9:1-5 Paul’s Heart for Israel and the Church
THE BASIS OF PAUL’S PREACHING:
TRUTH BEFORE GOD
9:1 "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not"
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. Job 16:19
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 2 Cor 11:31
Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Gal 1:20
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 1 Tim 2:7
"My conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost"/ not human perception - God examined Paul’s heart!
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you ward. 2 Cor 1:12
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16
THE BURDEN OF PAUL’S PREACHING:
SALVATION BY GRACE
9:2 "That I have great heaviness..."/ affliction, grief, pain / 10:1
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. Psalms 119:136
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive. Jer 13:17
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Luke 19:41-44
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Phil 3:18
9:3 "...myself accursed from Christ..."
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. Ex 32:32
THE BACKGROUND OF PAUL’S PREACHING:
GOD’S GOODNESS TO ISRAEL
9:4 "who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption"
Acts 3:25
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Deut 7:6
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Isaiah 41:8
Adoption:
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: Ex 4:22
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Jer 31:9
glory: shekinah
covenants
giving of the law: The Ten commandments & Priesthood)
promises: New covenant - Gospel
All these blessings to the Jew were "pointers" to the real blessing of the Lord in the coming Messiah.
THE BLESSING OF PAUL’S PREACHING:
THE DEITY OF CHRIST
9:5 "Whose are the fathers,"
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. Romans 11:28
Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Deut 10:15
"And of whom....Christ came"
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Romans 1:3-4
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Gen 12:3
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Gen 49:10 Cf. Isaiah 7:14; 7:14; 11:1
"Who is over all, God blessed for ever." - Micah 5:2; John 1:1-3; 10:30;
Phil. 2:6-11; I Tim. 3:16
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28
9:31 "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness"
diwkwn
(Pres Act Ptc) - to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away, to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after, to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal, to pursue (in a hostile manner), in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one, to persecute, to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something, to seek after eagerly,They pressed toward the goal of righteousness, but never reached ti by the law. The Gentiles did not run toward the goal and found righteousness by faith. Cf. Romans 10:2-4
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Gal 3:21
"hath not attained to the law of righteousness." - eqase (Aor Act Ind) - to come before, precede, arrive at, to reach, attain, seize, apprehend, making it their own: physically or mentally. They never reached the place of righteousness or holiness that the law demanded. "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." But they did the opposite and broke the commandments.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Romans 4:14
9:32 "
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith,"At this point, Paul passes from the sovereignty of god to the responsibility of man. It is true that man cannot save himself. Moral ability never saved anyone. However, moral inability does not relieve us from our responsibility!
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded Romans 11:7
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Gal 3:11
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10
"but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled"
prosekoyan
- Aor Act Ind - a stumbling block, an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls, by which is caused to sin"at that stumblingstone;" - liqw tou proskommatoV
Lit. The stone of the stumbling.
Metaphorically of Israel in regard to Christ, whose person, teaching atoning sacrifice, were contrary to all their ideas about obtaining righteousness before God.
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:23-24
9:33 "
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion" - tiqhmi - Pres Act Ind - to place or lay, to put down, lay down, to set forth, to make, fix, establish, ordain."a stumblingstone and rock of offence:" - petran skandalou
The movable stick or trigger of a trap, a trap stick, a trap, snare, any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, (a stumbling block, occasion of stumbling) i.e. a rock which is a cause of stumbling, Figuratively applied to Jesus Christ, whose person and career were so contrary to the expectations of the Jews concerning the Messiah, that they rejected him and by their obstinacy made shipwreck of their salvation.
Notice the contrast of the stumbingstone (liqw) and the rock (petran) of offence.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Psalms 118:22
..but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Peter 2:7-8And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8:14-16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:16
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. Matt 21:42-46