the Lord. The rest of you, I would encourage you to open up your Bibles to, guess where? Romans chapter 9. Let me just pray for us again before we get started. Father, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for your grace that has been extended to us through your Son. And today, Father God, we are able to gather together, lift our voices, and worship you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, Father, we ask that you'd bless our time in your word. Help me, Father God, to clearly communicate the message you've laid on my heart for your people. We ask it in Jesus' name, amen. So today we begin the next major section of Paul's letter to the Romans and before we look at our text I would like to give just a brief review of what we have learned from Paul in this letter and then a brief overview of the next section of the letter and specifically of chapter 9. When Paul began this letter, he presented to us the main point of the letter in chapter 1 verses 16 and 17. Why don't you turn back there? Familiar passage, but it's good to see it as I read it. This is the main point of the letter. This is the main theme of the letter. This is the main focus of the letter. Romans 1 16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. The gospel is the good news and it contrasts the bad news, which Paul also includes in this letter. The bad news is that all mankind, Jews and non-Jews, are alike when it comes to sin and judgment. Paul wrote, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And all includes? All. Without exception. Jews. Greeks. Americans. Paul goes on to state in Romans 6.23 that the penalty for sin is also the same for all. For the wages or penalty of sin is death. And this includes spiritual death, physical death, and eternal death. But Paul also states that there is a way to avoid this penalty in the rest of Romans 6.23 by saying this, So salvation is available to all are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone. Salvation is available to all who believe. Paul then spends the next couple of chapters, chapters 7 and 8, extolling the benefits of trusting in Christ for our salvation. Just look back with me at chapter 8 for just a minute or two. Verse 1, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation because Christ paid the penalty for our sins and we are clothed with his righteousness. If we are in Christ, we are in his righteousness. Verse 9, we're told that the Spirit of God dwells in us. In verse 15, that we have received the Spirit of adoption, that we have been adopted into the family of God, becoming children of God. And the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, confirms that to us. And then in verse 26, we're told that the Spirit Himself intercedes for us. And then of course, verse 28, that all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. All of these promises are predicated upon the sovereignty of God and his plan for his beloved children. And Paul explains that plan in verses 29 and 30. Let me read those just by way of review. For those whom God foreknew, God also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brethrens. And those whom God predestined, God also called, and those whom God called, God also justified, and those whom God justified, God also glorified. We see here the golden chain of salvation. That God is the one who chose whom he would save. That God set his love upon them, upon us. And nothing can stop the purpose of God in regards to saving those he has chosen. And then Paul concludes this first half of his letter with the powerful statement of the eternal security that we have in Christ because of his love for us. Look at the closing verses, verses 28 and 29, or 38 and 39, excuse me, where Paul writes, I am sure, or certain, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen? Hallelujah! What a glorious way to bring the first half of this letter to a close. But then the mood shifts dramatically. as we begin chapter 9, signaling that we're moving into a new section of this letter that includes chapters 9 through 11. Now I just have to say this. This can be a difficult section of Paul's letter in several ways. Some of it is difficult to understand. And if you do understand it, some of it is difficult to accept. You see, Romans chapter 9 contains the strongest statement regarding the sovereignty of God over salvation found in the Bible. And many struggle with that doctrine. They do not like what it seems to imply with regards to human free will. Others can get so carried away with God's absolute sovereignty that they end up practically denying human responsibility. But Scripture is clear that sinners are responsible to repent and trust in Christ for their salvation. But when they do, it is totally due to God's sovereign grace bestowed upon them so that no one can boast. So in this next section of the letter, Paul will defend the gospel and he will also defend God. by explaining why God has the right to determine who shall be saved. And in doing so, he will also explain what has happened that has caused so many of the Jews to reject their promised Messiah, Jesus, and has caused so many of the non-Jews to receive him gladly. Paul will answer several questions. Has God abandoned the Jews? Has the Word of God given to the Jews failed? Is there injustice with God? Does God have the right to choose who He will save? And has God rejected the Jews forever? How are we who are in Christ to respond to these things? These questions will be answered. So with that as a preview, let us now focus on our text for today, Romans 9, verses 1-5, where Paul expresses his burden for the lost. If you're able, please stand for the reading of our text. Remember, this is the very Word of God. Romans 9, starting in verse 1. I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 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. