Romans, Day 8
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY FAITH IN JESUS
The Problem of Separate Peoples #2
Romans 11
Did God reject His people?
The LAW was given to Moses somewhere around 1440 BC. When Christ died on the cross for our sins, He fulfilled the LAW. Paul in his teachings in Romans is trying to explain the fulfillment of the cross and the entrance into grace to the Gentiles. It appeared to Jews and Gentiles that God has rejected His plan for the Jews now that the Church Age has begun (salvation officially offered to Gentiles).
Paul begins Romans 11 by asking the question, “Did God reject His people (Israel)?” He answers his own question: “By no means.” Paul continues Chapter 11 using Old Testament examples of God’s warning to Israel that if they disobey and not follow Him there would be consequences. Part of Paul’s explanation shows that whenever God dealt with Israel with punishment and dispersion, He always set aside a remnant of Jews to maintain the promise given to Abraham. Israel has been set aside to allow the salvation plan (Gospel) to be officially offered to Gentiles (Verse 11). God will resume His plan through Israel after the rapture (the end of the Church Age). This was all in God’s original plan but not revealed until after the cross and during the time the apostles were sent to the Gentiles to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.
God’s mercy
Paul goes on to explain what God did to disobedient Israel to open the door of salvation to the Gentiles (Verses. 25– 32). He states that Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in (Church Age). The Gentiles were once apart from the family of God. But because of the disobedience of Israel, mercy was provided to the Gentiles so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ could be offered to them. Verse 32 says, “For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” Yes, MERCY was given to all of the disobedient — Jew and Gentile alike. WHAT AN AMAZING PLAN! WHAT AN AMAZING GIFT!
Why this plan?
Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God, He created Him; male and female, he created them.” John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Mankind was made in the image of God. His love for us is SO great that He was willing to sacrifice His SON so that we could live eternally with Him!
Application
His love for us is so extensive that He provided both GRACE and MERCY within His plan. GRACE is God providing us something that we DO NOT deserve (eternal life). MERCY means God held back something from us that we DID deserve (eternal damnation). THANK YOU, GOD!
Blessings from Carlton Ringer