Peter Barnes | Romans 9:4-5
SERMON NOTES
THE PRIVILEGES OF ISRAEL
(Romans 9:4-5)
1. Privileges do not of themselves save anyone.
– 9:4; see 3:1-2; in Romans 9:4 he lists six privileges:
(a) the adoption. Ex.4:22-23; Hos.11:1. Paul is not using ‘adoption’ in the same sense as in Romans 8:15, 23.
(b) the glory. Ex.24:16-17; 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11.
(c) the covenants. There were covenants with Abraham (land, people, worldwide blessing), Moses (the law so Israel would know how to live and also of the sacrifices for sin), and David (that the true king, the Messiah, would come from the line of David).
(d) the giving of the law. Deut.4:5-8; Psalm 147:19-20.
(e) the worship of God. NIV has ‘temple worship’ which is what Paul is referring.
(f) the promises. e.g. Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Isa.9:6; 53:6.
2. Christ is both God and Jew.
– 9:5. This is the greatest privilege of all. God walked this grubby earth as a Jew – see Tit.2:13.
3. We are to use our spiritual privileges, not rely on them.
– note John 4:22 and John 8:37-44. The Pharisees did not listen to John the Baptist (Luke 3:8-9). Thank God for privileges, but make Christ your only boast and confidence.