In our study from Acts last week, we saw that when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, he was accused of preaching “against the Jews.” (Acts 21:27) Was Paul anti-Semitic? Of course we know that he himself was a Jew….but once he became a Christian, did he preach against Jews? Hardly! In fact his great longing and desire was to see the Jewish people come to their Messiah Jesus and be saved. As proof of this, last week we looked at Romans 9:1-3, where Paul writes something utterly UNBELIEVABLE. Listen to his words: “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:1-3 NASB)
We talked about this some last week….how incredible this statement really is. Paul could wish himself ACCURSED if the Jews might be saved. In other words, Paul says he would willingly give up his salvation and spend an eternity in Hell IF that would result in the salvation of the Jewish people.
Of course we know that Paul is speaking here in the “theoretical world.” He knew that as a believer he would NEVER be separated from Christ. In fact, he just said that in Romans 8: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NASB) Paul knew that theologically it was impossible to give up his salvation….and even if he did, it wouldn’t save anyone, for the Jews must turn to Christ in repentance and faith just like everyone else. But speaking from his heart….his emotions….his love…Paul says, IN THEORY, if giving up my salvation meant they would be saved….then give me eternal Hell, and give them Jesus. That’s an utterly breathtaking statement.
To be quite honest, I have trouble understanding how Paul could say that. I know that I can’t say it. I want to see people saved….but not so badly that I would be willing to give up my own salvation. Probably the closest I could come to saying this would be in respect to my children. I would assume that any Christian parent, who REALLY stopped and thought about eternal Hell….and they’re own son or daughter being there…might be able to comprehend Paul’s statement. Watching people destroy their lives is painful….watching YOUR CHILDREN do it is gut-wrenching, I presume. Therefore we may be able to comprehend Paul’s statement in that respect. After all, Paul is talking about his “kinsmen.” But this is what’s so FASCINATING about the whole situation: PAUL’S KINSMEN HATED HIM! They wanted Paul dead. They chased him. They had him arrested. They beat him. They stoned him. They wanted to destroy him. And Paul’s response was to say he would give up his own salvation if they might be saved. I’m tempted to think Paul really was insane. Except for this fact…
Paul was just like Jesus. What did Jesus say, WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS being brutally executed? “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NASB) What kind of person says this? Who seeks the forgiveness of His murderer? Who says he would be “accursed” if his persecutors would be saved? What kind of person thinks that way? Answer: A Christ-like and Godly person. I don’t think you could wish for the salvation of your enemies UNLESS the Holy Spirit has BIG TIME control of your life. Since most of us live out our days fighting the flesh, our response would be to wish damnation upon those who persecute us. I’ve seen Christians ready to strangle the waitress who took 10 minutes to refill their water cup…how much more would we wish ill on those who purposely tried to kill us. But not Paul. And not Jesus. I suspect the more we “walk in the Spirit ” by being in God’s Word and prayer….the more forgiving our attitude would be….and the more love we would have for the lost around us. If God would give us a heart like Paul, we may seek the salvation of the lost, rather than simply getting irritated with them.
In my mind, I’m not finished with Romans 9:1-3. I still wrestle with it….I still struggle with what Paul says. I may struggle with it until I die, I don’t know. If I get to the point where I completely understand every verse of Scripture and don’t struggle with applying it to my life, then I assume I’ll be in Heaven at that point. Some scriptures are tough….this is one. But, even though I haven’t mastered Paul’s words….I would like to close with a little bit of application.
We all probably struggle with the theoretical concept of being willing to give up salvation for another. Even if we SAID we could…..would we still be willing to do it if God let us smell the smoke and hear the anguished cries of Hell before we made our final decision? Even in a temporal sense, I think most people would like to think they would risk their lives to save another…but when you’re standing at the foot of a burning building, your good intentions might melt in realistic fears of your own demise. So let’s move from theoretical, to practical. What WOULD you give up for someone else’s salvation? Would you risk a little embarrassment over being considered “too religious?” Would you give up a little comfort by stepping out and witnessing? Would you change jobs if it meant you would have a better chance to witness? Would you relocate? Would you be willing to do WHATEVER God called you to do? He’s NOT going to ask you to forfeit your salvation…but He may ask you to forfeit some of your comforts….are you willing? Are you willing to persevere in prayer for the lost? Knowing that only God can change their heart? Are you willing to be the human instrument God uses to bring that loved one to Christ?
This is where the guilt sets in. Paul was willing to GO TO ETERNAL HELL if it meant others would be saved…….sadly most Christians aren’t willing to go across the street to see someone saved. Is that true or not? Are we lax in our witness or not? Maybe you're not…but I am. I’m not saying you have to spend 24 hours a day witnessing to people….but I AM saying you and I need to be a witness. We need to speak the truth of Christ whenever God opens doors….and sometimes we need to step out and knock on the door to see if God’s opening it. God brings lost people into your life everyday. Co-workers, friends, neighbors, family. What are you willing to do to see them saved? What comfort are you willing to give up? Pray that God would give you a heart like Paul’s. A heart that could say: “I could wish myself accursed for the sake of my kinsmen.” What would our world look like if every Christian was like that? What would our world look like if even ONE Christian was like that? What would our world look like if YOU were like that? I wonder if we will ever know…….
Ok Shane, I "re-subscribed". I hope your happy. And if I still don't get an email its all your fault.
Posted by: Alex | January 16, 2007 at 06:30 PM