Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Six

Paul has succinctly made his case for these two groups of people who have become one in Christ; there’s no difference in God’s eyes anymore. Jews and Gentiles both have temptations that are unique, but the same Spirit’s power works equally giving them victory. 

But what about his extended family, the Jews? In Chapter 9 Paul exposed his heart using emotionally charged words: great sorrow, constant anguish, and ready to be cursed for their salvation. Many Jewish people have rejected Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah and he calls them ‘children of the flesh’ and not ‘children of the promise’. No one is saved due to his bloodline, family name, national heritage, or even their upbringing. Jews become saved the same way as Gentiles: repentance, forgiveness, and faith. God’s eyes and ears are always attuned to those with faith, not good works. It’s a powerful exposé of why we should care about the Jewish people, but more than that, it shows God’s justice and sovereignty in His purpose of divine election. It’s not an easy read, it seems unfair, but Paul was clear, we have no right to question His ultimate decisions.

From the beginning God’s plan was always for the salvation for mankind, however, righteousness was through faith in Him, not through good works. In Chapter 10 his heart’s desire and prayer is for the salvation of the Jews, that’s why we preach the gospel, send out missionaries, and explain this Plan of Redemption to those who will believe the Word of Christ. 

Lastly, in Chapter 11 he confirmed that God hasn’t rejected His chosen people, there’s always been a remnant, a small piece of the whole, who were chosen by grace. For the rest of Israel he’s hoping they’ll observe the faith of the Gentiles and become jealous for that higher life in Christ.

Using the metaphor of an olive tree, Israel is the cultivated root that supports our faith and Gentiles are the wild olive tree that’s been grafted into the original root. Jews and Gentiles are now family and God won’t change His mind. Paul tells us this is a mystery, some Jews gets saved and some don’t, at the same time, some Gentiles get saved and some don’t; His ways are deep, unsearchable, and often hard to understand. Yet he closes out these chapters by reminding us that we can’t know what God is thinking or planning, we’re not His advisor, so we attribute all things to be from Him, through Him, and to Him (11:34-36). 

Personally, I’ve quit trying to explain these chapters and allow them to stand as written. We don’t have to like the idea or even agree with divine election, but as believers in the authority of Scripture, we come into alignment with Him. Here’s the nutshell; all come to Christ the same way, by God’s grace and mercy through faith alone, it’s nothing we’ve done right, but everything that Jesus did right. Phew! That was challenging.