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Romans

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God's Gospel Patience

Romans 10:18-21

The gospel message should not have been new to the Jews in Rome or anywhere.  It was found throughout the Old Testament Scriptures.  Indeed, salvation through Jesus Christ is the real story and purpose behind all of Israel's history.  

Amazing Grace

Romans 11:1-6

In one way, the Old Testament narrative is sad: God's law was rejected, His people wandered from Him and their hope of a Messiah faded.  But God had not abandoned His people: in every generation there was a remnant who believed God's Word, and faithfully anticipated His Messiah (Isaiah 10:20).  Some keynotes of that line of faith are found in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:21-38.  The Apostle Paul said that he also became one such person; although he had been rebellious towards the gospel, God gave him grace to believe the truth and be born again (Ephesians 3:8).  

The Bitter End

Romans 11:7-10

For centuries, the Children of Israel had resisted God's Word.  They pretended to be self-righteous by keeping little rules, but failed to love God with all their heart and soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).  Such disobedience was costly because they could no longer hear God's voice or see what He was doing.  God allowed their desire, hardening their hearts more.  He demonstrated that if they did not want a relationship with Him, their religious rules would end up entrapping them, and He would close their minds to truth (Isaiah 29:9-10).

The Rich Privilege of Salvation

Romans 11:11-12

These verses follow on from Paul’s explanation of the gospel which gives equal rights to both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus.  The Jews should not try to displace the Gentile believers, and the Gentiles should not look down on the Jews. They are both united together when they trust in Jesus Christ.  Galatians 3:28 sums it up, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Throwing Salvation Away

Romans 11:13-16

Most people can remember the anguish of realising that something precious has been thrown away.  It was not intentional, but careless.  Either it was accidentally thrown away along with other things, or it was carelessness because attention had been focussed somewhere else, or its value had not been understood at the time.  That was the Apostle Paul's concern for his own people, the Jews.  Salvation in Christ had been offered to them, but they did not recognise Jesus as the Saviour and threw away their promised salvation (Romans 10:1-4).

Unbelief is Dangerous

Romans 11:17-21

Paul wrote that ancient Israel was like an olive tree stump, and the Gentile believers were like branches from wild olive trees that have been grafted into the 'root' of Israel.

Kindness and Sterness

Romans 11:22-24

Some think that God is always kind to people, while others think that He is always stern. The Bible says that He is both kind and stern at the same time, depending on our response to His promises.  Those who are trusting the Lord experience His kindness as He grafts them into the promises of Israel, and includes them in the family of God (Romans 11:17).  Those who continue to disbelieve experience His sternness as He cuts them off from God's family inheritance.

God Knows How to Save

Romans 11:25-27

The preceding verses have explained that God’s promises to His people were largely despised, leading to God’s stern response in excluding them from His blessing.  The picture has been of an olive tree (Israel) from which unfruitful branches were cut off, but wild shoots who believed in Jesus (Gentiles) were grafted in (Romans 11:17-24).  So what will happen to Israel who had been God’s chosen people?

God Knows How to Save (Part 2)

Romans 11:28-32

The story behind these verses is straightforward.  God had chosen Israel to be His special people (Deuteronomy 7:6), but they did not respect the privilege He gave them, and they hated His Son Jesus.  So, God left them to their own devices (Isaiah 47:6) and allowed the Gentiles (non-Jews) to hear about Jesus, believe in Him and receive mercy - while the Jews were apparently treated as enemies and outcasts.  Thus, all human beings (Jews and Gentiles) were proved to be disobedient to God's law and all equally in need of His mercy (Romans 3:23).

How Big is God?

Romans 11:33-36

This passage is one of the Bible's big statements about the limitless character and power of God.  In it, the Apostle Paul gathers many fragments from the Psalms and from Isaiah 40:13.  These four verses are well worth using as a screensaver on your computer, printing them or translating them into your mother tongue and displaying them in your bedroom, kitchen or office.  Christians so easily forget the magnificent and awesome immensity of God.  Because of this, we limit our faith, which limits our prayers, which limits our actions, which shrivels our souls.

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