9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 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, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. -Romans 9:1-5
Do you really love people? Look at the Apostle Paul here. He cares about his people, the Jews, so much so that Paul wishes he can trade his salvation in Christ for their lack of faith. There’s a very Christ-like attitude that Paul has here.
In fact, that’s what Jesus actually did for us. Jesus took our spot on the Cross so we are not destroyed by God’s holiness and righteousness when we draw close to Him.
Paul wants to do that for his people, but he can’t because he’s not Jesus. He also can’t because Jesus already did it for Paul’s people. Jesus already died for everyone including the Jewish people. Jesus loves everyone and died for everyone. But each of us has to make a choice to accept his gift or not. The gift of salvation is already in front of us, we must agree to take it.
The Apostle Paul wants his people to take God’s gift so badly because he knows how great God is. Do you know how great God is? Do you care about the fact that there are people you know who don’t know Jesus? Does that even matter to you?
It mattered to Paul because he loved people and because he knows that God is the best thing for anyone to have. Do you believe that for yourself? Do you believe that for others?
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