Unbelief of Israel

Romans 9:4-5

Unbelief of Israel!

Romans 9:1-5, I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, ⁴ who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; ⁵ of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. A vital section to any reader of this epistle. The section is not parenthetical, it is not arbitrary.

The whole argument of the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit in this great epistle. If we are to accept the fact that the New Covenant, salvation by grace through faith, which has been the theme of the first eight chapters.

If we are also to accept that it is for all men in all nations and all times, then what happens to God's special nation Israel?

What does this mean in relation to Israel?

Are they no longer God's chosen people?

Are they permanently set aside? How can Jews, to whom this gospel came first and who are the sons of Abraham, be rejecting it if in fact it is the truth? If Paul has been saying in chapter 8, particularly, how secure we are in Christ and how nothing can ever separate us from Him or His love, how can we be sure God's going to keep that promise if He broke His promises to Israel?

If God didn't keep the Jews in the place of covenant blessing, why should we believe, He will keep us there no matter what he says? Before Paul can move on to the application of this great truth to the matter of practical living, he must deal with this strategic area. Paul does that in chapters 9, 10 and 11.

Paul's objective is to deal with these issues. He shows why the Jews, who are God's people and to whom the gospel did come first and who truly were and are the children of Abraham nevertheless have rejected. He shows why.

Paul states that their rejection is only partial and only temporary and that it was always in the plan of God to be partial and temporary. He also makes it abundantly clear that God will fulfil ultimately all the promises to Israel. Therefore, God can be trusted to keep His word to the church because He will keep His word to His people Israel.

How the Jew in his unbelief is temporarily and partially set aside and the Gentile brought in to be redeemed. Gentile redemption then provokes Israel to jealousy and they, too, then desire that which Gentiles have so that the coming in of the Gentiles provokes the salvation of the Jews.

Paul must deal with this because Paul has become defined in that day and age and that part of the world as the archenemy of Jews. That's how he is known. The Jews actually believe that Christianity is an anti-Jewish conspiracy, that Paul is the beginner.

Paul wants them to know that that's not the case at all. Before he gets into the theology of that, he wants to give them his heart.

Romans 9:1-5 he unbeare his heart and the deep and profound love that he has for Israel. He cherished that people. They were his people. Paul celebrates his Jewish identity.

Acts 23:6, But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

Philippians 3:5, circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; He was a Jew and he respected, revered, honoured, and loved and treasured that Jewishness. He loved his people.

Romans 10:1, Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. He wasn't anti-Jewish, nor is any true minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But the Jews need to know where his heart is. So, he gives them a look at his heart at the beginning of chapter 9 and then again at the beginning of chapter 10. He loved his people. The fact that he went to the Gentiles and preached the truth about salvation by grace through faith, not law through works, doesn't mean that he was anti- Jewish.

Paul confronted the lost Jew with his sinfulness and the emptiness of his system was not an act of hate but an act of love. Love calls men away from sin to salvation. Love calls men away from the delusion to the truth. The reason he confronted the false system of Judaism and called men to Christ was not because he hated the Jewish system or the Jewish people but because he loved them so much.

But they saw him as the archenemy.

• They hated him with a burning passion.
• They hated him as much as they hated Jesus Christ.
• They hated him so much is because they hated Christ so much.
• They can't hit Him, so they hit him in His place.

In the eyes of Jew Paul was a traitor because he started out persecuting Christians and then became one of them. Chronology of events took place in Paul’s life. Paul was converted in Acts chapter 9. In Acts chapter 9 his conversion on the Damascus Road.

After his conversion he spent three years with the Lord in a very unique and private relationship. He was called away into the Nabatean Arabia area, an area around Palestine. Galatians 1 Paul says that the message he preaches didn't receive from men, but directly by revelation from Christ Himself.

After that time that immediately he returns to the area at Damascus.

