Romans 9:1–5
As we begin what is arguably one of the most controversial chapters in the Bible, where many theological battles have been fought, we should pause and meet Paul where he himself tells us he is. Paul just finished explaining how secure the Christian is in Christ Jesus. Then, almost as though he can no longer hold in his pain, he interjects, “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.”
Have you ever felt sorrow and anguish? At the loss of a loved one? Surviving a traumatic event? Paul states that his anguish is not only a great sorrow, but an unceasing anguish. Something that he feels deeply, completely, and constantly. He emphasizes that this is no mere facade to get us to feel sorry for him. He says that he is not only telling the truth, but that he speaks it in Christ, the very place he just told us God’s love resides. From that very love, he tells us that he is not lying, and he calls his very conscience as a witness through the Holy Spirit to the truth he is about to speak. His sorrow is true. His anguish is real. His kinsmen according to the flesh are not with him in Christ.
Have you ever felt the pain of knowing that a loved one has rejected Christ? Perhaps they grew up around the faith, attended church, read the Bible, were baptized, or knew the truths of Christianity, but have nevertheless rejected Christ.
Paul notes that the adoption as the people of God, the glory of the presence of God, the covenants with God, God’s law, the worship of the one true God, and the promises of God were all given to the Jews, his kinsmen in the flesh. Not only that, but the history of their ancestry, and ultimately the realization of all the promises and history, Christ Jesus Himself, belonged to them! And yet they rejected Him. God made His presence known to them, and they turned away from Him.
Paul cannot bear the loss. His brothers and sisters in the flesh would not be his brothers and sisters in Christ. The tragedy is overwhelming for Paul, as it should be for us. Paul goes so far as to say that he could wish himself accursed and cut off from Christ for their sake. He cannot exchange his salvation for theirs, but his astonishing statement shows us just how deeply he grieves for them.
When we see others who have turned away, or who have completely rejected Christ, do we just brush them off as hard-headed, difficult, or impossible to deal with? Or do we fall to our knees at the anguish of their loss? While Paul could never be taken out of the love of God in Christ Jesus, his heart broke for those who were not there with him.
May God give us hearts that break for them too.
-steve