UP
Our text explains that Paul is sorrowful and sad about his Israel. What makes him sad is the fact that what Israel once had they now no longer really possess. Paul had written: 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the people of Israel. Now Paul goes into great detail to explain Israel’s great loss. "Theirs is the adoption as sons." We have often heard Israel called the children of God, God’s chosen people. In other words, they were believers. Next on this list is "theirs the divine glory." God shared his glory with his children. God’s choice was upon the children of Israel unlike any other nation. Very often Israel’s were stronger and bigger. Time after time, little Israel went forward in battle and returned victorious. God was on their side. God did not give up and share with them his glory.
Now Paul expands on another point that was a blessing shown to Israel. Paul lists: "The covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises." Paul lists all of these as an integral part of their spiritual lives. Israel had experienced God’s covenant and God’s promises. God had promised to make them a great nation – God promised that he would never forsake them. God had given them law. Israel was blessed to now what was right and what was wrong. They had divine direction in their lives. God revealed to Israel his will. Because of all this Israel also worshipped the Lord God Almighty as their Lord and God. All of these things belong to Israel because God did not give up on them. God provided everything for them. Israel gave it up out of selfish pride. Unbelief was their failure.
If that list were not enough, Paul now describes more reasons for his greatest sorrow. Paul writes: 5Theirs are the patriarchs and, from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised. Amen. This is also a most amazing list of the love of God for his people. 5Theirs are the patriarchs refers to their special beginnings and once again, God’s special promises to and for his people. Often Israel made much of the fact they were the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were. God had show great grace to all these patriarchs preparing to do the same for their descendants. God did not give up.
But there is even more: from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ. Christ the Savior came from their race. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of the house and line of David, just as God had promised. Without the Israelites there would have been no Savior! This is the human-link and direct connection of the world’s Savior with Israel.
There was even more than just the human link. Christ, who is God over all, forever praised. Amen. This phrase explains the human link with divine connections. Jesus born of woman as true man is also the true Son of God. In unbelief and denial Israel gave it all up, but God did not give up. Paul still preached to them because God does not give up.
Now you and I may look around us and think, "Yes, the world is growing increasingly evil and wicked. Sin is rampant. People don’t want to hear what God wants to tell them." We begin to wonder how soon is soon enough for the Lord to return. Yet, our Lord is patient. He does not give up. We are told: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 PETER 3:9). This is the reason for our Lord’s patience—He wants people everywhere to come to repentance.
God is also patient because he is our heavenly Father. We are now the ones who have received the adoption as sons. We have now also learned of Christ’s love for us, because God does not give up. After Israel had given up the Lord still continued to preach his word. God’s message of salvation is still proclaimed. We are told why. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 JOHN 3:1a). From Israel to Gentiles God’s choice is clear. God does not give up. Believers are considered God’s children. Our children disobey. As children we disobeyed our parents. We do not give up on our children just as our parents did not give up on us. Our heavenly Father does not give up on his children today.
During our lifetime we may be tempted to give up. We are tempted to throw up our hands in despair and say, "What next, Lord?" Maybe we are suffering some heartache – sorrow – difficulty – troubles in our own life. Maybe we are almost to the end of our rope because of these years of drought. We begin to wonder what next. But remember, the Lord does not give up. Do not let unbelief overtake you, and do not let your faith fail. From Timothy we read these words: "If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself" (2 TIMOTHY 2:11-12). God cannot disown himself. God cannot give up on his promises. God promises that He is patient and wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
Scripture gives us examples of failure and encouragement. People are suffering eternal torment today because of unbelief. That is man’s failure. Mankind all too easily and all too often gives up God’s glory. But God does not give up. Eternal salvation is God’s greatest success for mankind. Until the earth passes away, God’s word will be preached and taught. We rejoice. Until that time when our Lord returns, hold fast to that which is good. Remain faithful. Hebrews tells us: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (HEBREWS 10:23-24). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
