Romans 9:1-8

¹ I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), because my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit– ² I have great regret and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ Because I wish that I myself would be accursed–cut off from Christ–for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, ⁴ who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen. ⁶ It is not like the word of God has failed. Because not all those who are descended from Israel are really Israel, ⁷ nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; instead “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”[1] ⁸ This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; instead, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

my countrymen – cut off from Christ!

1. Paul’s Joy Turns to Grief
   After celebrating the salvation of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, Paul grieves for his fellow Israelites who have not embraced the grace he received on the Damascus road.
2. Israel’s Eight Privileges
   Though they possessed remarkable blessings—adoption, glory, covenants, law, worship, promises, patriarchs, and even the Messiah Himself—these gifts could not save them apart from faith in Christ.
3. The Tragic Disconnect
   Without faith in the One who fulfills all the promises, the other privileges lose their saving value. Being cut off from Christ makes all the difference.
4. A Call for Self‑Examination and Mission
   Each passing year should prompt us to ask whether we are truly united to Christ by faith. When that connection is real, our deepest desire becomes sharing Him with others.

LORD, may we know the joy of knowing Christ, and bringing our countrymen to faith in Christ.

[1] Genesis 21:12.