Divine Mystery: Salvation for Jews and Gentiles

Devotional

Day 1: Salvation Through Faith in Christ Alone

The prophecy concerning Israel's future is not about political restoration but spiritual salvation, emphasizing that all are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, without distinction between Jew and Gentile. This profound truth underscores the universality of the gospel, which is available to all people regardless of their ethnic or cultural background. The blindness that has partially fallen upon Israel is temporary and will last until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. At that time, a significant movement will occur among the Jews, leading to their salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, just as the Gentiles have been saved. This highlights the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises throughout the Bible, demonstrating that there is no separate path to salvation for the Jews; it is the same for all. [06:06]

Romans 3:29-30 (ESV): "Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith."

Reflection: Consider how you view people from different backgrounds and cultures. Are there any biases or prejudices you need to address to fully embrace the universality of the gospel in your life?

Day 2: Patience in Understanding Divine Revelation

Paul's method of revealing this mystery involves patience and a comprehensive understanding of the prophecy, highlighting the importance of divine revelation in understanding God's plan. He emphasizes the need for patience in grasping the full scope of the prophecy, as it is a complex and divine revelation. This patience is crucial because the prophecy is not just an interpretation of Old Testament scriptures but a new revelation given to Paul, akin to the revelations given to Old Testament prophets. By taking the time to understand the prophecy, believers can gain a deeper insight into God's plan for salvation and the future of both Israel and the Gentiles. [02:28]

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Reflection: In what areas of your spiritual life do you need to exercise more patience and trust in God's timing and revelation?

Day 3: Continuity and Fulfillment of God's Promises

The prophecy is a new revelation given to Paul, supported by Old Testament scriptures, demonstrating the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises throughout the Bible. Paul supports his prophecy with Old Testament references, not as direct quotations but as a synthesis of the general sense of various passages. This approach shows the divine inspiration under which he writes, as he adapts the words to convey the present application of the prophecy. It underscores the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament, revealing the mystery of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. This continuity assures believers that God's promises are steadfast and will be fulfilled in His perfect timing. [10:08]

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV): "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."

Reflection: Reflect on a promise from God that you are holding onto. How does understanding the continuity of God's promises throughout the Bible strengthen your faith in His fulfillment of that promise?

Day 4: Divine Intervention in Salvation

The future salvation of Israel will be a divine act, turning them from ungodliness and bringing them into the Christian church, resulting in a monumental event of rejoicing and praise. This divine intervention will not be through their own decision but through God's sovereign action. It will be a monumental event, likened to life from the dead, and will result in great rejoicing within the church. This highlights the power and sovereignty of God in the salvation process, reminding believers that it is ultimately God who initiates and completes the work of salvation in individuals and communities. [32:21]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you need God's intervention. How can you invite His sovereign action into that area today?

Day 5: Divine Inspiration and the Mystery of Salvation

Paul's handling of Old Testament quotations under divine inspiration shows the continuity of God's plan and the fulfillment of the mystery of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. By adapting the words of the Old Testament to convey the present application of the prophecy, Paul demonstrates the divine inspiration under which he writes. This reveals the mystery of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles, emphasizing that God's plan has always been inclusive and universal. It encourages believers to trust in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures and to seek a deeper understanding of God's plan for salvation as revealed in the Bible. [12:41]

1 Peter 1:10-12 (ESV): "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the Scriptures to better grasp the mystery of salvation? What steps can you take this week to study the Bible more intentionally?

Sermon Summary

In Romans 11:25-32, Paul unveils a profound mystery concerning the future of Israel and the Gentiles. The blindness that has partially fallen upon Israel is temporary and will last until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. This is not merely a historical or political prophecy but a spiritual one, focusing on salvation. The salvation of Israel will occur in the same manner as that of the Gentiles—through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no separate path to salvation for the Jews; it is the same for all, emphasizing the universality of the gospel.

Paul's methodical approach to this prophecy involves first laying out the statements and then addressing objections. He emphasizes patience in understanding the full scope of the prophecy, as it is a complex and divine revelation. The prophecy is not just an interpretation of Old Testament scriptures but a new revelation given to Paul, akin to the revelations given to Old Testament prophets. Paul supports his prophecy with Old Testament references, not as direct quotations but as a synthesis of the general sense of various passages, demonstrating the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises.

The prophecy reveals that at a future time, when the Gentiles have fully come in, a significant movement will occur among the Jews, leading to their salvation. This will not be through their own decision but through God's sovereign action, turning them from ungodliness and bringing them into the Christian church. This divine intervention will be a monumental event, likened to life from the dead, and will result in great rejoicing within the church.

