RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT FAVORITISM

 

Romans 9:27-29  Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality." It is just as Isaiah said previously: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." (NIV)

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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

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It might be difficult to understand how God can have a 'special' people and yet judge them severely. Well, God chose the line of Abraham to Isaac to Jacob (later renamed Israel) - from whom the 'children of Israel' were descended. God entered into a covenant with them including the giving of the law. So they had a great privilege, but it was their responsibility to keep the covenant.

Alas, all of them broke God's covenant (so they had to make sacrifices to appease God's wrath). However, although God gave them many opportunities, they still failed Him and eventually judgement came in the form of invading armies who carried them off into exile. But God kept faith alive in a few hearts (including Isaiah's) and a remnant was preserved: a line of faith up to the birth of Jesus. They were the people who trusted the character of God and relied on His mercy.

So there was no reason for the Jewish Christians in Rome to be smug about their heritage. Most of their country folk had squandered their special privilege; and there was no 'special entry' into the church for Jews. Both Jews and Gentiles came on exactly the same terms - by faith in the grace of God and the sin-sacrifice of Jesus Christ (the new covenant). It is still the only way to find peace with God (www.crosscheck.org.uk). As we celebrate the birth of the Saviour, let us remember that as God sent His own Son into the world to be punished for our sins - so we need to go into the world and speak out the gospel, so that people of every race might trust in the Lord and be saved.

Prayer:  Sovereign Lord. Thank You for keeping a flame of faith alight even during the darkest periods of Israel's history. Thank You for those who told the gospel to me and urged me to receive Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I am sorry when I have squandered the grace You have given to me, and presumed that You would indulge my sin. I know that is wrong, and ask for Your help to respond appropriately to Your grace. Help me also to look less at my own concerns and be much more aware of the people around me who have never understood Your gospel. Help me to share Jesus with them. In His Name. Amen.