Acts 9:20, Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

This would be a volatile place to preach that message. That would be like me going down the street to the synagogue to preach Jesus Christ as the Son of God. All that heard him were amazed.

Acts 9:21-22, Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” ²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Paul not only preached that Jesus was the Messiah, but he proved it, literally confounded, what it means is he defeated them in debate. They were no match for his presentation.

What was their reaction?

Acts 9:23, Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.

They wanted him murdered. They were so enraged that they finally sought to eliminate him all together. Antioch in Pisidia.

Acts 13:14-15, But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. ¹⁵ And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of [c]exhortation for the people, say on.”

Here Paul along with Barnabas in the synagogue. They offer him the platform as they were accustomed to doing when a visiting rabbi came.

Acts 13:16-17, Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Paul goes on to preach this sermon the subject of who is Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:38-42, Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: ⁴¹ ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ” ⁴²So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

They were fascinated.

Acts 13:43-45, Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and

Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

They were willing to listen until they realized the Gentiles could get in on it. They became jealous and envious. Gentiles in their minds were outcasts. Racial pride raises its ugly head. They certainly couldn't believe something that Gentiles believed. So, they became hostile, contradicting, blaspheming.

Acts 13:46, Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the "

The more the negative reaction came, the greater the message.

Acts 13:48-50, Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the

Lord was being spread throughout all the region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

Apparently, there were some Gentile women, who had attached themselves to the synagogue, honourable, devout women who sought God, and identified with the unique moral convictions of Judaism. They stirred up these devout and honourable women and the chief men in the city and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their borders, threw them out.

Acts 14:1, Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.

They went right back in the synagogue next time.

Why did they keep going there? They had an interest there, they were Jewish.

Weren't they sent to reach the Gentiles? Right, but they didn't want to do it alone and they figured their first fertile soil for recruits was in the synagogue.

Because they would have a hearing there and if they could get a few Jews to help them it would be a little easier to do. If they went to the Gentiles first, they could never come back to the Jews. So, they had a strategy.

They went into the synagogue. They spoke. There were Jews and Greeks who believed.

Acts 14:2, But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

Acts 14:4-7, But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. ⁵ And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, ⁶ they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. ⁷ And they were preaching the gospel there.

There was an assault made, the Gentiles who had been stirred up by the Jews. They wanted to stone them, crush their life out. Lystra.

Acts 14:19-20, Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him,

he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. They stirred up another riot. They were rabble rousers. He was a blasphemer to them. They despised the man because he confronted the evils and the untruths of their system.

Thessalonica.

Acts 17:1-4, Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” ⁴ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

There were some good responses.

Acts 17:5, But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

The reason they wouldn't accept the gospel wasn't because the gospel wasn't believable or verifiable, but it was because there were Gentiles in it and they couldn't handle that. They were moved with envy. They paid them some money to start a riot, to set the city in an uproar.

Berea.

Acts 17:13, But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Exactly what they did. Everywhere he went they were set against him, to kill him, to start a riot, to get him thrown out of town. They dogged his steps. Even when he established a church, they would come in after that and they would try to get the people to reject what he told them, the Jewish people. Ephesus.

Acts 19:8-10, And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the

multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

They threw him out of the synagogue. They didn't want him there. They got up and cursed the Way. They cursed Christianity before the crowd. Macedonia.

Acts 20:1-3, After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. ² Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece ³ and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Now they are hiding in the bushes, and they want him dead, plotting. It was at this point in his life, in Greece, staying in the house of Gaius, also known as Titus Justus, likely in the city of Corinth. At his right arm was a secretary by the name of Tertius.

He dictated Romans in the midst of Jewish persecution. The Jews were laying wait for him. They were plotting his death. It was in the midst of the death plot that he was writing Romans. So even as he writes he feels their bitter hatred.

When he says in chapter 9 that he has the wish that if it were possible, he himself could be damned for the salvation of his brethren, his kinsmen. He is expressing the heart of the apostle who loved his people in spite of their hatred for him, in fact in the midst of their hatred.

