Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 9:1-3 - Questions and Answers

What does Paul mean when he says "I say the truth in Christ" in Romans 9:1?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Paul is not taking an oath in Christ's name, as Christians are instructed not to habitually take oaths (based on Jesus' teaching in Matthew). Rather, Paul is saying that he's speaking "as one who is in Christ" and as one who realizes that Christ is observing him. He's emphasizing that he's speaking with complete seriousness and solemnity, conscious of Christ's presence and his own position as a member of Christ's body. It's Paul's way of underscoring the gravity and truthfulness of what he's about to say about his fellow Jews.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the role of conscience in Paul's statement in Romans 9:1?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that conscience is an "independent witness" within us placed by God. When Paul says "my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost," he's adding strength to his statement by noting that his conscience confirms what he's saying. The conscience is significant because it's independent of our will—we can't manipulate it, though we can go against it or try to "sear it with a hot iron." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that we should always listen to our conscience because of this independence, but also recognizes that conscience is fallible and needs to be "enlightened" by the Holy Spirit and Scripture.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe Paul means when he says he "could wish" to be "accursed from Christ" for his brethren?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects both Calvin's view (that Paul actually wished to be condemned in place of his countrymen) and Haldane's view (that Paul was referring to his pre-conversion state). Instead, he follows scholars like Charles Hodge, Henry Alford, and A.T. Robertson in interpreting the Greek imperfect tense to mean "I was on the point of wishing" or "I could have wished, had it been possible." This indicates Paul began to have this thought but immediately recognized its impossibility. It's not that he actually wished to be separated from Christ, but rather an intense expression of his anguish over his fellow Jews' spiritual condition.

What parallel does Dr. Lloyd-Jones draw between Paul's statement in Romans 9 and an Old Testament figure?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects Paul's expression in Romans 9:3 with Moses' statement in Exodus 32:32, where Moses says to God, "Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Lloyd-Jones sees these as the only two parallel expressions in Scripture that demonstrate such extreme concern for others' salvation. He quotes the commentator Bengel, who said, "It is not easy to estimate the measure of love in a Moses and a Paul, for our limited reason does not grasp it as a child cannot comprehend the courage of warriors."

Why did Paul make such a strong statement about his feelings for his Jewish brethren?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Paul had multiple reasons for making this strong statement: 1. To defend himself against charges that he was a "renegade" or "traitor" to his people 2. To counter accusations that he was indifferent or hostile to Jews 3. To demonstrate the depth of his love and concern for his fellow countrymen 4. To unfold and highlight the tragedy of the Jewish rejection of Christ 5. Ultimately, to possibly open the eyes of some Jews to "see the error and the fallacy of it all" and turn to believe the gospel

By emphasizing his genuine anguish, Paul was establishing his credibility as someone who deeply loved his people while still proclaiming the gospel truth.