Day 321

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The Promised Salvation!

Scripture

November 16—Romans 9-11: Righteous Plan of God Explained

Observation

Paul has been addressing his comments to a predominately Gentile audience. But now he anticipates an objection that could be raised by a Jewish reader: "If Abraham, the father of the Jews, was justified by faith in the coming Messiah, why have so few seen the light? Is God unfair to his chosen people? Why have most Jews rejected God's plan, if indeed what you have written is true?" Paul meets such an objection head-on. God has not fully rejected his people; the Jews have rejected him! God's treatment of Israel is not arbitrary but rests upon Israel's lack of faith. But the rejection of Israel is only partial (as demonstrated by the fact that Paul, a Jew, trusted Christ) and temporary. A day of restoration is near when "a Deliverer . . . shall turn the Jews from all ungodliness" (11:26).

Application

True or False: A sincere belief will get you to heaven. Perhaps you've heard about the man who took what he sincerely thought was aspirin. Unfortunately, he was sincerely wrong . . . and became sincerely dead.

That's precisely Paul's point about the Jews in 9:30-32. Who can doubt the sincerity of their beliefs and actions! They practiced their righteousness "religiously," thinking this would win God's approval. But they were sincerely wrong and so died in their sins.

Have you been lulled into complacency by the sincere (but wrong) beliefs of some of your neighbors or relatives? They may be sincere, but even if they are sincerely wrong, they're still wrong, and they'll be eternally lost. In 10:13-15, Paul presents the need for the verbal proclamation of the gospel. Answer Paul's questions in verse 14 and determine today to be the preacher who will "bring glad tidings of good things" (10:15) to some sin-seared, sincere person.

Prayer

We pray, God, that you will open the eyes of your people, the Jews and Gentiles alike. Today, there is a blindness in Your church with regard to members choosing a life of sin over Your way of life. This blindness have the potential to affect the faith of new and young believers. We pray that you reach those in leadership positions in Your church so that they will focus more on quality than quantity of members. We know prayer can change this and members would either confess their sins or leave the church. We pray they repent and sin no more. In Jesus' name! Amen! 

Repent and Sin No More!



© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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