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. May God bless the reading of His Word to us. You may be seated. As I stated earlier, after ending chapter 8 on the powerful statement of the eternal security that we have in Christ because of his love for us, Paul's mood shifts dramatically as he thinks about his countrymen, the Jews, who had for the most part rejected Christ and the gospel of grace. He starts by affirming that he is speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit. What is he not lying about? That I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. His anguish and sorrow, as he goes on to explain, is that most of the Jews have rejected Jesus. who is the promised Messiah, who is the only Messiah. Paul knows that Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament types, shadows, and prophecies. He is the promised Messiah. He is the promised Savior. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to God the Father except through him. Paul knows that the Jews who reject Christ will have no salvation and will suffer the holy wrath of God for their sins and be consigned to eternal conscious punishment. And this is breaking his heart. It causes him great sorrow, just as it should us. Now remember that Paul had suffered greatly at the hands of his countrymen. Whenever he went to a city or town to preach the gospel, he always started by going first to the Jews. Only once they had rejected him would he then go to the Gentiles. But the Jews saw him as a traitor, as a false teacher, and they would go out of their way to persecute him and to punish him for what they considered to be blasphemy. But Paul does not respond in anger or hold a grudge against them. Paul does not say, I'm glad they're getting what they deserve. No. Just like Jesus himself, Paul is moved to sorrow and to tears for his countrymen. As Pastor Don mentioned, Jesus, in his triumphal entry, comes over the mountain, sees the city, and Jesus wept. He wept because he knew what was going to happen to them for rejecting him. And this is an example that we should follow as well. We should be moved to love and compassion for the lost and be willing to do whatever we can to see them come to Christ. Even those who reject us, who persecute us, Paul even states in verse 3, Now when you think about this, this is an astounding statement from the lips of Paul, representing how much he cares for his fellow countrymen. Now the verb translated, I could wish, is in the imperfect tense. So that indicates that this is a contemplated action, not an actually action that's done. Paul knows that he cannot be cut off from Christ. That's what he has just stressed to us in chapter 8. So he's speaking theoretically, if you will. And he's following the example of Moses, as Pastor Don said. Remember, Paul was a student of the Old Testament. So although he does not say so explicitly, it's hard to imagine that he wrote these words without thinking of a similar statement made by Moses. In fact, Paul may have been deliberately echoing Moses' words in order to add credibility to his own statement of sorrow for the Jews, sorrow for the lost. Remember, some of the Jews were accusing him of abandoning them and turning to the Gentiles. He had done no such thing. He loved them and his desire was for them to be saved. Let me just remind you, Moses' words occur in Exodus 32 in the context of one of the greatest stories in the Old Testament. After their deliverance from Egypt, God had led the people of Israel to Mount Sinai, where Moses was called up into the mountain to receive the law from God. And he was on that mountain for 40 days and nights. The people grew restless and persuaded Aaron to make a substitute god for them, a golden calf. God knew what they were doing and he sent Moses down the mountain to deal with them. And this is what he told Moses, Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them. in order that I may make a great nation of you." So God here is threatening to completely wipe out those that he had brought out of Egypt and to start over again with Moses to make a people for himself. Moses goes down from the mountain to deal with the people and then the next day he goes back up onto the mountain to attempt to intervene with God for them. That's when we see this similar statement to that which Paul makes. So let me read this to you. Exodus 32. We're going to read verses 30 through 32 beyond the screen. The next day Moses said to the people, You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up to the Lord. Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. So Moses returned to the Lord and said, alas, this people has sinned a great sin. But now, speaking to God, if you will forgive their sin, but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written. So Moses offers himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of the Jews. Of course, God did not accept his offer. As Pastor Don said, he is not a worthy sacrifice for the sins of others. Moses was himself a sinner. In fact, he had committed murder. So God responds by saying, whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. Paul would certainly have known of Moses' request and that it had been rejected. Paul also knew that no sacrifice for the sins of others was acceptable except for the sacrifice of Jesus, God's own Son. Even so, Paul so grieved the fact that so many of the Jews had been cut off from Christ due to their unbelief that he would literally do anything he could do to change that. And as I said earlier, I believe we should be equally burdened for the salvation of the lost, for