Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
God’s Mercy on Israel
11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.
13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
We have been looking at God’s relationship to Israel for a few days now. Does it ever enter your thought process that because God chose Israel, the rest of us (the Gentiles) are somehow an after-thought to Him? Israel is God’s chosen people. God sent Jesus to Israel. “They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles.”
No, I think not. God’s love for His creation has always been total and without prejudice. His using Israel the way He has, is part of His plan. In God’s omnipotence, He knew the outcome of each step in His plan for the salvation of humankind. So He knew Israel would be disobedient before He chose them. He knew that they would reject Jesus. He knew that the Cross was part of the plan and God knew how the message of the gospel would go far beyond the borders of Israel.
Salvation for Gentiles has always been part of God’s plan of salvation. His mercy is not just for Israel. It has always been for all.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be.
How Marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment