Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at Romans 9:1-5
• We see the heart of Paul for his fellow countryman
• He had given up everything to follow Jesus Christ
• Five times he was whipped, three times in a shipwreck, often with food and clothing
• He suffered much for Christ
• He prayed much
• He loved much
• He opens up his heart for the Jews
• There is continual sorrow for his countrymen
• His heart bleeds for them
• What is our burden?
• For Paul - the care of all the churches was upon his heart
• Corinth broke his heart yet he prayed for this church without ceasing
• Do we have a burden for our neighbour?
• Do we have a burden for the Jews?
• Do we have a burden for work colleagues or non-Christian family?
• We are beginning a very deep section
• The Sovereignty of God
• What is God's purpose for Israel?
• Election
• High and mysterious things
• A climax at chapter 11 as Paul glories in God
• Paul addressing an objection
• If first to the Jew and then the Gentile (in salvation)...
• If the same in Judgment (2:9-10)...
• "Why have you gone to the Gentiles?'
• A great answer at chapter 11-13
• Overview:
• Paul's Burden (v1-2)
• Paul's Christ Like love (v3)
• Paul's Understanding of Israel's Privilege (v4-5)

Paul's Burden (v1-2)

• Paul was a Jew (of the stock of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews)
• There is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free
• God is not looking for family tree or outward circumcision
• God is looking for faith
• God is looking for someone who is born again
• Paul says some very strong things
• You rest on the law (2:17)
• You know his will (2:18)
• You have confidence that you are a light to the blind (2:19)
• Has the word of God taught your heart (2:21)
• Practice what you preach (2:21-24)
• Very challenging for any Jew to hear
• Challenging for any religious person
• Do you practice the truth?
• Unless the God of truth has changed your life, it makes no difference
• Paul was forthright
• Many lied about him and plotted to kill him
• Paul states he is telling the truth (v1)
• All true Gospel preachers will have lies spread about them
• As you stand up for truth people will sow things against you
• Paul makes it clear he had a love for the people
• Paul uses similar words
• 1 Thess 5 - God is my witness
• Can we always say this?
• 2 Cor 1:23 - God is my witness
• 2 Cor 12:5 - I will boast in my infirmities
• Paul had great sorrow and continual grief in his heart (v2)
• Some of us have know a great burden for the lost
• Some of us have lost this burden
• 1:8-9 - I really love the church, I pray regularly for the church - God is my witness
• cf 1 Cor 13:1-2 - What Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit he also practiced
• Examples of Joseph Whitfield and David Braynard

Paul's Christ Like love (v3)

• It is impossible what Paul is asking (only Christ can be our sacrifice)
• But he wishes that he could be cut off that his brethren and countryman would be saved
• Only God can give love like this
• Example of Moses
• Do we have such love for sinners as this?
• Paul has the same longing and burdening as Christ
• Christ wept over Jerusalem
• Paul is moved with deep compassion
• Only Christ can bare the wrath of God but Paul's heart is a right heart
• Compare 10:21 and 10:1
• Paul is praying that Israel would be saved
• We need to ask for the Christ like love that Paul had

Paul's Understanding of Israel's Privilege (v4-5)

• This is heightening Paul's love for them - they are so blessed
• They have a noble name
• They are a distinguished nation
• They were an adopted nation - Isa 43:1 & 46:3
• They were God's first born
• They had the glory of God
• They had the covenants
• Abraham - the covenant of promise
• Moses
• David
• Ezekiel - the promise of a New Covenant
• Jeremiah
• They had the law
• They had the service of God
• They had the promises of God
• The greatest privilege of all is that Christ would be born
• Christ the "eternally blessed God" (v5)
• He came to His won
• Paul is recounting all the blessings given to Israel, which motivates him
• Paul will be all things to all men

Closing Remarks