the salvation of our family members, our neighbors, our coworkers. We should be willing to do whatever we can to see them come to faith in Christ. Every time I drive to the church, I drive through Coffee Park. I drive through Coffee Park two, three times every day. And I can't help but pray for the salvation of thousands of our neighbors. Thousands. We need to have a heart for the lost. And that then should motivate us to be willing to do whatever we can to see them come to faith in Christ. What can we do? Well, we can be witnesses for Christ by sharing the gospel. We can be committed to praying for their salvation. We can be committed to supporting those who proclaim the gospel of grace so that many more might come to know Christ as Savior and Lord. Because the gospel is the power of God for salvation. The gospel must be proclaimed. It must be shared in order for them to come to know Christ. And we have been given that gospel. It is our responsibility to share it with others. Paul then goes on to describe some of the incredible privileges that were given by God to the Jews. To the Jews specifically. Look at verses 4 and 5 with me again. They are the Israelites. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs. And from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. The Jews had unique spiritual privileges. But you know what? They were not saved as a result. Spiritual privileges will not save anyone. The Jews' rejection of Christ shows that salvation is not a simple matter of considering the evidence and making a rational decision to choose God. No, the fallen human heart is spiritually dead and cannot trust in Christ unless it is made alive by the Spirit of God. The problem with many lost people is that they trust in their religious privileges, not in the Savior provided by God. What a tragedy to be religiously zealous but lost. Salvation is not a result of spiritual privilege or the practice of religion, but rather a result of God's sovereign grace causing us to be born again. It's the result of responding to the gospel. Now, nevertheless, Paul lists here eight spiritual privileges given to the Jews. Let me just go through these quickly. First, the adoption. This is the only place in the New Testament where adoption is used of Israel. Normally it's used to refer to believers in Jesus Christ, to refer to our new status before God as His adopted children, chosen by the Father. When it is used of Israel, as it is here, it refers to God choosing the Jews as the people through which He would bring salvation to the world. Second, the glory. This refers to the Shekinah glory of God, a visible representation of God's divine presence. It appeared first during the Exodus as a great cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Then it descended upon Mount Sinai as the law was given to Moses. Later it filled the tabernacle and rested over the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in both the tabernacle and later in the temple. It was a sign of God's presence with Israel. Third, the covenants. Nothing is more characteristic of God's special relationship with His people than the covenants. This refers to God's covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David, all of which the Jews were aware of and celebrated. Fourth, they had received the law. They had been entrusted with the very words of God which told them how to live in a manner pleasing to God. This extraordinary privilege was given to no other nation. Fifth, they received the worship, referring to God's instructions as to how He was to be worshipped. They were instructed that God could only be approached by means of a blood sacrifice, which testified to the gravity of sin and looked forward to the greater blood sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God. Sixth, they were given promises by God, which in this context probably refers to the promises of redemption to be fulfilled by the promised Messiah, who was Jesus. Seventh, he mentions the patriarchs. These are the fathers of the Jewish nation, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To have such devout and influential men in one's past is rightly regarded by Paul as a significant national distinction and advantage for the Jewish people. Lastly, Paul also credits them with the human ancestry of Christ, the Messiah. The Jews would have agreed with this list of privileges right up until here. They would disagree that Jesus was and is their promised Messiah. But their disagreement makes it no less true. In fact, all eight of these spiritual privileges point to and lead to Jesus, the promised Savior. who will provide adoption, leading to glory, by fulfilling the covenants and the law fully, opening the way to true worship of God and all of the promises of God for His covenant people. This was accomplished by Jesus. God had greatly blessed Israel and had given them all of these spiritual privileges and advantages Israel lacked nothing, yet they chose to reject their promised Messiah and crucify Him. And we need to see here, and I believe this is a point that Paul wants to make, that spiritual privileges or advantages do not by themselves result in salvation. Only God Himself can cause that to occur as the Apostle Paul had found out himself on the road to Damascus. Remember, he had all the privileges of being raised in the Jewish faith, yet he did not truly know God and had himself rejected Jesus until he came face to face with the risen Christ. Then everything changed. We must apply this to those who have been raised in a Christian home or family. Some think that they are right with God because they had Christian parents. Those parents may have provided for them certain spiritual privileges, but that cannot save