Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
It is written. These are glorious words for us because “it is written” tells us what God has spoken. In this case, he has told the Gentiles that just because they have been “grafted in” and Israel has had a hardening, this does not mean that God is done with Israel. The book of Acts and a good deal of Romans talks of this Jew/Gentile debate and Paul had a message for both sides. God’s mercy is for all people and neither Jew nor Gentile shouild feel more “saved” than anyone else. God has preserved Israel to the present day so they could be saved and he has torn the veil for the Gentiles to come into his presence.
This is good news for all. Mercy and steadfast love are such a part of God’s character that we know there is nothing we can do to deserve God’s love. Jews and Gentiles have proven that. It also means there is nothing we can do to lose God’s love. That is also shown by all mankind. We have certainly been unfaithful but because of the cross of Jesus Christ and his faithfulness, it is never too late for any of us to fall on our knees in repentance. Tell that to someone who thinks they have blown it. Say, “of course you have!…
But God…
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church