Paul and the Jews

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (9:2,3) “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” (9:4,5)

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.’ But what is God's reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” (11:1-5)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first…” (1:16)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (10:11-13)

“As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” (11:28-32)

He mentioned three areas that would have corrected our response to Jews. 

• The first was prayer (Psalm 122). Deep prayer that moved us into their world.

• After that was learning about Judaism . For starters that would be recognizing "The Old Testament" as the Scriptures for our Lord and the early church. If Gentiles are the branches, find out about the root and the tree. 

• And third, remember their history. From Esther through World War II and beyond, this is a people who experience persecution. Without knowing our Jewish roots and passing over their history, we Gentiles just did not know how to approach Jews. There are some we could learn from, but these have been mostly ignored. So back to prayer.