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“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.” (Romans 9.1-2). With these words, Paul forms what A. T. Robertson calls a “triple oath.” Our focus today will be to examine this triple oath and the feelings that were behind such affirmations.

First, we turn our attention to the oath itself. “I tell the truth in Christ...” is Paul's affirmation of doctrinal purity; all that he had written before was true and incontrovertible. The previous eight chapters – chapters which proved conclusively that the gospel is God's power to save each and every believing human being – stand on the proofs given. “I am not lying...” seems to turn more towards Paul's own personal veracity and integrity. He had been a man whose words could be trusted, and that had not changed; he was still a man whose word was his bond. Finally, he affirms agreement between what he personally believed (his conscience) and the witness of the Holy Spirit (Paul's Divine inspiration). The reader must, at this point, see that whatever Paul's point, it must be one of tremendous import to evoke such strong statements/oaths.

The point affirmed is somewhat unique in Paul's writings; he affirms “...great sorrow and continual grief” of heart. This is the same man who counseled others to dwell on positive things and to mind those things which lead to joy and contentment (see for instance the entire book of Philippians). Yet, here he acknowledges his own heaviness and perpetual grief. A question remains unanswered, but we must raise it here just as a point of study: What impetus existed which could move Paul to make such an oath? Was he being accused of duplicity? Were some saying that Paul was arrogantly and proudly denouncing his own flesh and blood? Whatever the reason, it must have hit a real emotional chord with Paul to move him to such lengths!

Moving along in our thoughts, what gave rise to this continuing pain in Paul's life? Allow him to answer: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh...” (Romans 9.3). The pain which Paul felt was for the spiritual condition of his kinsmen! The truth of the gospel ran headlong into the religion of his flesh and blood! This fact and the implication of this fact gave rise to Paul's great heaviness. If Paul's doctrine was correct (and it was), it followed that many of his kinsmen were wrong and hence standing under the condemnation of God! This awful and awesome truth stood behind Paul's willingness even to wish himself accursed for the sake of his brethren if such would avail anything on their behalf. But, alas, such could not change their status; that could only be done through their faith!

Perhaps there were detractors in Paul's day who accused him of being cold and unfeeling toward the plight of the Jewish nation. Maybe some accused him of preaching a message of condemnation rather than salvation. It might even have been the case that there were some who felt that he should temper the message to keep from offending those who might otherwise befriend the preaching of a slightly altered but less offensive gospel! Whatever the case, Paul stood absolutely and unalterably upon the truth of the case he had presented. Lest we miss it, we close today's message reaffirming that fundamental New Testament truth.

The gospel is God's power to salvation to the Jew first and also to the Gentile! (Romans 1.16).

Questions:

1. To what degree did Paul believe the message of the gospel?

2. If salvation was only in Christ as he had presented in the first eight chapters of Romans, what did this imply about most of Israel?

3. Why would this produce sorrow and grief in Paul's heart? What was that to him?

4. If it would keep from offending some,why didn't Paul just slightly alter his message (as others were doing) and thereby gain the support of a large contingency of his brethren?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A World of One