“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. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” – Romans 9:1-5
Romans 8 ends with a crescendo of assurance: “Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). And Romans 12 begins with a call to worship: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1). It’s tempting to leap from one mountaintop to the next, skipping the terrain in between. But chapters 9 through 11 are not a detour—they are the bridge. Paul doesn’t lose focus; he deepens it. These chapters are not theological footnotes but essential steps in his Spirit-led journey. Like skipping the middle chapters of a manual, bypassing them leaves us with an incomplete understanding of how the gospel moves from divine promise to daily practice. Paul is not just writing doctrine—he’s building a case, brick by brick, to show how salvation is both secure and inclusive.
Paul’s message is masterfully woven. He anticipates objections, especially from his Jewish brethren who might feel sidelined by the gospel’s expansion. Romans 1:5 declares that grace and apostleship were given “for obedience to the faith among all nations.” That phrase—“all nations”—is a seismic shift. It shakes the foundation of Jewish exclusivity and opens the gates wide. Chapters 9–11 are Paul’s response to this tension. He assures Israel that they are not forgotten: “Has God cast away His people? Certainly not!” (Romans 11:1). He explains that their stumbling is not final, and that “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). These chapters are not a pause—they are a pivot. Paul is showing how God’s plan includes both Jew and Gentile, and how His promises remain intact.
We cannot skip the middle. In your study of Scripture, in your walk with Christ, in your understanding of God’s plan—press into the parts that seem complex or overlooked. Paul’s journey from Romans 8 to 12 is not a leap, it’s a climb. And chapters 9–11 are the steps that hold the structure together. They remind us that God’s love is not only inseparable—it’s intentional. It reaches across nations, generations, and objections. Let that truth shape your worship, your witness, and your walk. Every chapter matters. Every word is placed with purpose. So read deeply, think carefully, and let the full counsel of God’s Word guide your life.
“Paul is not merely making a theological point—he is revealing the anguish of a pastor’s heart. His sorrow over Israel’s unbelief is not abstract; it is personal, intense, and rooted in love. These verses remind us that doctrine must always be carried with compassion.” – Ligon Duncan
surrendered devotions 