Title: The Tragedy of Paul’s Life
By nature, human beings are relational. We tend to like things that we can relate to. The reason so many preachers, myself included, often use anecdotes and illustrations in sermons is to strengthen the relationship between the concept and the application. To put it another way, one of my jobs up here is to “make the scriptures come alive” to you.
When I was in seminary Mary and I attended Bethel Baptist Church in Southern Indiana. While there we had the wonderful opportunity to hear Todd Gray, a young minster of about 32 years old, preach on a regular basis. Todd had many strengths as a preacher, chief among them was his ability to relate to his congregation by use of illustration. Bethel Baptist was a rural church, consisting of about 75% farmers. (Mary and I fit right in.) So many of the illustrations used farming examples. I learned so much there during that year by watching the reaction of the congregation, seeing the look on their faces when a concept clicked with them. You could see the light go on.
Occasionally, I get that look from some of you and it warms and encourages me a great deal.
Today we begin Romans Chapter 9. Arguably, one of the most challenging chapters in the New Testament. I have been very pleased with the progress and level of depth that you have soaked in the first eight chapters, and now we get into some very meaty theology. Again, my request is only that you be patient, and dialogue not with me, but with the text itself, and I promise you, you will be blessed in the next several weeks as we work through this chapter.
“I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.”
Paul begins one of his most theologically challenging chapters with a rather personal interjection that we will look at this morning. Paul is miserable when he thinks of his own people. He finds it necessary to qualify his argument by stating, “I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying…” As much as Paul appreciates being called by God to be the witness to the Gentiles, as much as he not only accepts the Gentiles as equals, but even goes to lengths to rebuke other believers like Peter when they don’t accept treat the Gentiles as equal Christians, Paul mourns for the overwhelming majority of Jews who reject the notion that Christ was the Messiah.
It literally pains him so much that he says in verse three: “I wish that the curse of God were on me, that I may pay the penalty of the sin of my Jewish brothers, that they may know the truth.” I’d like to emphasize to everyone this morning that this is not hyperbole from Paul. He is not exaggerating his love for his people. Remember who Paul was, a Pharisee, one who set his life’s goal to know and understand God by the strictest observance of the Law. And when the Truth and fulfillment of the Law was found, his colleagues didn’t have any interest in learning it.
It’s like an archeologist who finds the ark on Mt. Ararat in present day Turkey, and none of his colleagues care to look at his findings. It’s like the pitcher who discovers a way to continually pitch over 100 MPH and none of his teammates are interested in learning how to do it. It’s like the scientist who learns how to make a car run on water, and nobody cares to buy one.
What are you most passionate about this morning, aside from your faith? For me it would be my daughter. Imagine one morning my daughter starts talking in full sentences and reading at a college level, and I’m so blown away I can’t wait to show my wife. But my wife doesn’t care. Can you understand Paul’s frustration?
And why is Paul so frustrated? He outlines his reasons in verses four and five.
1. To whom pertain the adoption
Salvation was meant for the Jews. First and foremost it was the fulfillment of their Law, their hope, their messiah…and they were not interested.
2. The Glory
Who would know or being able to most accurately represent the Glory of God but his own chosen people?
3. The Covenants
Salvation was not a new concept to the Jews, God had been covenanting with them for generation upon generation that He would raise them up, He would deliver them, and He would keep his word to them. And when He did, they didn’t recognize it to desire it.
4. The Giving of the Law
The Law, as difficult as it was, was indeed a gift from God. By the Law’s guide and example one knew how to be holy. And now the ultimate example of the Law, the final fulfillment of the Law’s requirements, Jesus, was rejected, in favor of the continual laboring in vain after God’s favor.
5. The service of God
The work of the Jews for generations was to be His holy people in a lost world. A job, and honor that was taken from the Jews, and given to you and I. Can you see Paul’s frustration? It wasn’t supposed to go this way.
6. The promises
All of the relationship building that God had done, all of the promises now would go to a people that did not have the same lifetime of generations invested in knowing God.
I don’t do well at hour home with getting the dishes into the dishwasher. They routinely make it into the sink, but not the dishwasher. Suppose my wife one day says, “Ben, if you remember to put those dishes in the dishwasher for one year, I’ll buy you a new sports car.”
The year passes, I do well and Mary is so excited fulfill her promise, to give me the car. I take one look at it and say, “It’s not my thing.” My wife is so crushed she gives it to a neighbor who is overjoyed and extremely appreciative. My wife has some joy because someone got joy and use from that car…but she also has a great deal of sorrow, because it was a gift meant for me, and I rejected it.
7. Christ himself was a Jew.
This can not be emphasized enough. I think Paul says this last because it’s what kills him the most. The Jews didn’t reject some foreigner who claimed to be their God. They rejected one of their own who was the son of Yahweh.
What can we learn from Paul’s frustrations?
Two things:
1. An inevitability of our walks is that some of those closest to us, those we care the most about, will never accept Jesus Christ. We will shed more tears for them, pray for them more than any other, but our frustration will not be satisfied here on earth.
I’m not saying there is no hope, I’m not saying, “Stop praying.” I’m saying all of us care for people that we love dearly who do not know the Lord. Pray in the faith of God’s sovereignty.
2. This is huge theologically, and will keep coming up as theme in Chapter nine: Something that on the surface seemed wrong (the rejection of Christ by the Jews) ended up being a HUGE benefit and blessing. (The opening of the door of salvation to you and I, the Gentiles.)