Articles
“God’s Good Plan” — A Heart for the Lost Romans 9:1–5
Have you ever watched someone you love walk away from God?
Maybe it was your child. A close friend. A sibling.
You prayed. You shared. You lived faithfully.
But their heart stayed cold.
That kind of sorrow runs deep — and it’s exactly where the apostle Paul begins in Romans 9.
Romans 8 ends with soaring confidence: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God!” But Romans 9 begins with anguish. Paul shifts from personal assurance to national heartbreak. His own people, the Jews, have largely rejected the Messiah. And it tears him apart.
He writes:
“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart… For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people” (Romans 9:2–3).
That’s not exaggeration — Paul insists three times that he’s telling the truth. He’s not just saddened; he’s heartbroken. This is the pain of a man who loves deeply and believes the gospel fiercely.
Paul would give anything — even his own place in Christ — if it meant his people would come to believe. Like a parent willing to suffer in place of their child, Paul’s love reflects the very heart of Christ.
We can’t trade our salvation for someone else’s. But we can give up our comfort. Our time. Our convenience. We can allow our hearts to be moved — even broken — for those who don’t yet know Jesus.
In verses 4–5, Paul describes the blessings God gave Israel: adoption, glory, covenants, worship, promises — even Christ Himself came from their line. They had every spiritual advantage. And yet… many missed Him.
It’s a sobering reminder that being near the truth isn’t the same as believing it. A person can grow up around the gospel and still not know Jesus.
As we continue through Romans 9–11, we’ll wrestle with big questions about God’s sovereignty and Israel’s future. But we must start where Paul starts — with a broken heart.
Do we feel this kind of grief for the lost?
Do we love enough to act?
May God give us a heart like Paul’s:
— Broken for the lost
— Moved with compassion
— Willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel
Let’s not just hold the truth. Let’s live it — and share it — with love.
