ADDRESSES ON ROMANS yet all His Old Testament promises will be fulfilled when Israel turns to her Deliverer out of Zion, at His coming in glory to reign. Then the Gentiles also-the whole world-- will enter into yet richer and fuller blessing. As we read these chapters, much of the difficulty will pass away if we but remember that, while God is sovereign, yet He delights in mercy. However, He need not show mercy to anyone, for both Jews and Gentiles have proved themselves unworthy of His blessing. All have earned the wages of sin-- death. This the Jews failed to see in regard to themselves, and consequently they raised a protest because the Gentiles were being blessed. That is why Paul goes into the subject at length here. And let us remember that he is not dealing with individuals in these chapters, but with Israel as a nation. PAUL'S CONCERN AND HEART-HEAVINESS FOR ISRAEL 9: 1-3 Now let us look at chapter nine. The opening words arrest our attention, for in them Paul expresses great concern for his people: "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my con- science also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (verses 1-3 ). What heart-heaviness he felt for Israel! This same concern caused Christ to weep over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23:37) . The same compassion that filled the heart of the Son of God evidently filled Paul's heart as he thought of the lost condition of his brethren according to the flesh. Note in the first three verses of chapter nine how careful- ly Paul weighs his words. My! but what a statement he makes here! As he looked out on the nation to which he belonged. Page 170]
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online