With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed His glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them His law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping Him and receiving His wonderful promises. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ Himself was an Israelite as far as His human nature is concerned. And He is God, the One who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Romans 9:1-5
Where’s the link to what has gone before? Look at it carefully and mark the items that you think are links to what Paul has already said. Take the time to look for yourself and then look at the marked version of the passage below. Take note of the elements that either repeat his themes or the words Paul has been stressing early. Note how he has indeed continued the theme even though there are those “experts” who don’t think so and conclude that this isn’t even Paul who is writing this. We will see even clearer what his point is in the next Gem.
- With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
- My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief
- for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.
- They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed His glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them His law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping Him and receiving His wonderful promises.
- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ Himself was an Israelite as far as His human nature is concerned. And He is God, the One who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Note it is like Paul has returned to his theme of the advantages of the Jew that he first introduced in Chapter 3, see Bible Gem 147.
But now he adds some more advantages:
- adoption as sons
- glory revealed to them
- covenant made with them
- given the law
- the privilege of worship
- received the promises
- Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are their ancestors
- Christ was an Israelite
Remember one of Paul’s earlier themes is Jew first; then the Greek. It is like Paul has returned to that theme. Why? Think about it.
When it comes to giving some people stop at nothing.
Anon