Romans - Part 5: ELECTIONSample

Lord of all

Almost 25 years have passed since the Resurrection when Paul wrote this epistle. The church in Rome consisted of Gentiles, with messianic Jews representing a substantial minority. Of the 433 verses in the letter to the church in Rome, the author spends this section directly addressing Jewish history, invoking Psalms and both Moses’ and Isaiah’s prophecy regarding Messiah. Paul is seeking to tamp down some factionalism in the Roman church and remind them of what is really important: the true Gospel of Christ.

The customs that the Jewish congregants observed were being rejected by the larger Gentile group. Those of Hebrew heritage still considered themselves the ‘Nation of God’ and tended to look askance at other people as rabble tribes. The unity Paul is encouraging is found in the realization that none are good enough, Jew or Gentile, but God’s grace is sufficient: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:32). Paul is also driving home the Gospel, its universal message of God’s salvation, for both Jew and Gentile, by the hearing of the Word of Christ. Paul’s message here is not only the primacy of the Gospel but the reconciliation of factions in the body of believers. Regardless of Law or creed, all must come to Christ by faith.

Paul now purposely opens an emotional can of worms here to make a point. It is a brilliant exhortation to be active in the Business of the Kingdom...being sent. Paul seeks to gently remind the haughty ones of the tribes of Israel of their rejection of Christ, bringing Scripture from Deuteronomy 32:21 to bear, putting the Jews on notice that now every nation is sent with the message of salvation. Even the ‘foolish nations’ will make Israel angry, jealous, and embarrassed with their zeal for the Lord! Here, Paul brings the message of God’s love for all humanity, God’s jealousy and anger at Israel’s duplicity and idol worship, and His promise to use the foolishness of nations (Gentiles) to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

-Matt Harry