Who Are God's People? - part 3 Has God Failed To Keep His Promise?

Devotional

Day 1: Circumcision of the Heart

The disciples huddled in locked rooms while Jesus stood among them, alive. He showed His scars and ate broiled fish, proving His resurrection body. But Thomas demanded physical proof before believing. Jesus met him in his doubt, declaring greater blessing for those who trust without seeing. [08:35]

Ethnic Jews once relied on circumcision as their covenant mark. Paul redefines true identity: not bloodline or rituals, but hearts transformed by the Spirit. Jesus prioritizes inward surrender over outward signs.

You carry invisible marks of faith—the Spirit’s work in your thoughts and choices. Where do you still demand visible “proof” before obeying Christ? How might your daily actions change if you lived as one already approved by God?

“For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.”
(Romans 2:28-29, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one area where you’ve valued external religion over heart transformation.
Challenge: Write down three decisions you’ll make today based on internal conviction, not external pressure.

Day 2: Entrusted with Oracles

Moses received stone tablets. David penned psalms. Prophets like Jeremiah shouted warnings to Jerusalem’s streets. God gave His words to ethnic Israel first—scrolls they copied, sang, and debated for generations. [15:08]

The Jews’ greatest privilege wasn’t land or lineage, but stewarding Scripture itself. They preserved the very texts that now confront them with Messiah’s coming. Yet knowledge without faith left them unprepared.

You hold the fulfilled Word they guarded. Do you treat your Bible as a relic or a living voice? When did you last let Scripture disrupt your assumptions like the prophets disrupted Israel?

“What advantage has the Jew?… They were entrusted with the oracles of God.”
(Romans 3:1-2, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific Scriptures that recently guided or convicted you.
Challenge: Read Deuteronomy 7:6-9 aloud, then circle every verb describing God’s actions.

Day 3: When Liars Accuse Truth

Pharisees spat accusations as Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Pilate washed his hands while crowds chanted lies. Yet God’s faithfulness burned brighter through every falsehood, fulfilling redemption’s plan. [20:59]

Human failure cannot nullify divine promises. Israel’s unbelief exposed their need for grace, not God’s unreliability. Christ’s crucifixion—the ultimate betrayal—became the gateway to resurrection power.

What broken promise or unanswered prayer tempts you to doubt God’s character? How might His faithfulness look different from your limited perspective?

“Let God be true though every one were a liar.”
(Romans 3:4, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one situation where you’ve judged God’s faithfulness by human standards.
Challenge: Text a friend: “God kept His promise to Abraham over centuries. What promise are you waiting on?”

Day 4: Sand and Remnant

Abraham stood under desert stars, counting grains of sand as God promised descendants. Centuries later, Isaiah saw those multiplied millions—yet only a remnant would return from exile, only a few recognize Messiah. [36:38]

Salvation has always flowed through the few who choose faith over formula. The faithful remnant—from Noah to Mary Magdalene—carried God’s purposes when masses wandered.

Where do you feel spiritually outnumbered? How might Jesus be calling you to stand firm like the seven thousand who refused to bow to Baal?

“Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved.”
(Romans 9:27, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one person modeling remnant-like faithfulness in your life.
Challenge: Call a mature believer today and ask, “What helps you stay faithful when others compromise?”

Day 5: No Distinction in Dust

Roman soldiers, Samaritan women, and Ethiopian eunuchs all knelt equally at Jesus’ feet. At Pentecost, the Spirit fell on Parthians, Medes, and Egyptians—fulfilling Abraham’s promise to bless all nations. [40:09]

The cross demolished ethnic barriers. Salvation’s door swings wide for any who call Christ Lord—Jew or Gentile, slave or free. Yet this unity cost Jesus His life, tearing the temple veil in two.

Who do you unconsciously exclude from God’s grace? What steps will you take this week to mirror heaven’s inclusivity?

“Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction… For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(Romans 10:11-13, ESV)

Prayer: Confess a prejudice (racial, theological, or cultural) that hinders your witness.
Challenge: Initiate a conversation with someone outside your typical circle; listen more than speak.

Sermon Summary

Paul confronts the pride of the ethnic Jew in Romans 2:28–29 by saying a true Jew is one inwardly, with “circumcision… of the heart, by the Spirit,” not merely outward rites. The move does not erase ethnicity; it clarifies that a true Jew recognizes his Messiah. The Abrahamic covenant still stands as God’s oath to Abraham’s descendants: land pledged and delivered in Joshua, a people marked by circumcision, and a line carrying promises, law, temple, fathers, and even Christ “according to the flesh.” Those are real advantages, but they do not save. Advantage without faith leaves a person unchanged, like hearing the gospel a hundred times and never turning to Christ.

The text then answers a charged question: has widespread Jewish unbelief made God unfaithful? “May it never be. Let God be found true though every man be found a liar.” Israel’s Scriptures already tell a long story of covenant privilege met by unbelief, judgment, and a preserved remnant. That history does not void God’s oath; it vindicates it. Romans 9:6 cuts to the heart: “They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.” Ethnic Israel and spiritual Israel are not the same thing. Spiritual Israel consists of those who share Abraham’s faith in the promised Christ. Galatians names believers the “Israel of God,” while Genesis 17 calls God’s covenant with Abraham’s physical seed “everlasting,” so Scripture speaks in both senses without collapsing one into the other.

Romans 11 adds the timetable: a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. God is using the church now to carry the gospel to the nations, but He has not shelved His purposes for the ethnic descendants of Abraham. The prophets anticipated a remnant. Isaiah said the number of Israel would be like the sand, yet “the remnant will be saved.” Paul prays with tears for his kinsmen: they have “zeal,” but not according to knowledge, because they try to establish righteousness by the law instead of submitting to God’s righteousness in Christ. The door, however, stands wide open: “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek… whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God’s people are those who come to Jesus by faith.

