Paul
the apostle told the people in Rome,
“I
would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part
is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come
in”,
and he added, “and
so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out
of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
For this is
my
covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”.
In
chapter eleven and verse twenty-eight of Romans,
Paul tells the believing people in Rome how the people from Israel,
“are
enemies for your sake”
where
we read:
As
concerning the gospel, they
are
enemies for your sakes:
but
as touching the election, they
are
beloved for the fathers' sakes.
The
verse begins, “As
concerning the gospel, they
are
enemies for your sakes:”
Paul
began with the words, “as
concerning”
which means “down from and through out and truly, certainly and
indeed” “the
gospel”
or “the good news or glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be
set up and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of
this kingdom”, “they
are enemies”
which means“the unbelieving people in Israel were hated, odious,
hostile and opposing” “for
your sakes”
which refers to “for the Gentile believers in Rome's benefit”.
Paul shared how the “opposing and unbelieving” people in Israel
became like “enemies”
to God for the benefit of the Gentile believers.
The
verse continues, “but
as touching the election, they
are
beloved for the fathers' sakes.”.
Paul
added the word, “but”
or
“moreover and” “as
touching” or
“down from, through out, according to and toward” “the
election”
which
refers to “the act of picking out and choosing”, “they
are beloved” or
“the people in Israel are esteemed, dear, favorite and worthy of
love” “for
the father's sake”
which means “on behalf of the generator and found of the nation of
Israel which is God”. Though the people in Israel were “opposing
and unbelieving” to the Messiah Jesus, they were still considered
God's “elected
or chosen” people on His behalf.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we see how God continues to see
Israel as His “chosen or elected” people. Though they
became as “enemies” to Him because they did not believe
God's Son Jesus was and is the Messiah, they remained His people.
Israel was chosen by God to be the nation through whom His Son Jesus
would come so the entire world would have the opportunity to be
saved. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23), and this makes everyone as an “enemy” to
God. Jesus Christ came to “seek and to save that which was lost”
(Luke 19:10), and though Israel became as an “enemy” to
God for the Gentiles sake, everyone, Jew or Gentile, now has the
opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next
time Paul shares with his believing readers in Rome, “the
gifts and calling of God are without repentance”,
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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