If you would like to watch this service, please click on the link to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/pCfyTsWNK94?si=wt7s-L-sX1JuNp9f

“For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”
Romans 9:3

The Israel-Gaza conflict has opened up divisions across the UK. There are pro-Palestinian protests and anti-Israel graffiti on church walls. There is anger and angst that we did not see in the Ukraine and Russia conflict. We have become a divided nation. How do we react as Christians? We spend a lot of time thinking about individual responses, church responses, but what about our nation? How does the current state of our nation grieve us?

In verses 1-5 of this chapter Paul is clearly grieved for his nation. There are positives here to motivate us. Let us consider the following:

1. Should Paul be grieved?
2. Why was Paul grieved?
3. Should we be grieved?

1. Should Paul be grieved?

Yes! Paul covers this in chapters 9 to 11. In verse one Paul wants to show this is of such importance. In earlier parts of Romans, Paul draws attention to Jews who have done many wrong things. Paul was viewed as being anti-Jewish. He had every right to hate the Jews (2 Corinthians 11:24). They we’re trying to kill him. They hated him and must have assumed that he hated them back, but he didn’t. Paul is simply saying here he speaks as a Christian, not bound by earthly things.

Paul states, “My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 9:1b). Our consciences tell us when we do something wrong. Our consciences leave us without excuse. Paul testifies of his great sorrow over his people and nation. He has continual grief. He has this feeling because he is a Christian who wants people to follow after our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Why was Paul grieved?

Paul was grieved because he had seen what his countrymen, for the most part, had not (verse 3). Some might suggest Paul is simply being nationalistic. But he could simply be patriotic – someone who loves and serves his country. But Paul’s love for his countrymen is so great, that he could wish “that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.” Paul recognises that the singular problem here is his countryman are accursed from Christ, separated from Christ. Paul cannot be separated from the love of Christ. He knows he is beloved of Jesus Christ, who will not let him go (Romans 8:38). He will keep you.

Paul expresses his deep concern for his countryman. He cannot save them. There will be a separation of sheep and goats which will have eternal consequences. Spiritual sheep and goats do not understand each other. To be a Christian is to be in Christ, to be different, to follow after the word of God.

We see in the rest of the chapter Paul acknowledges that he has two types of brothers: he has his fellow countrymen, then there are those who are in Christ. Paul frequently refers to those he is writing to as his brethren. He specifies that the brethren he is speaking of here are his brethren according to the flesh.

Salvation is not dependent on nationality. Paul clearly prayed for his homeland, so shouldn’t we be motivated to pray for our own countries?

As Romans 9 goes on you can almost hear the exasperation in Paul’s voice. He lists the great privileges showered upon the Jews: they were Israelites, a term of honour given by God. But they were also God’s adopted people. More than that, they had the glory – God’s presence among his people (2 Chronicles 5). The Jews also had the covenants of God (Jeremiah 31:31). God’s law was initially given to Israel. They also had the promises of God. The greatest promise of all was that he would send the Messiah. This would lead to the Messiah coming. Even from the cross, whilst dying, he offered salvation.

• Should we be grieved?

Yes. We live in a culture that has turned its back on the things of God, yet our nation has been blessed. We are adopted children of God who bear the name of Christ (9:6b). We are known as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have access to God by adoption because He has chosen us. God has always drawn Gentiles into His family, even in Old Testament times. Paul’s appointment as apostle to the Gentiles has shown that this adoption is openly offered to all nations. Nationality is no barrier to the salvation of God.

 As Christians, we now have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). We have this treasure in earthen vessels. The comments that God made both to literal Israel hold true for spiritual Israel because God will never break a covenant He has made God’s law was initially given to Israel. They were to follow it, and thus be an example to the whole world of God’s perfect and just law. It was God’s guidance to them how to live their lives.

Our nation has a legal system which was founded on God’s law, even though, in recent times, many laws have been passed that contravene God’s law. There are groups who campaign to shut churches down, to remove all references to God, for example, removing prayer before council meetings. Having said that, the promises of God remain open to us. Most importantly, whilst the Jews were promised the Messiah, we know the Messiah has come. Therefore, we can embrace the promise that He will come again.

We too are spiritually descended from the founding fathers and continue to have their lives as examples and lessons for us in the Holy scriptures. The Bible is still there for those who truly want it and seek it. As a nation we have been truly blessed by God. His word has been freely available here for a long time. The Bible is available to us.

We can see something of great privileges being disregarded. It is one thing for an individual to reject salvation, but then to go further to seek to deny access to others!

What can we do? We can challenge this in the courts. We can support the Christian institute and Christian Concern. Individually, we can appreciate the great privileges that we are afforded by our great God. We can get on our knees, literally or metaphorically. We can pray for God’s mercy to be poured out on our country men and women, that we would know once again the movement of God’s Holy Spirit upon our land and our nations. God calls us to live holy lives in the power that He provides, that we may be witnesses to those around us, that we may be salt and light within the nation that God has placed us. May our grieving motivate us to pray for our nation, to pray for the salvation of God to break out once again, to pray that God’s name would once again be upheld in the honour and the glory that is due Him. May this be our experience because God chooses to bless us again in that way.