“1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:1-5).

    The Apostle Paul was burdened for the salvation of his Jewish “brethren” to the degree he had “great heaviness and continual sorrow in” his “heart.” His burden is expressed to the extreme in his statement, “I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” There is little doubt about it. Paul wanted to see the Israelites get saved.

     Secondly, we see in verse four that these lost Jews were “Israelites.” There is no question that God’s promises of “adoption” and glorification, the covenant promises from God, the nation of Israel being the depository and repository of the Law, the means through which worship was to be channeled (“service”), and all the future promises of God in prophecy centering around the coming incarnation of Messiah (“Christ”) and His future Federal Headship of both fallen creation and the coming New Heaven/Earth come to us through the Abrahamic Covenant. None of these issues are in question presently or in the future. These are statements of fact that will never change.

     Why then do we find the emphasis on these statements of fact in the introduction to this parenthesis (chapters 9, 10 & 11) in the epistle of Romans, now dealing nationally and dispensationally with Israel? The answer lies in the facts of the first three verses of Romans chapter nine. Israel was elected nationally, but that did not mean individual Israelites were saved because of their being part of the elect nation. The future “Kingdom of God” (refers to the New Genesis of the New Heaven/Earth, not the Millennial Kingdom; see chart) would be inhabited only by saved (“born again”) people. In fact, according to Christ’s statement to Nicodemus, Jews who were not “born again” (spiritually birthed into “the regeneration”) would not even see the Kingdom of God. Jews were expected to know “these things.”

“3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things” (John 3:3-10)?

     Although national Israel was elected to be the vehicle of God’s grace and fulfillment of His promises, individual Israelites needed to repent of sin, repent of trusting in their own moralism, repent of trusting in the “dead works” of ritualism in the Mosaic Covenant sacrifices, and begin trusting in the “finished” propitiatory work of Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The majority of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and national Israel are earthly and temporal. God also has heavenly and eternal promises within the Abrahamic Covenant given to Spiritual (“born again”) Israel “by grace through faith . . . in Christ.” These promises should not be viewed as either/or, but as and/or. In Romans chapter nine, Paul is distinguishing between National Seed Israel and Spiritual Seed Israel.

     “6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all {spiritual} Israel, which are of {national} Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the {physical} seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy {spiritual} seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh {physical seed}, these are not the children {spiritual seed} of God: but the children of the promise {by faith} are counted for the {spiritual} seed” (Romans 9:6-8).

     Therefore, what Paul is telling us in Romans chapter nine is that we have two elect Israel’s. Election is conditional in both of these two elect groups.

1. We have elect national Israel with earthly and temporal promises conditioned upon being a physical (genetic) descendant of Abraham. Only Jews can be part of this elect group.

2. We have spiritual elect Israel with heavenly and eternal promises conditioned upon being “born again” through faith in the Promised Seed (Christ). “Whosoever {any individual from any nation or ethnic group} shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

     As we saw in the first fold of the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised Abraham a nation out of his physical descendancy and from that physical descendancy would come the incarnation of Messiah and, through Messiah, “all families of the earth” would “be blessed.”

     “1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

     Abraham is part of both national Israel as their patriarch and part of spiritual Israel through faith in the coming Promised One. Therefore, we have two descendancies from Abraham making up two elect groups; national Israel by birth and spiritual Israel “by grace through faith” resulting in individuals being “born again” into “the regeneration.” These are the facts that Christ said Nicodemous should have known about. These truths were clear OT teaching from the Abrahamic Covenant.

     “3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things” (John 3:3-10)?

