It is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring

 Romans 9:1-13

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

Not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

As Paul dwells on God's glorious provision for all who are 'in Christ', he is filled with distress for Israel, God's own specially chosen and privileged people. How could they refuse to believe in their own, promised Messiah? The Gentiles responded eagerly to the gospel - but not the Jews. And Paul would have sold his own soul to have had it otherwise.

How can he account for this strange anomaly? God has not broken his word. All along he exercised his sovereign right of choice.

Why?

Paul felt anguish in his heart for Israel did not know the true Messiah, even God has chosen them to be his inheritance. 

To be the children of God is not by physical descent, but it is the children of the promise.

Be to a son of God, it is not by works but by him who calls. It is not because of who I am or what I have done, but because of God's chosen and his grace.

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羅馬書到第八章指出福音是給猶太人，也給外邦人。當時猶太人多未得救，是否神的應許落空呢?

聖靈可以證明他對於猶太人沒有信耶穌，心中哀痛。保羅願意猶太人得救，寧可他自己沒有得救。保羅愛到猶太人一個地步比自己更重要，如果神愛我們甚至於捨命。

神的應許沒有落空，神的應許不是因為血統，而是從應許而生的。不是亞伯拉罕的後裔都是神的後裔。第二是因為神的揀選。不是玩的根據人的功勞、長相，人尚未出生，神就是揀選雅各，人沒有任何功勞。神的主權和恩典。猶太人不會自動得救要經過信。第二代基督徒，上帝只有兒子，沒有孫子。即使生在基督教家庭，不會自動變成基督徒。猶太人有特殊身份是神的揀選。藉著信人門，也因為信繼續蒙恩。信靠、放手、交託、依靠生命才會成長，才會蒙福，得更豐盛的生命。

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How?

Be humble and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, working with the Lord is the best life forever.