Read Romans 9:1-5

Read Romans 9:1-5

I am speaking the truth; I belong to Christ and I do not lie. My conscience, ruled by the Holy Spirit, also assures me that I am not lying ²when I say how great is my sorrow, how endless the pain in my heart ³for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God’s curse and separated from Christ. ⁴They are God’s people; he made them his children and revealed his glory to them; he made his covenants^m with them and gave them the Law; they have the true worship; they have received God’s promises; ⁵they are descended from the famous Hebrew ancestors; and Christ, as a human being, belongs to their race. May God, who rules over all, be praised for ever!ⁿ Amen.

Think

Paul writes to a divided church.  Gentiles and Jews.  In the previous section of Romans he has spoken of how God has adopted gentiles into his family through their response of faith.

From chapter 9 he speaks about how Jewish believers can also respond in faith to the message of Jesus.

Pray

Loving God, as I read Romans 9:1-5 I am reminded of the great privilege we have of knowing your law, hearing your prophets and being called into relationship with you.  Teach me not to take this opportunity lightly.

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⁴ 9.4: Ex 4:22

^m covenants; some manuscripts have covenant.

ⁿ May God, who rules over all, be praised for ever!; or And may he, who is God ruling over all, be praised for ever!