God’s Covenant with Abraham will never be broken. In Israel He will set up His Kingdom on earth. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Romans 11:1-6 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
A remnant will always be preserved that have held tightly to the ways of God and their trust in Him alone.
Romans 11:7 what then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
The Jews are still looking for their Messiah. Jesus came to His own but His own knew Him not. When He returns they will see Him as their only Son and mourn their disbelief.
Romans 11:11-18 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
By their initial rejection we were ushered in as adopted children of the most high King. In the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus we enter in by faith to the promises given to Abraham and Sarah. Everything that we can trust in as Christians today is because of God’s dealings with His chosen people…the Israelites.
Romans 11:21-21 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
As in John 3:18 unbelief separates us from the love of God for His creation.
John 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Faith alone pleases God. He so loves the perfect world that He created for mankind that He sent His only begotten Son that through Him we are offered the gift of salvation.
Romans 11:25- 27 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
When those whom God foreknew would accept His Son, Jesus will return, and the government will be upon His shoulders. There will be peace in His mercy and grace. Carla
Mystery in this context, this term probably refers to three difficult issues that Paul discusses in the passage: Israel’s partial hardening, the inclusion of the Gentiles as part of God’s people, and Israel’s future role in God’s plan of salvation. Paul hopes that the Gentile Christians will not become proud or boastful of their inclusion into the people of God. The full number of the Gentiles alludes to predictions that one day all nations will worship Yahweh. This also could refer to the completion of the mission to reach all people with the gospel. Paul viewed his ministry to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) as integral to the fulfillment of this plan.
“All Israel” may include all who had faith like Abraham prior to Jesus’ coming, or Paul could be looking ahead to a future conversion when the entire nation of Israel accepts Jesus as Messiah. In the larger context of Isaiah, the covenant is mediated by the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13–53:12). Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy, acting as the intercessor between God and humanity. Faithlife Study Bible
If believers do not understand this mystery, chances are they will be wise in their own opinion, meaning they will be haughty and boast. The mystery is that Israel has been temporarily and partially hardened, but God has not rejected them. All Israel does not mean that every individual in the nation will turn to the Lord. It means that the nation as a whole will be saved, just as the nation as a whole (but not every individual in it) was now rejecting the Lord. The NKJV Study Bible
Isaiah 59:20–21
The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, “Says the LORD.
“As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them:
My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.”
Isaiah 27:9
Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be covered;
And this is all the fruit of taking away his sin:
When he makes all the stones of the altar
Like chalkstones that are beaten to dust,
Wooden images and incense altars shall not stand.
Jeremiah 31:31–34 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD…
Luke 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
And here’s the deal: Every single one of us hurts and yearns, and longs to be seen and valued.
And you can never underestimate the power of kindness.
Seeing the devastating California fire images (on screen and photographs) the power of kindness is on full display again. Seeing the wreckage, no, I cannot imagine. But I do know this; with such devastation, so many people need support right now.
And reading Maria Shriver this morning, whose family has evacuated the fires, “Speaking of gratitude, there are no words to adequately thank the firefighters working around-the-clock to protect us. These firefighters are risking their lives for us. They are firefighters from all over the state, the country, and the continent. There are no words to express how blessed we are to have them here helping us. We’re total strangers to them, and yet they risk everything for us. Think about that…
But even before the fires, I decided to change my word to “care,” as I want to be a part of building a more caring and loving country. I want to be a part of building a more caring and loving community. I want to care for others and care for myself. I’ve noticed that I like when others care for me and about me. It helps me. Care is something I feel we all need more of, and now nothing could be more true. Sabbath Moments
Thankfully, even when we wander off course, God's merciful forgiveness is always available if we will turn back to Him. May we choose to seek the Lord (Isaiah 55:6-7)!
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Himself presented two paths or gates, one leading to judgment and destruction and one leading to life (Matthew 7:13-14).
Whichever path you find yourself following today, hear the truth that God is seeking you. Like God told Cain in Genesis 4:6-7, it's not yet too late to change paths! In fact, Jesus has walked the path of our sin to its final destination and has taken the consequences upon Himself. Let's come, take the righteousness He offers, and follow Him (2 Corinthians 5:20). First5
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