I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9: 1-5 LSB
Romans 9: 1-5
When I entered seminary I believed in the freedom of my will, in the sense that it was ultimately self-determining. I had not learned this from the Bible. I absorbed it from the independent, self-sufficient, self-esteeming, self-exalting air that you and I breathe every day of our lives in America. The sovereignty of God meant that he can do anything with me that I give him permission to do. With this frame of mind, I entered a class on Philippians with Daniel Fuller and class on the doctrine of salvation with Jaymes Morgan.
In Philippians, I was confronted with the intractable ground clause of Philippians 2:13: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure,” which made God the will beneath my will and the worker beneath my work. The question was not whether I had a will, but the question was why I willed what I willed. And the ultimate answer — not the only answer — was God.
In the class on salvation, we dealt head-on with the doctrines of unconditional election and irresistible grace. Romans 9 was the watershed text and the one that changed my life forever. Romans 9:11–12 said, “Though they [Jacob and Esau] were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad — in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call — she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’”
And when Paul raised the question in verse 14, “Is there injustice on God’s part?” He says, no, and quotes Moses (in verse 15): “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” And when he raises the question in verse 19, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” He answers in verse 21, “Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?”
Emotions run high when you feel your man-centered world crumbling around you. I met Dr. Morgan in the hall one day. After a few minutes of heated argument about the freedom of my will, I held a pen in front of his face and dropped it to the floor. Then I said, with not as much respect as a student ought to have, “I [!] dropped it.” Somehow that was supposed to prove that my choice to drop the pen was not governed by anything but my sovereign self.
But thanks be to God’s mercy and patience, at the end of the semester I wrote in my blue book for the final exam, “Romans 9 is like a tiger going about devouring free-willers like me.” That was the end of my love affair with human autonomy and the ultimate self-determination of my will. My worldview simply could not stand against the Scriptures, especially Romans 9. And it was the beginning of a lifelong passion to see and savor the supremacy of God in absolutely everything. - John Piper from "The Absolute Sovereignty of God" What is Romans 9 about?
Vs. 1-2 I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart - You could understand these doctrines, yet I would contest not so well as you think, if you read, memorize and repeat the argument of election, but remain without sorrow and unceasing grief in your heart. It is easy to see the world God has called you out of spiritually and rightfully hate this system, rightfully hate the sin, but it was not for our goodness that Christ came to save us. He came to seek and to save the lost, to call sinners to repentance, and so if we truly love Him then we should have sorrow over our sin, and sorrow for the state of those living in slavery to it. Ephesus was commended on many fronts, much like some of our Reformed churches today. They went even further than many when it came to discernment, even outing the Nicolaitans, for which Christ praises them, but for all that, even their great loyalty to the Word of God, yet they had forsaken their first love. They were doing all the things that we should expect of those who believe, it is the minimum after all, that we are sound in are doctrine, correct error, hold up the Word of God above our own thoughts and feelings, but is it not pride when we look at those who don't know God and forget that except for His great love and mercy we wouldn't either? We have lost the marvel and awe of our own salvation, the being able to come into the presence of His Majesty without being consumed by fire, being rescued from that which we could not save ourselves. Notice how Paul starts the presentation of these great doctrines with sorrow for the lost of Israel, his brothers according to the flesh, those who now hate him.
1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles. 3Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.…
…4But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.… Revelation 2: 1-6
…135Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. 136My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed. 137Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.… Psalm 119: 135-137
…9Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God. 10Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her, 11so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance.… Isaiah 66: 9-11
…16Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness. 17But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive. 18Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”… Jeremiah 13: 16-18
The works of the Nicolaitans - A problem in Pergamum also, this heresy was similar to the teaching of Balaam. Nicolas means "one who conquers people". Irenaeus writes that Nicolas, who was made a deacon in Acts 6, was a false believer who later became apostate; but because of his credentials he was able to lead the church astray. And, like Balaam, he led the people into immorality and wickedness. The Nicolaitans, followers of Nicolas, were involved in immorality and assaulted the church with sensual temptations. Clement of Alexander says, "They abandoned themselves to pleasure like goats, leading a life of self-indulgence." Their teaching perverted grace and replaced liberty with license. - J Mac from study Bible note Rev 2:6
V. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed - No one this side of eternity can truly comprehend the weight of such a statement, but this is the burden of Paul's heart for his lost brothers. I have thought about this statement many times throughout my Christian life, and it shouldn't be brushed off or passed over without assessing one's own view of the lost. We tend to go too far to the side of being in a bubble like separatist, hating not just evil, but people, though Christ has told us to love our enemies, and to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel. We treat it as a kindness to not bring up the gospel because we know that it will be controversial, and the reality of the word "enemy" will become too crisp. Paul is stating that he is willing, thank God it is not of him who wills, to be considered anathema, that is the Greek word which means "to devote to destruction in eternal hell". It always takes me a bit to recover from that, but look at the contrast, most of us aren't willing to be temporarily put out, bothered, rejected, scorned for even a minute. We are much quicker to raise up fists or stand on soap boxes then we are to pray for the salvation of those who would persecute us. I don't think Paul has lost his first love. I think he is finding his salvation more and more marvelous, almost unbelievable, definitely outside of himself.
…31So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. 32Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” 33The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book.… Exodus 32: 31-33
V. 4a Who are Israelites - The physical descendants of Abraham, born from Jacob, whose name became Israel, the father of the twelve tribes.
V. 4b To whom belongs the adoption as sons - God ransomed Israel from Egypt, covering them in the blood of the Passover, a picture pointing to Christ.
…21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son, 23and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’ ”… Exodus 4: 21-23
…19After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ 20Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD. 21“Set up the roadmarks, establish the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours.… Jeremiah 31: 19-21
V. 4c And the glory, and the covenants and the giving of the law - Israel had a unique relationship to God in comparison to the rest of the world. The glory refers to God's presence, the Shekinah that went before them in a cloud by day, fire by night and indwelled the tabernacle. They received the unilateral covenant which God gave to Abraham and renewed with Jacob, and this was the name that Moses gave the people in Egypt, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the great "I am", the eternal Being, the Creator, the only true God. They had the law given to them through Moses, so they had many advantages in knowing God, the revelation of God, both the law and the prophets.
10And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD 11so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. 1 Kings 8: 10-11
…17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. 18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land— from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates — 19the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,… Genesis 15: 17-19
V. 4d The temple service and the promises - The temple showed the approach, told the story of God's redemptive plan, showed man's inability to approach without being clean, and that there was a breach that could only be overcome by the life and death of another.
Latreia - 5x in 5v - John 16:2; Ro 9:4; 12:1; Heb 9:1, 6. NAS = divine worship(2), service(2), service of worship(1).
Paul is referring to the service as seen in the tabernacle, offerings, and priesthood as found in Exodus and Leviticus, Moses recording for example God's promise… Precept Austin
"And I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. And I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me. And I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God. (Ex 29:43, 44, 45, 46)
13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.… Romans 4: 13-15
V. 5b From whom is the Christ according to the flesh - Jesus was born a Jew from the line of David.
V. 5c Who is God over all - Another mention of Christ's deity.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.… John 1: 1-3