     According to John 3:6, there is “flesh” Israel and there is “spirit” Israel. A physical birth (“born of water,” v 5) makes a Jew part of elect national (“flesh”) Israel with its earthly and temporal promises. A spiritual birth (“born . . . of the Spirit,” v 5) makes a believer part of elect spiritual Israel with its heavenly and eternal promises “in Christ” and in “the regeneration.” The fact that this is exactly what Paul is saying is supported by what he says in a number of other statements in his other epistles. Paul’s statement in Galatians 6:6-18 is a thorough and clear explanation of his statement in Romans 9:8, “That is, They which are the children of the flesh {physical seed}, these are not the children {spiritual seed} of God: but the children of the promise {faith} are counted for the {spiritual} seed”

     “6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Galatians 3:6-18).

      The entrance into the eternal promises of God is not related to Abraham genealogically. To be merely born of the genetic lineage of Abraham does not connect a person to the eternal and spiritual blessings of God. In order to be connected to the eternal and spiritual blessings of God, a person must be connected by faith in Messiah, as was Abraham.

     The words “be of” in Galatians 3:9 are from the Greek word ek (ek) or ex (ex). It is a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds). God acts conditionally upon the believer’s faith. God didn’t act conditionally upon Abraham’s keeping of the Law or conditionally upon his participation in religious ceremonies. God acted conditionally upon Abraham’s faith. Because Abraham had faith, he acted upon God’s promises. It was not his acting on those promises that first brought him into the position of blessedness with God that God called him into through the Abrahamic Covenant. It was faith that did that. If Abraham had not been obedient and acted upon God’s promises by faith, he would not have entered into God’s blessedness (grace).

     Although Abraham was accustomed to offering sacrifices, he was not brought into a relationship with God through the Law keeping or through the rituals of the Law such as circumcision. Circumcision was not even instituted until Genesis 17, 11 years after receiving the covenant in Genesis 12. The Law would not be given until over 700 years later. To be spiritually “blessed” with Abraham in being part of spiritual Israel, all people (including Church Age believers) must stand apart from any trust in producing their own righteousness through keeping the Law or through participation in some religious ritual like circumcision. To be spiritually “blessed” with Abraham one must be like Abraham in one specific area: that area is faith in the “promise” (which is Christ and rebirth coming “through” faith in what His death, burial, and resurrection has accomplished).

     Therefore, with the understanding that Romans chapter nine has two elect Israels in view (national and spiritual), we can begin to understand Paul’s statements in Romans 9:4-5. “4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” The word “Israelites” distinguishes both of the geneologies of Abraham (both national Israel and spiritual Israel) according to the Abrahamic Covenant as “the Covenant name of the chosen people.1 ” There are conditions to election for both National Israel and Spiritual Israel.

1. The condition to be part of elect National Israel is a physical birth of the genetic descendancy from Abraham.

2. The condition to be part of elect Spiritual Israel is a spiritual birth “by grace through faith.”

     Adoption” pertains to both groups. The word “adoption” is from the Greek word huiothesia (hwee-oth-es-ee'-ah). This is the same word used in Romans 8:23 and is defined there as well. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” The word “adoption” refers to redemption. National Israel experienced God’s physical redemption from Egyptian bondage.

“1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. 9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage” (Exodus 6:1-9).

     I do not know of anyone (there may be some) that presumes that every Jew redeemed from Egyptian bondage was also spiritually saved (“born again”). It is quite obvious that this was not the case. The redemption from Egyptian bondage was merely a physical salvation and deliverance. Although this redemption from Egyptian bondage was typical of spiritual salvation and deliverance, it was not actual spiritual salvation and deliverance.

     Spiritual Israel (all those “born again” “by grace through faith”) will receive spiritual redemption from the bondage of death. However, this redemption goes beyond a deliverance from the “power of death” and eternal condemnation. This deliverance delivers the believer into eternity and into “the regeneration” in a glorified body.

     “14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

     “53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians15:53-57).

     “Adoption, nonetheless, pertains to both National Israel and Spiritual Israel. They both have a form of redemption. National Israel has a physical redemption from physical bondage (slavery) and into a physical Promised Land. Spiritual Israel has a spiritual deliverance from death, condemnation and, future deliverance into a spiritual Promised Land, i.e. “the regeneration.”

