As Paul continues in Romans 11, we find he continues with his discussion regarding the nation of Israel. And the mystery of the gospel message to the Gentile nation. There are those who question whether perhaps God abandoned His promises to the children of Abraham. However, the Apostle Paul presents the argument that due to their disobedience, God has allowed them to slumber. Imprisoned by their own sin their eyes were blinded to the truth. Meanwhile, God sends forth His gospel message to the Gentile nation. Thereby, the church age began. The church is to worship God with such fervency as to draw back in a remnant of the Jewish nation. That is to continue until the day God calls the nation of Israel forth to fulfill His promises for them.
Jesus Christ will yet return and reign over all the earth during His millennial reign as prophesied with Jerusalem at the center. We also know that there will be 144,000 Jews who during the tribulation proclaiming the gospel message. Therefore, Paul asks and answers this question in Romans 11:1. “Hath God cast away His people? God forbid!”
Then Paul proceeds with a warning to any of the Gentiles not to move forward with pride that God has chosen them to establish His church. Rather, this had always been His plan. He desired to present salvation to all who would believe, the Jews and the Gentiles. Don’t fall into their same pride filled rebellious ways of thinking.
Was God surprised by what the Nation of Israel did? Never! Did He take their failure and turn it into something beautiful for you and me? Yes! Therein, lies the mystery which compels us to worship God—overflowing with praise for His wisdom, grace, and love.
Warning: Behold the Goodness and the Severity of God.
The Mystery, unnoticed by the Jewish scholars: God would would bring Salvation to the Gentiles, despite their failure to testify of Him. So, proud and arrogant of their heritage, they failed to see the prophetic word in Jonah or heed God’s command to be a light to the world. Yet, God had a plan of salvation to all who would believe in and accept the gift of salvation purchased by Jesus Christ, His only begotten son. How wondrous is the Goodness of God toward us!
Yet, we, who are so blessed with God’s Grace in this the church age, need be exceedingly careful not to take His grace for granted. The church must not become so complacent within our grace that we dismiss the darkness of our own sin from which He saves us. When we become a people so comfortable with grace that we dismiss the need to bow before His throne and worship God with all our heart, soul and strength as our greatest treasure, we too risk as a community being cast aside. Individually, if you know Christ as your Savior, your salvation is secure. But can you truly call Him Lord and be comfortable within your sin? Never! For the Holy Spirit, whose job it is to sanctify you will not leave you alone comfortable within your sin if you are truly in Christ.
Furthermore, as a nation who propounds Christianity as its foundation or the churches who proclaim themselves to be His: beware if you water down the truth of the gospel message by never speaking of God’s hatred of sin. For He calls us to be Holy as He is Holy, through the working of the Holy Spirit in and through us. Read what Paul wrote:
Romans 11:21-27
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity: but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
God is not done with Israel. No, for He will bring them forth. And, He will complete all of His promises to them as Paul continues to say.
28 In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Romans 11: 28 (NET)
Worship God for His Grace:
Romans 5: 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Galatians 3:
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid! for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that wemight be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (that is all who believe in Him and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord) 27 For as many of you as have been baptized (spiritually) into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 11:32-36
So, regarding both Jew and Gentile.
32 God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon
all. (The word translated here concluded is συνέκλεισεν meaning shut together, enclosed, imprisoned)
The conclusion: the chosen nation were sinners in need of a Savior. Yet, they rejected. The gentile nation: also sinners. All imprisoned in these bodies of death due to sin. Yet, the compassionate love of God reached to all with the gospel message-Jew and gentile. Furthermore, His compassionate love will call forth the Jewish nation nationally once more. They will also come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. They will love and adore Him-one day. When the present church age is ended.
For this we must bow down to Worship God!
The Great Mystery of Salvation
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and His ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.
The mystery of salvation! That throughout the ages, from eternity past, God has had a plan to take all our failures and brokenness. Then from that He makes something beautiful for Himself, through Himself and of Himself, despite ourselves. Despite my failures, He loved me that much to make a way for me. He has taken all the broken pieces and heap of ashes I left behind me to make something beautiful. To give to me His love and make me His treasure. How can I not sing a song of praise to or worship God with each breath I take!
Romans 12
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Oh, the mystery of His abounding love toward us! Out of humanities destruction, God had a plan of good. Out of the tragedy of Israel’s unbelief, God provided salvation to the Gentiles. They failed to spread His word though He had chosen them as His people. Such an example of mankind’s depravity; yet, God’s grace provides salvation to all who believe in Him. Do you know Him? If so, do you worship God with all your strength?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.