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, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
I tell the truth in Christ-Paul is making sue they know he is being honest, when he is about to tell a hard truth.
not lying- Again telling the romans that he is not lying
conscience also bearing me witness- This is the 3rd time Paul is confirming that what he is about to say is the truth.
in the Holy Spirit- This is the final proof, the HS is his saying this and the HS is attesting to it.
great sorrow-unceasing grief
accursed from Christ- This means cut off. He would take their place
Brethren- For Jews
Paul now lists 7 privileges to being a Jew
Adoption- Ex 4:22 the glory- Ex 16:10 the covenants- Gen 15:18
giving of the law- Duet 5 the service of God-The service in the temple
promises- The messiah who is over all- the deity of the messiah
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That 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. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect.-It is not a failing of the New or Old testament
are not all Israel who are of Israel- this is to say not all are Gods called people who are Israel.
nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham- Just because they are Children of Abraham does not make them Children of God
–Paul is about to introduce the idea of election—
This is a carry over from the end of chapter 8, the fact that god foreknew and predestined
The idea of not all Abrahams children are Abrahams children is illustrated in the following passage
“In Isaac your seed shall be called- Gen 21:12
God has the right to choose who to call children
You make 5 pots you can choose which ones to keep and not to keep
“In Isaac your seed shall be called– Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and so on.
9 For this is the word of promise- Election
10 And 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), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
And not only this- this is a second illustration of Election
even by our father Isaac – there could be an argument for Sara and Hagar with the choice of Isaac. But not with his wife Rebecca and the choice of Jacob. God elected Jacob.
done any good or evil- There was no earthy reason to choose one over the other
But Esau I have hated.”- This does not mean hated like we think but a lesser choice then Jacob. Matt 6:24 John 12:25
First Baptist Church Delmar 