Sermon Notes | Sunday, 19 July 2026

Romans 9:1-5 (NKJV) I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 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.

Paul was considered a traitor to the Jewish people. He was looked upon as the Judas of Judaism. From the perspective of the Jewish people, Paul was an enemy. How wrong they were! Paul loved his people with the deepest of passion.

Romans 9:1 (NKJV) "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit."

PAULS' HONEST TESTIMONY

Paul emphasizes the absolute sincerity of his words. This is one of the strongest affirmations of truthfulness that Paul makes in any of his letters.

Before he addresses Israel's unbelief, he wants his readers to know that what he is about to say flows from genuine love—not bitterness, anger, or prejudice.

Three witnesses affirm his truthfulness: Christ, his conscience, and the Holy Spirit

1. Christ Is His Witness (vs 1) "I tell the truth in Christ..."

Jesus taught that “…every idle word will be brought into judgment…” (Matthew 12:36).

Application: Believers should speak as those who live "in Christ." Our words should be governed by the awareness that Christ hears every conversation and knows every motive.

Would you speak differently if you consciously remembered Christ was listening to every word?

2. Paul’s Conscience Confirms His Integrity (vs 1) "...my conscience also bearing me witness..."

The conscience is God's internal moral compass. It is not perfect—it must be informed by God's Word—but when shaped by Scripture, it serves as an important witness to one's integrity.

Acts 23:1 — "I have lived in all good conscience before God..."
 
2 Timothy 1:3 — "I thank God... whom I serve with a pure conscience."

Application: Integrity begins long before words leave our mouths. A clean conscience is cultivated through daily confession, obedience, and submission to God's truth.

Ask yourself:
Is my public testimony consistent with my private life?

Does my conscience affirm what my mouth proclaims?

3. The Holy Spirit Testifies Alongside Him (vs 1) "...in the Holy Spirit..."

This is the highest affirmation Paul can make. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 16:13).

Paul is declaring that the Spirit who indwells him knows the sincerity of his heart and bears witness to the truthfulness of what he is saying.

Conclusion: Romans 9:1 (NKJV) I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

In verse 1, Paul is effectively saying, Christ knows I am telling the truth; my conscience knows I am telling the truth; the Holy Spirit knows I am telling the truth.
 
Application: When we as believers walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, our lives should reflect honesty, transparency, and authenticity. We should desire not merely to appear truthful before people, but to be found truthful before God.

TAKE-AWAY: Believer, let your walk and your talk agree before God.

PAUL'S HEARTBREAKING SORROW

Romans 9:2 (NKJV) that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

1. The Depth of His Sorrow "I have great sorrow..."

The phrase "great sorrow" speaks of overwhelming emotional pain. Paul is not experiencing a passing disappointment or a momentary sadness. This is profound anguish.

Application:
One mark of spiritual maturity is not simply knowing more Scripture—it is becoming more like Christ in how we respond to those who reject Him.

2. The Constancy of His Grief "...and continual grief..."

Romans 9:2b (NKJV) ... I have ... continual grief…

The word "continual" tells us this burden never left him. This wasn't an emotional response after one difficult sermon. It was a permanent weight he carried.

Paul carried a burden for souls. His greatest concern was not his comfort but their eternity.

Application:
What weighs most heavily on our hearts often reveals what we value most. If we rarely think about those who are spiritually lost, perhaps we need to ask God to enlarge our hearts.

3. The Location of His Grief "...in my heart."

Biblically, the heart is the center of one's affections, desires, emotions, and will. Paul didn't just understand Israel's condition. He felt it!

Application:
The deeper our understanding of God's grace, the deeper our compassion should become for those who have never experienced it.

4. His Sorrow Is Directed Toward the Lost

Paul is grieving over people who rejected Christ.

God declared, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." (Ezekiel 33:11). Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem because they rejected Him. Paul follows the example of his Savior.

Application:
It is possible to be doctrinally correct while emotionally wrong! Paul refuses to separate truth from love. Is your heart moved for the lost?

Take-Aways
1. Our theology should never diminish our compassion for the lost.
2. Truth and tears belong together

Pastoral Challenge

As believers, we should ask ourselves a searching question: "When was the last time someone's spiritual condition genuinely broke our heart?"

We often grieve over politics, the economy, broken relationships, or personal disappointments—but do we grieve over neighbors, coworkers, friends, or family members who are living without Christ?

PAUL'S HEROIC LOVE

Romans 9:3 (NKJV) For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

The term “accursed” is a translation of the Greek word anathema, meaning: to hand over to God for judgment; to be damned; to be doomed to destruction; to be thrown in the Lake of fire and brimstone; to suffer the weeping and gnashing of teeth for eternity; to come under the fierceness of the wrath of God in Hell!

Very few believers can relate to this depth of love. There may be people for whom we would be willing to die, but would we be willing to spend eternity in Hell for them? Paul’s love dominated his missionary zeal.

Conclusion: "Who Is On Your Heart?"

Romans 9:2–3 gives us a rare glimpse into the heart of the Apostle Paul. Before he teaches us about God's sovereignty, he shows us his humanity. Before he explains election, he expresses compassion. Before he discusses doctrine, he demonstrates love.

Challenge to Victory Church

The question Romans 9:2–3 asks every believer is not, "Do you understand the doctrine or theology?" The question is, "Do you share God's heart?"

This week, I want to challenge every believer to put one name before God.

1. Write down the name of one person who does not know Christ.
2. Pray for that person every day.
3. Ask God to soften their heart.
4. Ask God to open a door for you to share the Gospel.
5. Then be willing to become part of the answer to your own prayer. 

If our hearts never break for the lost, we have drifted from the heart of Christ.

“Lord Jesus, today I receive Your grace. I admit that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again to give me new life. Today, I turn from my old ways and invite You into my heart. Be my Lord, be my Savior, and help me follow You all the days of my life. Right now, I trust you as my Savior and will follow you as my Lord. Thank You for loving me. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer and meant it in your heart, you can be sure that you are saved.

Romans 10:13 (NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 10:28 (NLT) “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”