What About God’s People, the Jews?

Romans 8 closes on the high plane of triumph and joy: Nothing will ever separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 9 opens on the low plane of despair and sorrow. Something about this change of subject brought Paul heartbreak. The once hardened rabbi who arrested the “followers of the Way” in Damascus in (Acts 9) now revealed his brokenhearted plea for Israel’s salvation.

His people, the Jews, accused Paul of being an enemy. They wouldn’t even try to understand what prompted his change of message. Since he had discovered who Jesus was, his heart had a heaviness and continual sorrow for them. He understood how they felt toward Jesus Christ and Christianity, for he once felt the same way. He had once been a zealous, hardened rabbi intent on arresting rebellious Jews. Now he wants nothing more than their salvation in Jesus Christ.

He said he wished they could be blessed by the Messiah the way he had been. They were family—no wonder he felt this way.

At the time of writing, the people of God faced a unique historical position and problem. Their church was now mostly Gentile, and the Jewish background had been all but forgotten. They assumed that God was done with the Old Testament and that the church was now heir to all its prophecies. But that’s not true.

In this section of Romans dedicated to hope for Israel (Romans 9-11), we learn that God’s promises to them will still be fulfilled. Not only that, but God promises the church, an elect people, both Jew and Gentile, to form them into a body (see Acts 15:13-18).

God is calling out a people to His name. When God’s purposes are complete for the church, He will remove us from the earth and turn again to Israel.

First, let’s discover who these people are whom Paul loved. Israel has a long history with God. Many Jews believed they were God’s chosen, the elect, and that salvation was simply a matter of birthright. They thought being a Jew was enough to receive God’s kingdom. Through His prophets, they didn’t understand God’s message that He wants a contrite heart, not entitlement or performance.

Even when Paul used Old Testament scripture, they didn’t understand that the gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles. They misunderstood the Torah and worked very hard to keep a set of rules. They thought they were right with God and were confused by Paul’s message of grace through faith. God chose a nation as His own, but He only saves individuals who turn to Him (always a remnant; see 1 Peter 2:9-10).

We can’t begin to understand God’s unexplainable dealings, but we can trust Him to act in justice. This is His universe. He is in charge and in control. We want to reason out God’s actions. We try to discern the mystery and majesty of His sovereignty. But faith leaves it there and accepts it in humble obedience. Unbelief rebels against it and continues under the same wrath and judgment it questions.

Yield to the fact that God is God, and we are not. Believe Him. He is righteous and good, and He does whatever is right.

Next: What’s going to happen to Israel? Is God done with them?