May 21, 2023

“DOING THE RIGHT THING”

“HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU FOR THE LOST”

ROMANS 9:1-18

Matthew 9:36 “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

1.   God Is Faithful- Romans 9:1-13

*Israel’s Rejection of Christ- Romans 9:1-5

*Paul’s Concern for the Jews 

Romans 9:1-3 “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.”

Paul says he is not lying- “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.” vs.1

How concerned are you for those who don’t know Christ? Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy, comfort, and safety to see others come to faith in Christ?

*The Israelites Rejection

Who Are The Israelites?

Romans 9:4-5 “Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” 

*Their Adoption- vs.4

Exodus 4:22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.”

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”

*Glory- vs.4

Exodus 40:34-38

*The Covenants- vs.4

Genesis 12:1-3

*The Law- vs.4

The Mosaic Law was given to the nation of Israel.

Exodus 19:5 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”

*The Service of God- vs.4

Exodus 19:6 “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

*The Promises- vs.4 

Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.”

*The Father’s- vs.5

This refers primarily to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

*Christ the Messiah- vs.5

Christ came according to the flesh, when He came to earth, He came as a Jew. 

2.   Israel Identified- Romans 9:6-13

God doesn’t make His choices on the physical, so no matter what people do, God’s plan will still be carried out.

Romans 9:6-13 “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”10And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Isaac was the promised seed to Abraham, God promised and made good on His promise. 

*It Is Not on Human Merit

Genesis 25:23 “And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”

3.   The Righteousness of God- Romans 9:14-18

Romans 9:14 “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!”

Paul was quoting from the Old Testament:

Exodus 33:19 “Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

Romans 9:15 “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 

Romans 9:16 “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

God extends mercy, and He does it because He is God. Who are we to question Him? We all need to bow before Him.

Romans 9:17-18 “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.”

Paul now quotes from:

Exodus 9:16 “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

God is holy and must punish sin; but God is loving and desires to save sinners.