Paul's Countrymen the Israelites Romans 9:4

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart”, and he continued, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,

my kinsmen according to the flesh”. In chapter nine and verse four of Romans, Paul told his readers about the advantages of the “Israelites” where we read:

Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory,

and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

The verse begins, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory,, ...” Paul began with the words, “who are Israelites” which means “who are the people who are descendants and belong to the nation of Israel”; “to whom” or “which or that” “pertains the adoption” which refers to “that relationship which God was pleased to establish between himself and the Israelites in preference to all other nations”, “and the glory” which means “the splendor, brightness, honor, magnificence and excellence”. Paul identified the “people of Israel” as God's initially “adopted” and “honored” ones.

The verse continues, “... and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”. Paul added the words, “and the covenants” or “the dispositions, arrangements which makes earthly possessions after death such as a will or testament”, “and the giving of the law” or “the legislation or institution of the Mosaic code”, “and the service” which means “the performance of divine ministration” “of God” which refers to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “and the promises” which means “the announcement of good or blessing”. Paul added how the “Israelites” were also given “God's will”, “law”, “service” and “promises”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see the advantages the “Israelites” were given over every other country in the world. God entrusted them with “adoption, glory, covenants, the law, service and promises”, and Paul desired for them to know “Jesus Christ” as their personal “Savior and Lord”. God wants everyone to receive His Son Jesus, and the people of Israel were given the greatest advantage to know and accept Him. Since this is true, let it be that everyone who belongs to Israel receive Jesus as their “Savior”, and let every other person in the world accept Him as well.

Next time we see Paul share how these “Israelites” are those, “whose are the fathers”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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