Key Takeaways

1. True circumcision is of the heart Outward marks cannot birth spiritual life. The Spirit changes a person from the inside, producing repentance and faith that recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah. Ethnic lineage matters historically, but new birth defines God’s people savingly. Heart religion, not ritual, answers God’s covenant claim. [10:37]
2. Privilege without faith cannot save Scripture, covenants, temple, and teaching are real gifts, yet they function as stewardship, not a shield against judgment. Hearing the gospel often increases responsibility, not immunity. Privilege is an on-ramp to Christ; unbelief turns it into a witness against the soul. [14:02]
3. God’s promises stand amid unbelief Human unfaithfulness never overturns divine faithfulness. Israel’s history of rebellion and remnant proves God’s word is not failing but sifting, distinguishing flesh from faith. “Let God be found true” steadies the church to trust His timing and His ways. [24:17]
4. Not all Israel is Israel Scripture speaks of Israel in two senses: ethnic and spiritual. Descent from Abraham according to the flesh does not guarantee Abraham’s faith or Abraham’s salvation. The true people of God are those united to Christ, the promised Seed, by faith. [26:56]
5. Whoever calls on Jesus is saved The gospel removes distinctions at the point of mercy: Jew and Gentile alike meet the same Lord by the same faith. Righteousness is not achieved but received, because Christ fulfilled the law and bore sin. Calling on His name is the doorway into the everlasting covenant blessings. [39:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:55] - Who Are God’s People?
[02:51] - Abrahamic Covenant and Land
[06:10] - New Covenant Promised
[06:48] - Spiritual Descendants by Faith
[08:14] - Romans 2:28–3:4 Read
[12:58] - What Advantage Has the Jew?
[15:55] - Israel’s Privileges in Romans 9
[20:42] - Unbelief and God’s Faithfulness
[21:44] - Israel’s Rebellion and Remnant
[26:56] - Not All Israel Is Israel
[30:50] - Partial Hardening and the Church
[34:52] - Ethnic and Spiritual Israel
[39:43] - No Distinction: All Who Call
[41:14] - Invitation to Respond

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Romans 2:28–3:4 (ESV)
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Observation Questions

According to Romans 2:28–29, what distinguishes a "true Jew" from someone who is Jewish outwardly?
In Romans 3:1–2, what specific advantage does Paul highlight for ethnic Jews?
How does Paul respond to the idea that Jewish unbelief could nullify God’s faithfulness (Romans 3:3–4)?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that circumcision is “of the heart, by the Spirit” rather than a physical ritual? How does this redefine the identity of God’s people?
What does Romans 9:6 (“they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel”) reveal about the relationship between ethnic heritage and spiritual belonging?
How does the concept of a “remnant” in Israel’s history (e.g., Isaiah 10:22) demonstrate God’s faithfulness despite widespread unbelief?

Application Questions

In what ways might someone today rely on outward religious practices (like church attendance or baptism) instead of a transformed heart? How can you guard against this?
The sermon mentions that hearing the gospel often increases responsibility, not immunity [14:02]. How does this truth challenge your approach to sharing the gospel with others who’ve heard it many times?
If “privilege without faith cannot save,” how can you avoid taking spiritual advantages (like access to Scripture or community) for granted?
The phrase “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” removes distinctions between people [39:43]. How does this truth shape your attitude toward sharing the gospel with those different from you?
Reflect on a time when you doubted God’s faithfulness because of circumstances or others’ failures. How does Romans 3:3–4 encourage you to trust Him more deeply?
How can you intentionally cultivate “heart religion” (e.g., repentance, dependence on the Spirit) rather than relying on routines or rituals in your walk with Christ?

Sermon Clips

Why are many Jews not coming to Christ? Because they are still pursuing righteousness by obedience to the law and works rather than trusting in the savior who died for them. Now, notice who he calls Israel. Israel is not speaking of the spiritual descendants. It's not speaking of me as a Christian. It's speaking of the blood ethnic descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The ethnic Jew. Israel tried. Those people, they have rejected the Messiah because they've tried to pursue righteousness not by faith but by works. [00:37:38] (41 seconds)

See, the Jews thought Jesus was gonna show up and be like David was. We can't wait for our king, our Messiah, our Christ to show up and he's gonna defeat all of our foes. And then that's because that's what David did. God's favor was on David and and when he was leading Israel, they they kicked tail and took names. You know what I'm saying? But now Jesus shows up on the scene in the first century, and he doesn't conquer earthly kingdoms. He comes to bring salvation to the sinner. And many Jews weren't looking for that. [00:24:59] (34 seconds)

Hearing the gospel a 100 times to the one that's heard it once, you have an advantage. You have heard it said many different ways from many different perspectives. The same gospel that saves. You've heard it time and time again. You have an advantage. But if you have not repented and believed, it's of no spiritual benefit to you. And that's what he's telling the Jew. Yes. You have the promises. You have the covenants. You have the Old Testament law. But if unless you believe, it's it does not benefit you spiritually. [00:14:27] (31 seconds)

So there are two Israel's. There's the ethnic Israel and there's the spiritual Israel. The spiritual doesn't replace the ethnic. There's just two. Are you talking about spiritually? Well, then all that matters is are you a follower of Jesus Christ? If you're talking ethnically, it's the blood descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that were chosen to be the nation that was a light to the world. He says a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. [00:34:52] (30 seconds)

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Who Are God's People? - part 3 Has God Failed To Keep His Promise? | Dr. Derek Westmoreland