ROMANS Study Guide

Chapter Nine :

The rejection of Israel and the promise of a Remnant

Paul at this point in his letter seems compelled to deal with his own people the Jews. In his

previous chapters, Paul has been dealing with the great salvation found in Jesus Christ which was for

the most part rejected by the very people God had come to save first and foremost, the Jewish People.

Paul was considering a traitor to his own people… one who had rejected Moses and the divine law.

On more than one occasion Paul had been thrown out of synagogues’, caused riots and was followed

by Jews who refuted his teachings. Paul knew the Roman Christians where sooner or later going to

hear about the Jewish rejection of Christianity and so at this place he decided he would deal with it.

Rom 9:1 I tell the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, Rom 9:2 that I have great heaviness and continual pain in my heart. Rom 9:3 For I myself was wishing to be accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, Rom 9:4 who are Israelites; to whom belong the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises. Rom 9:5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is the Christ according to flesh, He being God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

1. Paul begins with revealing his own heart on the matter of the

rejection by the Jews of Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

a. Paul literally swears before God that he is not lying in his

absolute love and devotion for his own people. He would even be

willing to be damned (declared anathema ) by God in their behalf

if that would lead to their salvation in Christ. Vss.1-3

b. How many of us carry the burden for an unsaved spouse, children and

parents, a city or even a nation who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as

savior. Only those who carry such a burden with continual prayer

before God for these that are deeply loved can truly understand Paul’s

sadness.