“I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and by human descent came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.” Romans 9:1-5 NET
Paul is profoundly tormented by the plight of his fellow
Israelites, a heartache steeped in the rich traditions and teachings he
embraced during his formative years. He understands that the divine promises of
God were initially woven into the fabric of their identity, intended for his
people. Yet, tragically, they have willfully turned away from this sacred relationship,
rejecting the profound message that God has bestowed upon them. Instead of
embracing the transformative essence of His word, they have clung to a rigid
and legalistic interpretation of the law, missing the deeper spiritual renewal
that it was meant to inspire—a renewal that should speak to the very core of
their hearts.
However, Paul’s remarkable dedication raises an
essential theological truth: God has unequivocally proclaimed that Jesus, the
one we revere as Christ, is the Messiah not only for Israel but for all of
humanity. The heartbreaking reality is that many of Paul’s compatriots have
fundamentally rejected Jesus as their Messiah. Yet, this rejection does not
diminish the splendor of who Jesus is, nor does it alter His universal
significance as Savior.
Throughout the Old Testament, the profound message conveyed
through figures like Abraham, Moses, and the Prophets is unmistakably clear:
Israel is vividly depicted as a woman abandoned, bloodied, and bruised—a
metaphor for her spiritual condition. This woman, trapped in the depths of
despair and depicted as a prostitute, is in dire need of healing and a renewed
will to live. God, filled with compassion, observes her pitiful state and steps
in to restore her, offering not just healing but also a covenant of marriage.
This divine union signifies a deep commitment, where God bestows upon her a new
identity—one marked by acceptance, love, and dignity as His cherished bride.
With tender mercies, God adorns her with beautiful garments
and splendid treasures, designed to convince her of her uniqueness and
worthiness. Yet, despite these generous gifts and the transformative love she
receives, she repeatedly returns to her rebellious and prideful ways, choosing
to engage in unfaithfulness and degradation into prostitution. This cycle of
betrayal emphasizes the profound narrative of God’s unfailing love towards His
bride, who continually strays from the path of righteousness and the love that
sustains her.
The theme of relentless love persists in the New Testament.
The Apostle Paul, in his passionate writings, articulates his deep longing for
the salvation of his fellow Jews. He expresses a willingness to surrender his
own salvation, even to be cut off from Christ, if it means that his countrymen
might come to faith in Jesus. This extraordinary depth of emotion illustrates
the lengths to which he would go for the sake of others, echoing the same
unconditional love that God demonstrates throughout scripture. Here lies a
powerful testament to the enduring hope and transformative potential of love
that defines the relationship between God and His people.
Even though Paul is using hyperbole, he is attempting to
direct his audience’s attention to the ongoing narrative that the Old
Testament so clearly articulates: that God’s love never left Israel and is exemplified in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the lengths
God would go to redeem His bride.
Paul serves multiple purposes in making this heartfelt declaration. First, it powerfully underscores his unwavering commitment to his
countrymen, illuminating the depth of his love and concern for their spiritual knowledge
of Jesus. His words reflect the heavy burden he carries for their eternal fate.
Second, he aims to ignite hope in the hearts of his listeners, assuring them
that God has not abandoned His promises to the Jewish people. Paul highlights
God’s unwavering faithfulness, reinforcing that the opportunity for
redemption remains available to them, even as the message of salvation extends
to the Gentile believers.
Paul profoundly understands that Jesus, our Messiah, came
from the Jewish people, fulfilling the promises made in the Hebrew Scriptures.
His lineage and teachings are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, yet His
mission extends far beyond ethnic boundaries; Christ is a transformative force
for all nations, breaking down dividing walls of separation and offering
salvation to everyone. Paul sees this beautiful universality in Christ’s
purpose to redeem all of humanity, embracing men and women from every culture
and background. Despite this expansive mission, Paul is grieved for his fellow
Jews, who, having turned away from the truth of God, are missing the
opportunity to recognize and embrace the fulfillment of the very promises they
cherish. His heart aches because of their spiritual blindness, as he longs for
them to understand and receive the abounding love and redemption offered
through Jesus.
The promise of becoming sons and daughters of Abraham is a
profound opportunity available to all, transcending the limits of lineage or
birthright; it is fundamentally grounded in the transformative power of faith.
So, what exactly is faith, and what does it truly involve?
Faith is the act of trusting in God’s truth and His
capability to fulfill His promises, even when those promises are beyond our own
abilities or understanding. We cannot earn God’s approval or favor through our
own efforts, good works, or adherence to religious rituals. Instead, we please
Him by inviting Him to govern every aspect of our lives, allowing Him to take
control, and trusting Him to bring about His plans in and through us.
This process isn’t achieved through mere compliance with a
set of rules, laws, or ordinances, but through genuine surrender—dying to our
own carnal desires, ambitions, and instincts. It’s about relinquishing control
and embracing a new way of living that aligns with God’s purpose.
Abraham’s faith in God was more than mere belief; it was an
unwavering trust that was counted to him as righteousness. This demonstrates that true faith is actively lived out in obedience and relationship with God.
Similarly, our devoted loyalty to God and steadfast belief in His promises are
the keys that unlock our identity as sons and daughters of Abraham.
This incredible truth calls us to believe and actively engage with God, stepping boldly into our divine inheritance as
part of His family. We should embrace the journey and experience the profound
transformation that comes through this kind of faith!
God is actively searching for individuals whose hearts are
genuinely devoted to Him—those who seek to align their lives with His will and
purpose. He understands our hearts more deeply than we do, as He
perceives our actions and the underlying motivations and
intentions that drive them. While we often acknowledge God as omniscient and
omnipresent—a concept grounded in scripture—what we may overlook is that these
divine attributes are not meant to control or judge us but rather to illuminate God’s boundless love for each of us.
He wants us to cultivate a close, intimate
relationship with Him, like a nurturing family. This longing to be
in fellowship with us is not merely a characteristic of God but the very reason
we were created in the first place: to be part of His true family, bearing His
image and reflecting His love in the world. Embracing this divine purpose
transforms our understanding of our existence and calls us to a life of
meaningful connection with our Creator and to one another.
What is our true calling in life? Is it to become a prophet,
evangelist, pastor, or teacher? While these roles can be significant, our
ultimate calling transcends these tasks; it is to pursue Jesus passionately and
intentionally in every aspect of our lives, whether at work, home, or in our
communities.
In a world filled with distractions and the pressures of
daily living, it’s all too easy to become tangled in the busyness of life,
focusing solely on tasks and obligations. This often leads us to adopt a
mindset of servitude, where our identity is wrapped up in what we do rather
than who we are. Yet, God desires so much more for us. He invites us into a
relationship where we can experience the depth of His friendship.
True acceptance by God hinges not on our accomplishments or
religious duties, but on our identity as His beloved children. We are
intricately woven into the fabric of His family, united by a bond that goes far
deeper than mere obligation. As we cultivate our relationship with Him, we
discover the richness of intimacy, support, and love that comes from being
close, lifelong friends with the Creator of the universe. This is our calling:
to nurture this relationship and to reflect His love in all we do.
Stephen Barnett
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