“Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’””
Romans 9:25-26 NLT
If God chose the Jews to be His own special nation, how did the Gentiles get into the story?
God’s plan was never to rescue only the Jews from the plight of sin. There is s strong prophetic thread running through His dealings with Israel…that they were to be the nation to whom He would reveal Himself…and through whom He would reach all nations with His salvation.
God said to His Servant…
“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations.”
Isaiah 42:6 NLT
“Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”
Isaiah 45:22-23 NLT
The Jews hated the Gentiles, blamed the Gentiles for their troubles, and resisted the preaching of God’s grace extended to them through Jesus by the ministry of the apostles. However, Paul explained, in his letter to the Ephesians, that God’s plan to unite Jews and Gentiles into one new race was a secret He had hidden in the past but was now revealed in the gospel.
“God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God…And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”
Ephesians 1:9-10, 12-13 NLT
God’s plan worked perfectly, not in spite of the unfaithfulness of His people but through their rejection of their Messiah. Paul’s argument was as follows…
Abraham was made righteous through his faith in God’s promise, not through circumcision. Not all his natural descendants are automatically his true offspring, but only those who are God’s children by faith. Gentiles who believe the gospel also become the spiritual descendants of Abraham by faith in Jesus.
“Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised…So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith….Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.”
Romans 4:11, 13, 16 NLT
The Jews who don’t believe in Jesus cannot be part of God’s promises to Abraham. So, they have been cut off from being Abraham’s descendants.
“So, this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened…. 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.”
Romans 11:7, 11 NLT
Israel’s disobedience cut them off from God’s blessings in Christ, God’s “olive tree”, so that the Gentiles, the “wild olives”, could be grafted into the cultivated tree.
“But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root….Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen…You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So, if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.”
Romans 11:17-18, 20, 24 NLT
In summary, some of God’s people refused to believe and were broken off the cultivated “olive tree”. Gentiles who received the message of the gospel…branches of the “wild olive”…were grafted into God’s “olive tree” in their place. God’s plan was to make those who refused to believe jealous so that they would want to be part of God’s tree again.
“Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.”
Romans 11:22-24 NLT
Once again, Paul turns the spotlight onto God’s mercy. God is always willing to receive those who trust in Jesus, even though they might have disobeyed Him at first. He is always willing to forgive and restore, no matter how far people have wandered from His way. He does not hold grudges. He does not retaliate out of spite.
“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.”
Psalms 86:5 NLT
“Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.”
Micah 7:18 NLT
“I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ…Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.”
Romans 11:25, 28-32 NLT
Paul’s contemplation of God’s plan…foretold by the prophets and revealed in the gospel…brought him to an outburst of extravagant praise. What could he say?
How…? Who…?
“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”
Romans 11:33-36 NLT
It’s all about Him from beginning to end. No discussion! No argument! God said it! God did it! …and all the glory belongs to Him alone!
To be continued