I put this on my blog because it’s mine and I can do what I want, right?
There are no pictures, just some words with color (it’s really the best I could do for lack of
expression…) but then I think, the bible doesn’t really need pictures does it?
It says the
words never return void.
As I was reading in Romans a few mornings ago I began to realize how much credit we as Christians should really give the Jews, or the Israelites as they’re referred to in the bible.
If it weren’t for their disobedience to Christ way back, us Gentile folks (all of us who aren’t Jews) would not even have a shot at salvation.
We were not God’s chosen people, but his mercy and kindness extended to us by grace.
Honestly, we’re pretty lucky if you ask me.
I don’t know what I’d do without the salvation I’ve found in Christ.
I thought I’d share with you my journey through Romans 9, 10, and 11 that morning which hopefully will explain
why I love
Jesus, why I’m a
missionary, and why I’m grateful for the
Jews.
J
It’s my own little “Romans Road”
heh.
It might make more sense to read it in order, but I mixed it all up in order to understand it better.
If it confuses you, I guess it’s just better to read it in order…but you know me, I’m a little scatter brained sometimes…
So, back in the day it was all about the law of Moses.
Romans 10:5
For Moses writes about the
righteousness that is
based on the
law
, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
The law was the old covenant and the new covenant introduces faith.
Righteousness by faith
Romans 9:30-33
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by
faith; but that
Israel
who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that
law.
Why? Because
they did not pursue it by
faith
, but as if it were based on
works
. They have stumbled over the
stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
The stumbling stone is of course, Jesus.
The Israelites did not succeed with the old covenant because they did not have faith.
Now they have an opportunity to put their faith in Jesus.
Romans 10: 1-4
Brothers, my
heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be
saved.
I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own,
they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
For
Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness to
everyone who believes.
Paul’s heart here is for the Jews/Israelites.
(he is one of them!)
He says that Christ is the end of the law—that Jesus is the answer they have been after all this time.
God’s Sovereign Plan:
-
Leave a remnant of
Israel
Romans 9: 27-29
And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only
a
remnant
of them will be saved,
for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.”
And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like
Sodom
and become like
Gomorrah
.”
-
Make
Israel
jealous of grace now extended to Gentiles
Romans 9:25-26
As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were
not my people I will call
‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call
‘beloved
.’
”
“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called
‘sons of the living God.’
“
Romans 10: 19-21
But I ask, did
Israel
not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you
jealous of those who are not a nation; with
a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have
shown myself
to those who did not ask for me.”
But of
Israel
he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a
disobedient and
contrary people.”
Romans
11: 11
So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might
fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to
make
Israel
jealous
.
- God gives sonship to Jews AND Gentiles
Romans 9: 6-8
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from
Israel
belong to
Israel
, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
This means that it is not
the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the
children of the promise
are counted as offspring.
- God shows mercy to ALL
Romans 9:14-16
What shall we say then? Is there
injustice on God’s part? By no means!
For he says to Moses, “I will have
mercy
on whom I have mercy, and I will have
compassion
on whom I have compassion.”
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on
God, who has mercy.
Romans 11: 28-32
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are
beloved
for the sake of their
forefathers.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received
mercy
because of their
disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that
he may have
mercy
on
all.
Salvation for all who call on his name
Romans 10: 9-13
because, if you
confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord
and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.
For with the heart one believes and is
justified
, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is
Lord of all,
bestowing his riches on all who
call on him.
For
”
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
-
Word for ALL—this is why we’re missionaries!
Romans 10: 14-17
But how are they to
call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
believe in him
of whom they have never
heard?
And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach unless they are
sent? As it is written,
“How beautiful are the
feet of those who preach
the good news!
“
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
So
faith comes from
hearing, and hearing through
the word of Christ.
Is the remnant then forgotten?
Romans 11: 1-7
I ask, then, has God
rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
God has
not rejected his people
whom he
foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against
Israel
?
“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”
But what is God’s reply to him? ”
I have kept for
myself
seven thousand men
who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
So too at the present time there is a
remnant,
chosen by grace
.
But if it is by
grace, it is no longer on the basis of
works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
What then?
Israel
failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were
hardened…
Gentiles Grafted in: God’s kindness allows entry into the Kingdom
Romans 11: 13-24
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus
save
some of them.
For if their
rejection means the
reconciliation of the world,
what will their
acceptance mean but
life from the dead?
If the dough offered as first fruits is
holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were
grafted in
among the others and now share in the
nourishing
root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but
the root that supports you.
Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you
stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but
stand in awe.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Note then the
kindness
and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you
continue in his kindness.
Otherwise you too will be
cut off.
And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the
power
to graft them in again.
For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural
branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
Israel
Redeemed:
The Mystery of
Israel
‘s Salvation
Romans 11: 25-36
Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this
mystery, brothers: a
partial hardening has come upon
Israel
, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And in this way
all
Israel
will be saved,
as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from
Zion
, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have
received mercy
because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may
have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the
riches and
wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known
the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.
And so I praise His name for having grace on me!
I didn’t choose Him, He chose me by giving me an opportunity to come and enter His Kingdom.
We should not be proud, but stand in awe, for He is good.
If it weren’t for that initial disobedience from the Jews, I wouldn’t be out here sharing the good news…in fact it wouldn’t be good news at all…it would only be good for a small group of people.
But now the good thing is that His grace extends to
ALL.
If only we will respond to that call of mercy and grace we will be called sons and daughters of the King.
Oh, enter in and praise Him for His kindness!!
