Paul
the apostle shared with the people in Rome concerning Israel, “if
by any means I may provoke to emulation them
which are
my flesh, and might save some of them”,
and
in
chapter eleven and verse fifteen of Romans,
Paul asked the people in Rome to consider, “if
the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world”
where
we read:
For
if the casting away of them be
the reconciling of the world,
The
verse begins, “For
if the casting away of them be
the reconciling of the world,
...”
Paul
began with the word, “for”
which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and
therefore” “if
the casting away”
or “whether the rejection, repudiation and throwing away” “of
them”
which refers to “pertaining to the people of Israel” “be
the reconciling'”
which means “is and exists as the adjustment of a difference and
restoration to favor” “of
the world” or
“pertaining to the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments
riches, advantages and pleasures”. Paul considered whether the
“putting away” of the people of Israel lead to the
“reconciliation”
of the rest of the people on earth.
The
verse goes on to say, “...
what shall
the receiving of
them be,
but life from the dead?”.
Paul
continued with the words, “what
shall the receiving”
which means “consider the reception into the kingdom of God” “of
them be”
or “pertaining to the people of Israel”, “but
life”
which means “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous,
devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those
who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be
consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and
to last for ever” “from
the dead”
or “separate and apart from the ones who have breathed their last,
deceased, departed and inanimate”?. Paul questioned and answered
how there would be greater “receiving” of the people of Israel
who accepted the “gospel” of Jesus Christ insomuch that it would
be like gaining “life”
after a person is “dead”.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see his drive and passion
was for the people of Israel to know Jesus Christ as their “Savior
and Lord”. He considered the “casting away” of Israel
the benefit of the “Gentile world”, and because this was
so magnificent, how much greater would be the benefit to the people
in Israel who accept Jesus as their Messiah. God desires for everyone
to be “saved”, and when a person “believes and trusts”
in Jesus Christ, repents of their sins and asks God for forgiveness,
they shall be “saved”. The Jewish people who did not
believe in Jesus became a “blessing” for the “Gentile”
nations, and today it is a “blessing” to everyone who reads these
words.
Next
time Paul tells the people in Rome, “if
the first-fruit be
holy, the lump is
also holy
“,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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