It never changed.

Jerusalem

Acts 21:27-31, Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, ²⁸ crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” ²⁹ (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) ³⁰ And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

They were going to kill him. Fortunately, the Romans moved in and saved his life as God would have it.

Acts 22:18-21, and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ ¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. ²⁰ And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ ²¹ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

There is one group that is not going to hear you, that's the Jews because they see you as a traitor. I will send you to the Gentiles, far from here. That was the Lord's call to him. Before the council in Jerusalem.

Acts 23:10, Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. There's an argument. He created an argument. He pitted the Pharisees against the Sadducees over the issue of resurrection.

They were using him pulling each way to see who won. They would have split him in half. Again, the Romans rescued him from the Jews.

Acts 23:21-22, But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” ²² So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

They had this plot ready. Paul's sister's son told Paul and again he was saved from death. Before King Agrippa.

Acts 26:21, For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

We must understand that Paul, from the beginning of his ministry to the end, was under the animosity, bitterness, hate, and the plotting of the murderous Jews all the way along the line. One great reason why God had to send this very capable man to the Gentiles was because there was no way he could get through to the Jews who was perceived to be such a traitor.

Paul himself sums up his relationship to them.

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, ¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

They killed the Lord just like they killed the prophets, and they persecuted us. They please not God and they are contrary to all men. They forbid us to preach the gospel. They fill up their sins and upon them comes wrath to the uttermost.

2 Corinthians 11:24, From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 195 stripes. Five different times the Jews whipped him with ³⁹ lashes. He was not popular with them.

Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He honoured and loved his heritage. He loved his people. But he was honest enough to confront them with the truth. It wasn't just that way with Paul. It's been that way through the ages with many who’ve tried to preach.

The gospel offends the Jews. It offends them uniquely because they have such historic covenants with God. To be told that they are outside those covenants and have in fact rejected the Messiah who was the key to the reality of those covenants is something they cannot tolerate.

To tell them that they have been replaced in the covenant by Gentiles, beyond acceptance. So, Paul just accepted this as a way of life. Paul didn't change his message. Paul didn't stop going to the synagogues. When he writes Romans do you understand why he says what he says?

Do you understand why he must unbare his heart to them? You understand why he must tell them how he cares?

The first reason for Paul's love for Israel, his own personal connection to them. My brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, he loves them because they are his people. Paul called Christ and the Holy Spirit as his witness.

Testimony that he is not bitter towards his people but that he is sorrowful. He has a heavy heart. It is a continual burden of pain and sorrow.

• Like Jesus who wept over the people who rejected Him, Paul weeps.
• Like Stephen who asked that God would forgive the ones who crushed his very life out, so Paul seeks their salvation.

He loved his persecutors. He loved them, like Jesus did, like Stephen did. Their unbelief left him with a permanently grieving heart. The reason he was so zealous was not because he was insensitive but because he wanted them redeemed.

Saul was a great failure as a king. He disobeyed God. He was rejected as a king by God and by Samuel.

1 Samuel 15:35, And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

He didn't go to see him anymore because he was living in sin and disobedience. He had confronted him with the message of truth, but he never stopped mourning for him, always the broken heart for the one who rejects the truth.

Psalm 119:136, Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.

What a beautiful sentiment, the broken heart over those who do not believe.

Jeremiah 9:1, Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people! Jeremiah can't cry enough!

Jeremiah 13:15-17, Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the Lord has spoken. ¹⁶ Give glory to the Lord your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death And makes it dense darkness. ¹⁷ But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive. So, Jeremiah weeps.

In Lamentations 1 he weeps. In Lamentations 3 he weeps. God's heart is broken over the unbelief of Israel and so is the apostle, Paul's. We must not misunderstand that. It's that heart of love that causes Paul to wish himself accursed.