them. They must themselves trust in Christ for their salvation. They must be born again. Others are trusting in their membership in a good Christian church. There are great spiritual advantages of being a member of a sound, biblical church. But guess what? Church membership does not save anyone, just as being a Jew did not save anyone. You must trust in Christ yourself and be born again to be saved. And finally, the Jesus who you trust in for your salvation needs to be the Christ who is revealed in the pages of our New Testament as the Christ who is God. Look again at verse 5 with me as we see the identity of the Messiah. To them belong the patriarchs from their race according to the flesh is the Christ who is God over all. Blessed forever. Amen. Paul ends here this paragraph with a powerful statement regarding the true identity of Jesus Christ. Not only is Jesus the promised Messiah, not only is he the only begotten Son of God, he is himself God over all. Jesus, Paul states, according to the flesh, was a Jew. He was a physical descendant of King David, just as was promised. He was born physically of the German Virgin Mary, He was no mere man. He was conceived not by man, but by the Holy Spirit. And He was not only the Son of God, but He was God in human form. Remember, John's gospel begins with this description of Jesus, John 1.1. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God, or had been God. And then verse 14, And the Word became flesh, or human, and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. We know that John is writing here about Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, and John is telling us He is God and has always been God. Paul will later write about this process whereby God the Son left his exalted position in heaven and was born as a man. We find that in Philippians 2, verses 5-11. Listen to what Paul writes. Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself. By taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that 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. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That giving wasn't just in Jesus coming. That giving was in Jesus dying in our place. So Jesus was and is the Son of God and He is God as well. He came to earth as the promised Messiah who would save His people from their sins. He lived the perfect sinless life that we could not live. And then He laid down His life as a sacrifice, paying the penalty for the sins of all who will believe in Him and trust in Him for their salvation. Then as we know on the third day, He rose again from the dead, demonstrating that He had indeed conquered sin and death for us. And 40 days later, he ascended back into heaven and took his seat on his throne where he is, as Paul writes, God over all. And we should bless him forever. Amen? This is the Jesus who most of the Jewish nation refused to believe in. And that caused great sorrow. and unceasing anguish in the heart of the Apostle Paul. He had been delivered from the darkness and that is what he wanted for all of his people, for all of the Jews. He would spend the rest of his life proclaiming the gospel of grace, the gospel of Christ to Jews and non-Jews as well. And by the grace of God some would come to trust in Christ for their salvation and be born again. What about you? Have you believed in the true Christ? Have you put your faith and trust in Him? Have you been born again? I pray that you have. But let me ask you this. Do you now have a great desire to see others come to know Jesus as their Savior? Have you committed your life to being a witness for Christ? Are you living for Christ in such a way that you can be an effective witness for Him? We who have come to know Christ by the grace of God are called to be His witnesses. We have been called by Him to be lights in this present darkness. We have been given the gift of knowing Christ and the gift of knowing the gospel of God's grace so that we can share it with others. So let us join with Paul in having great sorrow in our hearts for those who do not yet know the love of Christ. And may that drive us to pray for the lost to endeavor to share Christ with them, and to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that dwells within us. This is what we have been called to do. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for this glorious opportunity for us to see the heart of your servant, Paul, broken for the lost. Father, it would be so easy for Paul to think, oh, what stubborn, what arrogant people. They have persecuted our Lord. They have persecuted me. They've persecuted other Christians. They're going to get what they've got coming. But that's not the heart of your servant. Your servant's heart is one of compassion for the lost, of a desire to see the lost saved. And Paul would spend the rest of his life endeavoring to be a witness for you, Father. Thank you. for opening our eyes to see these truths. Thank you, Father God, for giving us the faith to believe and trust in your Son and be saved, to be placed in Christ. But, Father God, we are not to simply rest there. We are to be used as your instruments to share this grace that we enjoy with others as well. So Father God, I pray that you would help each and every one of us, Father, to be witnesses for you, to seek, to share these truths so that by your grace others may come to know Christ as well. And thank you, Father God, that we can trust in you, that you will save all that you have chosen for salvation. But thank you for using us as the means. We pray for your blessing on this church. We pray for your blessing on all of your churches, on all of your saints, that we would endeavor to be witnesses for Christ. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.