Romans 9: Stumbling Over Jesus

ROMANS 9: STUMBLING OVER JESUS

ROMANS 9:1-33

#Romans9

INTRODUCTION…

I am the kind of minister who prayerfully plans out on what to preach on a regular basis. I regularly pray about what Bible books and topics we need to dig into for our spiritual lives. This year, from the beginning of the year until Easter, I am doing something different. I am trying to do a little less planning and to be open in some different ways. As part of my different approach for these few months, I asked on social media if anyone had any ideas. One such suggestion was Romans 9. I’m not sure why Romans 9 was picked… but we are going to dig into Romans 9 and see what God has for us!

The Apostle Paul’s thoughts in Romans is varied and complicated in my opinion. The Book of Romans is deep and wide and covers much about what the Apostle Paul believes about the Christian life. Paul writes about several topics and he often ends up on side thoughts which can make reading Romans difficult.

What are the 16 chapters of Romans about?

Romans 1: God’s condemnation of Gentile sinning

Romans 2: God’s condemnation of Jewish hypocrisy

Romans 3: God’s impartial salvation

Romans 4: Abraham: Father of us All

Romans 5: Christ: Universal Savior

Romans 6: God’s Provision for holy living

Romans 7: Inadequacy of the Law for holiness

Romans 8: Control by the Holy Spirit

Romans 9: Israel’s Salvation: God’s Choice

Romans 10: Israel’s Salvation: Israel’s Responsibility in Election

Romans 11: Israel’s Salvation: Future Restoration

Romans 12: Living Sacrifices

Romans 13: Christians and Government

Romans 14: Weak and the Strong

Romans 15: Accepting one Another

Romans 16: Greetings

Romans 9, where we are at today, is in a 3-chapter section all about Israel, the mass rejection of Jesus, and then how they will be restored to God through Christ at a future time. Chapter 9 highlights God’s promises among non-Jewish folks in the world.

It is theologically an important passage.

In terms of thinking about the nation of Israel, it is Biblically an important passage.

I think to the Apostle Paul it was personally an important passage.

What does Romans 9 have to do with us? For us, what the Apostle Paul found important we will as well… or rather we should. There is much about the Apostle Paul’s attitude and way of thinking to emulate in Romans 9. I also think for us: We will find that what was a stumbling block for the people around the Apostle Paul in terms of faith is still very much a stumbling block for the people around us. Not much has changed in that area.

THE PROBLEM WITH ISRAEL

Romans 9 begins with the “problem with Israel.”

READ ROMANS 9:1-5

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

The Apostle Paul is speaking to us as one who belongs to Christ and has experienced the Promises of God in his own life. He has the presence of the Holy Spirit. He has been forgiven. He knows Jesus as His Lord and Savior. He is a committed Christian through and through.

The Apostle Paul was also Jewish in his heritage. In the story of the Old Testament, God formed His Own chosen people through history and through Whom He worked His plan for salvation. That is why in verses 4-5 Paul associates with Israel seven areas of privilege that are associated with the people of Israel:

#1 joining God’s family (adoption)

#2 experiencing God’s presence (glory)

#3 entering into a relationship with God (covenants)

#4 receiving God’s revelation (law)

#5 worshiping at His God’s temple (service)

#6 inheriting God’s blessings (promises)

#7 connected to the history of faith (patriarchs)

We read in the Old Testament for all of these reasons that Israel is God’s Chosen People. They received promises and covenants and were called out of the world to be God’s own possession to shine a light on not only Who God is, but what He was doing. From Israel, came the Messiah in Whom is the New Covenant in His blood. The purpose of calling people to be His was so that the people could point others to Him.