So, the first thing that drew Paul's affection to Israel was his personal connection. The divine connection. V 4- 5, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; ⁵ of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Paul loves them not only because they are his kinsmen, but he loves them because of their special relationship to God. Paul loves God and therefore loves whom God loves. He can't separate himself from that. The love of Christ is shed abroad in his heart.

If God loves them uniquely, then he loves them uniquely.

Israelites.

Who are Israelites?

Where does it come from? The name was given to Jacob after he wrestled with an angel. It is the unique name of God's people. It signifies the name of God's people, the identity of God's people.

Genesis 32:28, And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Uniquely called and named by God, a noble people. In Isaiah ⁵ that when God chose a people to place in the land, He chose the most noble vine.

They are God's special people. They are a noble people. Through the years of human history, the Jews have distinguished themselves in every area of human life. They have given to the world geniuses. They have set the world in new direction, humanly speaking, with their advances in science, art, economics, and education.

They are not like every other person. They are not like every other people, every other nation. They have a unique relationship with God.

V 4, "To whom pertains the adoption." Not only are they a noble people, but beyond their natural and racial nobility, they have received as a nation by grace. They have been adopted by God.

Exodus 4:22, Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Hosea 11:1, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

They are not just a noble race. They're the recipients of electing grace. Now when we say that we are saying that nationally not individually. They were not just because they were Jews automatically God's spiritual children.

Romans 9:6, "They are not Israel who are of Israel."

They were nationally chosen to be God's son. They were His nation. God brought them into covenant with Himself and He blessed them. They were privileged as a nation,

• privileged to have His protection,
• privileged to have His care,

• privileged to have His oversight.

The Old Testament doesn't talk about God being the Father of individual Jews. The Old Testament talks about God being the Father of the nation. They were nationally His chosen son, to whom He poured out His blessing. God was their Father in the unique sense of a nation.

Isaiah 46:3-5, “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: ⁴ Even to your old age, I am He, And even to grey hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you. ⁵ “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?

They had a unique relationship. They were chosen as a noble piece of human property and then drawn into a special relationship with God. V4, "the glory."

What is the glory? It is the Shekinah presence of God. Did God dwell in the midst of any other people? No.

God was in their tabernacle and their temple in their Holy of Holies, dwelling in light between the wings of the cherubim on their Ark of the Covenant. When they came out of Egypt, He gave them His glory and led them. When they built a tabernacle, His glory descended and dwelt therein. It was the glory that appeared to them at Mount Sinai in Exodus chapter 24.

The glory in Exodus 40 that filled the tabernacle. The glory in Exodus 33 and 34 that shown on the face of Moses. The glory that settled in the Mercy Seat and the Holy of Holies and filled the temple in 1 Kings chapter 8.

It was the glory that was theirs and it was to say that God dwelt with these people. This is no ordinary people. God made them a noble people. God drew them to Himself as His own and gave to them the privilege of His presence.

Remarkable privilege! V 4, "And the covenants,” Covenants with Abraham, Genesis 12:15-17. Covenant with Moses, and from Exodus 19-31. Repeated in Deuteronomy 29 -30. Covenant with David, 2 Samuel 7.

The covenant of a great and eternal kingdom reigned over by a great and glorious son of David. ✓ God promised them a nation through Abraham. ✓ God promised them to bless through Moses. ✓ God promised them eternal glory through David.

They were the recipients of the covenants. They were the nation to be blessed. They were the nation given the moral, social, ritual, ceremonial law of God that they might enter into intimacy with Him. They were the nation promised an eternal kingdom.

No other nation was given that unique covenant. Other nations would enter into it through them. But it was given to them. Even a new covenant was given to them. Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 26, God promised a new covenant that would come. He would take away their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. He would sprinkle clean water upon them and make them clean, a new covenant. He would write His law in their hearts.

Peter confirms this in his sermon.

