Message Notes

SENIOR SUNDAY SCHOOL 23 June 2024

Text: Romans 9

Subject: “Great sorrow and continual grief”

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh

Romans 9:1-3

INTRODUCTION

1. Romans 9-11

a) A very challenging text to study

b) Paul delves into a complex study of Israel’s place in God’s will

2. Our task

a) To understand Paul’s theology concerning Israel

b) To appreciate that this is a needed theology for us to comprehend the place of Israel in the kingdom of God

AN IMPORTANT DECLARATION

The opening words may be divided into smaller segments for easier comprehension

Part # 1

“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying” Romans 9:1a

1. What Paul is sharing is indeed the truth

2. He is not lying

Part # 2

“My conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit” Romans 9:1b

1. Paul made mention solemnly

a) Of the Lord Jesus Christ

b) Of the Holy Spirit

2. He declares that:

a) His own conscience

b) It bears witness

Part # 3

“That I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart” Romans 9:2

1. Personal feelings are declared

2. Candidly

a) He has great sorrow

b) There is continual grief in his heart

Part # 4

“For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh” Romans 9:3

1. If he could be accursed

So that Israel may be blessed

2. This does not mean that this thought would be fulfilled

This is just a very personal and emotional thought expressed

3. Paul’s regard for Israel

a) My brethren

b) My countrymen

c) “According to the flesh”

MEANING OF THIS SOLEMN DECLARATION

1. Paul had written very firmly about Israel (Romans 2)

2. His teaching may be:

a) Misread

b) Misunderstood

c) Misapplied

3. He seeks to clear the air

a) He is not Anti-Israel

b) He has appropriate regard for fellow-Jews

c) He has deep personal feelings about Jews

4. But what he has written

a) It is true

b) Israel needs to know the Lord Jesus for salvation

A PRELUDE TO THE FORTHCOMING CHAPTERS (Romans 9-11)

1. Romans 9:1-3 is like a prelude

2. Paul will explain in greater detail what he had written in Romans 2

3. Much of what Paul struggled with was encountered by the Lord Jesus

a) The scribes and Pharisees

b) Many issues were points of conflict

i) The Sabbath

ii) Being descendants of Abraham

iii) The doctrine of salvation

iv) The law of Moses

4. Are these things relevant to us?

a) Yes

b) Our understanding of Biblical Theology becomes sharper

c) Our appreciation of the Lord’s word becomes deeper