     In National Israel’s redemption, God’s presence (“the glory”; i.e. Shekinah) went before them. This “glory” is part of God’s promises to both National Israel and Spiritual Israel. God led National Israel throughout the wilderness journey by a “pillar of fire by night” and by “the pillar of a cloud” by day.

     “21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people��� (Exodus 13:21-22).

     The Shekinah was a manifestation of the presence of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament for both National Israel and Spiritual Israel. Prior to Pentecost, the Spirit of God was “with” Israel in the Shekinah and through the anointing of prophets, priests, and kings. After the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), the Shekinah (Spirit of God) now dwells in all believers and leads them with truth. This is another aspect of the believer’s “adoption” relating to sonship and moving those “born again” of the Spirit one step closer to “the regeneration.”

     “14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17).

     The next thing Romans 9:4 says that “pertaineth” to the Israelites (both National Israel and Spiritual Israel) is “the covenants.” Covenants is plural because it refers to God’s progressive revelation in the seven folds of the Abrahamic Covenant. Obviously, as we have already detailed in the last chapter, the Abrahamic Covenant provides both earthly and temporal promises to National Israel and heavenly and eternal promises to Spiritual (“born again”) Israel. We will not belabor that again here.

     The “giving of the law” and “the service” are related. The “law” refers to all aspects of God’s ordained governance of National and Spiritual Israel. “The law” refers to the moral laws, the ceremonial/ritual laws, and the holy days/feast days of the Law. “The service” refers to the Tabernacle/Temple services along with the Priesthood. Some aspects of all of these things become part of the New Covenant and will continue into the Millennial Kingdom (see Ezekiel chapters 37-48; to be dealt with in a later chapter). Most of them do not.

     Although “the promises” (Romans 9:5) to “the fathers” (Jewish patriarchs) can refer to the promises within the Abrahamic Covenant (and to some degree it does), the primary aspect of “the promises” to “the fathers” refers to the incarnation of Messiah (literally translated “who is God over all.”). The restoration of dominion to mankind through the incarnation of God in “flesh” is the ultimate purpose of God’s election of both National and Spiritual Israel. It would be through National Israel that Christ would be born, opening the door (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus) for believers to enter “the regeneration” through spiritual rebirth and by creating Spiritual Israel. Old Testament believers were saved on credit and put on layaway (in Abraham’s bosom). This is because prior to Pentecost, they were only positionally regenerated (“born again”). Once God was actually propitiated (His wrath upon sin being adjudicated through the death of the Sinless One), believers could be actually regenerated and God could once again (actually, not just positionally) breathe into them the breath of life and they could once again (actually, not just positionally) become living souls (Genesis 2:7). The “firstborn” into “the regeneration” was the incarnate, resurrected Son of God.

     “27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Matthew 19:27-30).

     “29 For whom he {God} did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he {His Son Jesus} might be the firstborn {first glorified} among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate {all believers to glorification}, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).

     “12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet {fit} to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light {glory}: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son {“the regeneration”}: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who {Jesus} is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:12-18).

     There is little doubt as to where Paul is going with all of this because it becomes quite obvious in Romans 9:6-13. Although there are considerable similarities between National Israel and Spiritual Israel, there is one glaring difference; not all of National Israel is Spiritual Israel (saved). The vast majority of the rest of Romans chapter nine will be preoccupied with OT Scripture quotes and their explanation in the light of new revelation and the explanation of truths that were previously mysteries to Israel. This is why a complimentary hermeneutic is absolutely critical to understanding most of the New Testament revelation. This explanation would expand upon “the regeneration” and the glorification of all “born again” believers.

     “22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all” (Romans 11:22-32).

     “1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord {“the regeneration” or New Genesis}: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Ephesians 3:1-12).

    

[1] A.T. Robertson’s Word Pictures, Sword Searcher Software; 4.8

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