Acts 3:25, You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

The people of the covenant. God made promises to you that He made nobody else. Not that they were to end there but through you they were to reach the world. These people received a noble stock, Adoption as God's own personal loving people, The presence of God dwelt among them, and He made them incredible covenants.

V 4, "The giving of the law.” Exodus 20, the Mosaic standard, they had God's law. They were told how to have a prosperous life. How to have a blessed life, How to enter into joy, How to know you are going to be blessed by God.

They were given the law. If they kept the law, they were to prosper.

God said, "You obey it and you will be blessed. You disobey it and you will be punished." So, they were given the road to prosperity.

Deuteronomy 4:5-6, “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. ⁶ Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

God gave them the privilege when He gave them His law of being a witness nation. When you are lifted up to be the witness to the world as a high calling.

Romans 3:1-2, What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? ² Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. To them were committed the oracles of God.

The greatest advantage was the Word of God, the law of God, the Old Testament Scripture came through them, and most of the New Testament came through them.

The proper response to the Word of God.

Psalm 119:97, Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. V 4, the service of God, Word means ceremonial service. Refers to the whole ceremonial system, all the sacrificial system, all the rituals, the cleansings the priesthood, the Levites, the Kohathites, the altars, the whole thing.

They were given a system by which they could have access to God. All that they could ever need for access to God was given to them. All that they ever needed for worship was given to them. They should have entered into the fullness of worship with God.

Look what they had. They were to start with a noble people. They enjoyed a special intimacy with God as His son. They were given His glorious presence to dwell within their midst. He gave glorious fulfilling covenants. He gave them His law that they might enter into blessing.

He gave them the services, the ceremonies, the sacrifices, the priests that they might enter into communion with Him on an intimate level so that they might come into His presence and fully experience His goodness. V 4, "and the promises."

It's not the same as the covenants. Since covenants has already been covered, I believe this refers to the Messiah. The Messianic promises, the promises embracing the saving work of Christ and the kingdom because this was the great Jewish hope.

This was the great Jewish hope. They waited for the promise. The promise of Messiah.

Acts 2:39, For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Peter preached on Christ, and he says the promise is offered to all of you. The promise of salvation in the Messiah, the promise of salvation in Christ.

The Old Testament was full of promises referring to the Christ.

Acts 13:32-33, And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. ³³ God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.

The promise of Messiah, Messiah's death, and Messiah's resurrection. That is the promise, the glorious Messiah, the glorious promise of the Messianic redemption, the Messianic salvation. God gave that to them.

Galatians 3:16, Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.

The promises of salvation in Messiah. He came to give them the fulfilment of the promise. V 5, of whom are the fathers Here the reference to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all those patriarchs. All the rest of the righteous line, all the distinguished leaders of Israel throughout their redemptive history, all the special instruments of God who passed on His divine truth by word and of whom ultimately Christ came.

He gave them all this long line of patriarchs, godly men, privileged men, to pass righteousness on from one generation to the next, the fathers. They were given to them. They had source of truth in their assembly always, there were always God's chosen people, God's chosen leaders, God's righteous men to be the models.

V 5, from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came Out of the Israelitish race has come Christ. Christ was born a Jew, culmination of all their privileges. They were a noble people, Called by God to be a special child, Recipient of His holy presence among them, Blessed with covenants, The knowledge of the divine will through the law, Given a way to enter fully into God's presence through the service or the ceremonies that they might worship.

They were even given special men who could pass on righteousness from one generation to the next, and ultimately of whom, of Israelites, came Messiah as to His flesh.

V 5, "Who is over all God blessed forever. Amen." Christ came, He was a Jew. As to His human descent, He is an Israelite. As to His divine descent, He is God.

1 Timothy 1:17, Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Acts 20:28, Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

God purchased with His own blood. Paul loves his lost people. He loves them because they are his people, and he has a relationship to them. But he loves them because they are God's people and God has an incredible and unique relationship with them.

This is the heart of the evangelist. This is the heart of the missionary. But it's sad to see how they failed to respond.