Paul's handling of Old Testament quotations shows the divine inspiration under which he writes, as he adapts the words to convey the present application of the prophecy. This underscores the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament, revealing the mystery of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.

Key Takeaways

1. The prophecy concerning Israel's future is not about political restoration but spiritual salvation, emphasizing that all are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, without distinction between Jew and Gentile. [06:06]
2. Paul's method of revealing this mystery involves patience and a comprehensive understanding of the prophecy, highlighting the importance of divine revelation in understanding God's plan. [02:28]
3. The prophecy is a new revelation given to Paul, supported by Old Testament scriptures, demonstrating the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises throughout the Bible. [10:08]
4. The future salvation of Israel will be a divine act, turning them from ungodliness and bringing them into the Christian church, resulting in a monumental event of rejoicing and praise. [32:21]
5. Paul's handling of Old Testament quotations under divine inspiration shows the continuity of God's plan and the fulfillment of the mystery of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. [12:41]
** [12:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Mystery
[01:18] - Prophetic Utterance on Israel
[02:28] - Method of Exposition
[03:46] - Summary of the Prophecy
[05:15] - Salvation for All
[06:37] - One Way of Salvation
[08:21] - Future Movement Among Jews
[10:08] - New Revelation and Old Testament
[12:41] - Divine Inspiration in Quotations
[19:59] - Turning Away Ungodliness
[25:00] - Rejection of First Advent Interpretation
[28:55] - Spiritual Zion
[31:38] - God's Sovereign Action
[39:47] - Fulfillment of God's Covenant

Sermon Clips

The prophecy is to this effect, the Apostle says blindness for the time being has fallen upon Israel and it will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in then and indeed even so as the result of the coming in the fullness of the Gentiles that in itself is going to be used by God to bring in the bulk of the nation of Israel. [00:04:00]

The prophecy therefore is to this effect that at some future time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall have come in well then this great movement as it were will take place amongst the Jews and the fullness of the Jews will come in as he's told us in verse 12 and they will come into the church they will come into the kingdom of God. [00:08:29]

The prophecy is not simply that the apostle is interpreting Old Testament prophecies he isn't doing that he is giving a new prophecy he is uttering something that has been revealed unto him in exactly the same way as the truth was revealed to the prophets and to the old dispensation. [00:10:01]

The same Spirit who gave the message to the Old Testament prophets is now giving this message to this new testament Apostle who is also a prophet and so the spirit who gave the original words sometimes varies the exact expression why well in order to show the particular application of the message at this point. [00:12:33]

The apostles were men to whom go the Lord revealed the truth in exactly the same way as he did to the Old Testament prophets so here is the great Apostle writing under divine inspiration and giving this wonderful truth to us now then we come to the actual quotation. [00:14:35]

The deliverer shall turn them away from transgression or ungodliness how does he come to do this well here again he follows this septent translation which is and shall turn iniquity or transgression from Jacob he's there definitely following that particular translation. [00:20:33]

The same God who is hardening them now is going to suffer them it is he who is going to turn them from iniquity turn ungodly turn away ungodliness from Jacob in other words he's putting in other language what he has already said in verse 23 and they also if they abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted in. [00:31:17]

This is going to be the greatest phenomenon of all the centuries of the Christian church this is the thing that will produce an effect which can only be compared to as he says in verse 15 life from the dead that this race this nation that throughout the centuries has rejected the Messiah. [00:32:08]

God will have turned away their iniquity and unrighteousness he will open their eyes they will see it they'll believe it what he has done to individual Jews throughout the centuries what he's done to messes of Gentiles he is going to do for them as a block as a body and this will be so astounding. [00:33:01]

The whole church will be amazed at it and will be filled with a spirit of rejoicing and of Praise now that's what these quotations as handled by the Apostle are saying that God is going to do this glorious and tremendous and wonderful thing very well then we come to this further statement. [00:33:26]

God did that in the Old Testament he promised he would he promised it the prophets were prophesying that even for the destruction of Jerusalem Jeremiah in particular was given to see that clearly you remember in that incident of buying that plot of ground Isaiah has got it equally clearly. [00:38:22]

The Apostle is saying as God did that with these people his own people his Covenant people in the Old Testament he's going to do that again he has as it were for the time being again sent them off to a kind of captivity of Babylon he's broken them out of the Olive Tree he has cast them aside. [00:38:47]

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