Sorrow That Not all Israel Is Israel

Scripture Texts: Romans 9:1-6

Introduction.

We are halfway through Paul’s great letter to the Christians in the church in Rome.  We have gone through eight chapters of some of the highest and holiest deep truths of God.  Paul has proclaiming as clearly as he can the Gospel of Jesus Christ that eternal salvation comes through God’s grace alone by faith alone in Jesus, not our own works, efforts or righteousness.

Eight chapters of glorious doctrine, deep truth, real truth.  Now if you know anything about Paul’s letters you know that when he gets done writing about the deep truths of God he always turns to practical matters that flow out of the doctrine and applies it to us.

So that is what we would expect at this point in Romans, but that doesn’t happen until chapter 12.  In between we have three chapters, sort of bridge chapters.

One of the problems with taking an eight-week break after finishing Romans 8 is we don’t feel the intensity of Paul’s sudden shift in his thinking.

Paul had just concluded one of the greatest chapters in all the Bible with soaring words.