Devotion 8.13.26

Romans 11

The Remnant of Israel

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. 

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Eternal life with Christ is available to all who have faith in him.

Have you ever gotten something so knotted up that it took some time to 'unknot?" I did once when I was fishing with an open-faced reel. I cast it out, yanked it and clicked the button and looked down to see a "bird's nest" (the phrase the old salts called the condition of my reel at that point). It took time and patience to straighten out the line while my cast had placed a lure in a great spot. About a half-an-hour later (in my faded memory), it finally got reeled in, unknotted and back to normal.

Paul seems to be writing to a group of people, the Roman Christians, who have grown into a way of thinking that has gotten them all "knotted up." 

Here is a summary of the knots Paul has tried to untie in the Romans' "bird's nest;"

"Paul now addresses the question of Jewish rejection of the Gospel. How can it be that the Gospel for “the Jew first” (1:16) has failed in its appeal to Israel? Is it really, therefore, the Gospel “of God” (1:1), and is it consistent with His plan of salvation? See note, 9:6. “Paul first directs people to repentance [Romans 1-2], to knowledge of sins [Romans 3:1-20], to faith in Christ [Romans 3:21-5:21], to divine obedience [Romans 6-8]. Then he speaks of the mystery of God’s eternal election [Romans 9-11]. This doctrine is useful and consolatory to the person who proceeds in this way” (FC Ep XI 11)." Lutheran Study Bible

As we proceed, belief in Christ is the path to eternal salvation for all. 

Paul sums it up this way in Galatians: "28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3

We pray for all who continue to reject the gospel of Christ in today's world. As noted in Isaiah 56 (Tuesday's devotion), the promise is open to all who believe in the covenant (v 6 - 8). We pray that all who are foreign to God, those who reject the promise, cease rejecting and open their hearts to God and to saving and redeeming grace through Christ Jesus. Amen.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.