Romans - Part 5: ELECTIONSample

Don't MISS the MYSTERY!

In this section of the letter, Paul is writing to Gentile Christians who have become a little puffed up about being "grafted into" the family of God. Paul wants the Gentile Christian to know that God has not forgotten about ethnic Israel, that he will keep his covenant promises to His people, and that he is not done with Israel.

At the moment of this writing, the Church is exploding with Gentile conversions, while there is only a small remnant of Jewish believers. But don't get it twisted and start thinking you are kind of a big deal...

Douglas Moo writes,

Paul’s concern is with Gentile Christians who are boasting over Jews and Jewish Christians because of their assumption that they—the Gentiles—had ousted the Jews as the focus of God’s purposes in history. “Wise in your own estimation,” then, will refer not to a sense of superiority engendered by spiritual giftedness or accomplishments, but to an attitude of ethnic pride and exclusiveness.

How often do we fall into the trap of prejudice, assuming certain kinds of people are too far gone (or may just make us too uncomfortable)? How often do we find ourselves preferring to worship and gather with people who look like us, talk like us, and think like us?

It is important to note, that when Paul writes, "in this way, all Israel will be saved" Paul is writing about the nation of Israel; he is not saying that every single ethnic Jew in all times will be saved...don't forget the theme of this letter stated in Romans 1:16:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Commentators suggest this phrase, "All Israel will be saved,” is used as if we were to say, "All the town came to the game".This is not suggesting that every single person in the town came; rather, it is suggesting that a significant majority of the town was there! Paul wants the Church to know that God is not done with Israel; there will come a day, when "all of Israel will be saved" through faith in Jesus Christ! What a beautiful, wonderful, glorious hope for a people who have experienced such pain, persecution, and suffering (WWII).

Finally, don't miss the mystery! This section of Romans is deep and mysterious, but it's also challenging and invitational! The future return of Jesus, when he will make all things right, and when ethnic Israel will experience some sort of revival, is a mystery...we do not know when it will happen; only God knows...but it is important that we believe it! Paul puts the exclamation point on this idea by quoting the great Prophet Isaiah promising that "The Deliverer" is coming...

Plot twist...we now know who the deliverer is! Don't miss this mystery, my friend! The deliverer has come; His kingdom has been inaugurated through his death and resurrection. We, the remnant of believers in Jesus Christ, have been adopted as His people for good work and we believe that one day our deliverer will return for the consummation of His Kingdom, where He will make all things right.

May we live out this " Kingdom come" faith all the days of our life!

- Logan Beardsley