The Greatest Letter Ever | Let God Be God | Romans 9:1-33 | Pastor Art Cotant | SERMON ONLY

Paul’s letter to the church at Rome is one of the greatest theological masterpieces in history. In it Paul addresses deep, complex themes like faith and sin and grace. We have seen how his thoughts are masterfully linked as he progressively builds on the previous section in moving from sin to salvation to the recently completed section on sanctification. As we move to Romans 9, the next three chapters major on the sovereignty of God.
For a letter that is so carefully crafted, we have also seen some major, dramatic swings. This week we are challenged by the most dramatic. Having just celebrated that there is nothing in creation that can separate believers from the love of God, it feels like the pendulum swings to the opposite extreme when Paul writes,
I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit-I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. (Romans 9:1-3)
If it were possible, he says he would willingly suffer damnation, and give up his eternity in heaven, if it resulted in the salvation of Jews. With this dramatic swing, Paul has Israel on his heart for the next three chapters as he unfolds how the Jewish nation fits in God’s sovereign plan.
These are not easy chapters, but they are profoundly meaningful. The underlying theme of the sovereignty of God is where we will major. Instead of trying to decipher, however, what this teaches about Israel, we are going to see what we learn about the nature of God. It’s a grand way to start these summer months!