Message: Paul has a passion for Israel, God's chosen people, who believe His promises are not being kept. We can perceive a God who abandoned them and we can also perceive He abandons us. In this chapter, Paul looks at the error of the Israelites, so we will not fall in their ways and restore our trust in God's promises. A review of Israel reveals a people God set aside for Himself as a model of faith and obedience to the world. They were given special instruction to live according to His will, but they got fixated on the "special", rejecting God. They were the least and not a great people, but God wanted to love them and chose them. God gave His word and would not break His covenant promise. Israel began to think they were better (Abrahams Seed, Elect of God), a veil of self righteousness and glory, operating outside of God's purpose. Paul went to correct this false thinking, showing faith by works was dead, being void of relationship with God and unable to see Christ.
Paul makes 5 points to answer the question, "Who are the Israelites?"
I. Those Who Are The Father's - 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - KJV
II. Those Whom Christ Came For - Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - KKV
III. It Isn't Because God's Word Isn't True - Romans 9:6 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel " - KJV
IV. It's Not By Physical Birth - Romans 9:7 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called." - KJV
V. It's The Children Of The Promise - Romans 9:8b "They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." - KJV
God had a divine plan of love, by His reasoning, rewarding faith and obedience in the Lord, for a chosen lineage. God is not a God of hate, but that none would be lost, even in us, as in Israel the nation. God is calling us today, as in the day of Israel, by His Spirit; WE are Israelites.
Scripture: Romans 9:4-8 "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. " - KJV
