Romans 11:25-36
Today (Tuesday) I am just arriving back in the US from a week or so in Israel (and, just in case you're wondering, I have been sending by blogs to you while I've been traveling). This was my second time to the Holy Land, and this time I gained more insight into Jewish culture, the way Jewish people view Jesus and Christianity and how they think about the "messiah" who they don't believe has come yet. As you know, we've been reading all about the Jews here in Romans. Well that really got me tuned in. What I saw, heard and experienced over the last couple of weeks made me heavy-hearted. It also lined up with what Paul is telling us in Romans 11. For the most part, the Jewish people have rejected (they've missed) the Gospel--Jesus Christ.
I mentioned this yesterday, and I want to reiterate it here again. We need to be praying for the salvation of the Jewish people--and for all unsaved people as far as that goes. The world needs Christ. I am thankful that the Lord allowed me to experience Israel once again and that He opened my eyes a little more to all of our needs for Jesus. Got to catch my next flight. Hopefully I'll be sending you my next blog from Lincoln, Nebraska. It will be good to be home. Tami W.
Thank you for your dedication Tammy! So nice of you to keep blogging us while traveling. I leave for work early in the morning and was missing your blog early yesterday. Your comments and insights are very helpful in my daily efforts to walk with the Lord.
Allan S
Just getting to yesterday's blog:
Want to add a couple of verses to Alexb's and Allen's comments:
Romans 15:26-27 (I know we're getting there, but it fits in...I think Paul was speaking of the Jewish nation as a whole, not just those who believed, even though the intention was for those believers) Also, remember when God told Abraham that He would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him? Genesis 12:1-3
Tami, maybe to counter-balance the heavy heart, you could go to the website of "Jews for Jesus" and listen to the video remarks made by Messianic Jews. You'll weep, but it'll be for joy. Oh what a blessing to be God's chosen and know Jesus as well! It humbles this poor little old Gentile!
GREETING TAMI
THANKS FOR FINDING THE TIME TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH ME AND OTHERS. WELCOME HOME, I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ YOUR DISCUSSION.
IT MUST HAVE BEING A GOOD EXPERIENCE THERE, HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOURSELF AS YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR CULTURE.
AS I PRAY TODAY I WILL BE PRAYING FOR THE JEWS ALSO FOR YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK OF GOD. HOPE YOU GET SOME REST. ENJOY YOUR DAY
YOURS PHYLLIS
Hi Tami-
Thank you for taking the time to blog while in transit. That truly is dedication. I missed seeing your comment when I opened my email. You have so much to offer and add with your comments.
I have always had a tender place in my heart for the Jewish people. I have only met a couple of Jewish people who held to their beliefs. They have been gracious in allowing me to share my belief in Christ with them without boiling me in oil. :) I have been blessed to share my love with them. One time I was allowed to share that love in the humbleness of my home. I may never know if the seed was planted in good soil, but it is my prayer that it was and that it flourished.
I have never been to Israel. I know in my heart that God has His remnant and I can take solace in that. How I pray that God will continue to perserve His people, Israel, and bring peace to them. I pray that He would remove the veil from their eyes and unstop their ears that they may see and hear the truth and that they will be able to rejoice in it. I have met a Messianic Jewish Rabbi and His family. He spoke at our church one Sunday. What a gentle man and His love for the Lord was inspiring. There is great hope that one day we all will be grafted together. I await for that with great anticipation.
Hi Tami,
I also, am glad you were able to go visit Israel. It sounds like it was a good experience for you. I’m glad also that your almost Home. I hope you have been or will be refreshed with new inspiration!
One person I work with went there a few years ago, and gave me a few olive leaves that he got while he was there. Indeed I understand it is a humbling experience as well, knowing that so many there, haven’t experienced the saving grace of Jesus yet.
It’s a beautiful day here in today. Still believing, trusting in the Lord, and looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
I could use a little clarification regarding. NIV Verse 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. ESV Verse 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. NKJV Verse 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
The part “Consigned “ “ Bound “ “Committed “ all to Disobedience.
Thank you very much.
Jerry
Jerry,
I'd like to comment on your question.
Romans 11:32 really summarizes the first three chapters of Romans. If you remember, in Romans 1, we discovered that God gave the Gentiles (non-Jews) "up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves (1:24). In Romans 2, we find that the Jews were no better off even though they had the Law. Thus Paul concludes in Romans 3, "all (Jew and Gentile alike) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (v. 23).
Romans 11 goes back to this relationship between Jews and Gentile. God has not given up on His people (Rom. 11:1), but He is not going to save them apart from the Gentiles (Rom. 11:11). How is He going to do that? Paul says He has "given them over [consigned, committed] to disobedience" (notice the similarity with 1:24). God has allowed both Jew and Gentile to be bound together in the common bonds of sin. Why? So He could save both of them by His mercy through grace. The first step in salvation is to recognize that you are a sinner. Whether you're Jew or Gentile, you have to realize that you fall short of God's standards, you will never reach those standards on your own and you need a Savior. In response to that realization, God mercifully saves us by grace.
By giving all of us over to disobedience, God has taken the first step to making it possible to save those who recognize their sinfulness and turns to Jesus for salvation.
Allen, Biblical Correspondent at Back to the Bible
Allen,
I want to thank so much for explaining this to me.
I have another small Question. When we crucify the flesh daily
( Please explain if you would please) our flesh then follows the leading of the Spirit
Thanks again Allen,
Jerry
Jerry, here are some thoughts on your last question.
The apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." As Paul concludes his letter to the Galatians, he urges them to do the same: "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24).
When we surrender our lives to Christ, the power of sin is broken; it's crucified (we are "new creatures" according to 2 Cor. 5:17). But our attraction to sin is not so easily overcome. As we grow and mature in Christ, the lure of sin may lessen, but as long as we're in bodies affected by the Fall, to one degree or another, sin will be tempting. Christ dealt with the power of sin, you and I have to deal with the lure of sin. How can we do that? Paul goes on to say, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (v. 25). Salvation came to us as the Spirit placed us into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) so we "live by the Spirit." But we also need to walk by the Spirit. Crucifying the "flesh with it's passions and desires" means surrender on a daily basis to do what the Spirit wants us to do rather than doing what we're tempted to do (giving in to the "passions and desires").
Hope this helps!
Allen, Biblical Correspondent at Back to the Bible