Paul is the first to truly ponder what the new faith of Christianity means for the old - Judaism.
Paul’s concern for the Jews
Romans 9:1-13
God’s sovereignty
Romans 9:14-29
Israel’s present failure
Romans 9:30-33
Paul’s prayer for Israel
Romans 10:1-4
The righteousness of faith
Romans 10:5-11
Jew and Gentile equally in need
Romans 10:12-21
Israel not finally rejected
Romans 11:1-11
They will be grafted back in
Romans 11:12 -21
Gentiles cautioned against pride
Romans 11:22-32
Praise of God’s wisdom and goodness
Romans 11:33-36
If Gentiles are saying, “We don’t need any Jewish heritage,” if people today are saying, “I can believe in the God of the New Testament, but not the God of the Old,” then what has happened to all God’s promises to the Jews? Has God moved on, and left them all behind?
Paul wants to say, “No - God has not forgotten or abandoned his ancient people.” He wrestles with difficult questions of election - how God can seem to choose one people and reject another.
His conclusion is that in the end Israel will be gathered back in to God’s purposes. He uses the analogy of an olive tree, and describes Gentiles Christians as being branches grafted into the tree, nourished by the sap of God’s love, but not from birth, they are new to these blessings. The Jews, who are like branches that have been broken off, can one day be grafted back in.
For Paul this is wonderful. As he surveys all of history, and gazes into the future, at every point he sees God’s loving hand at work, and he bursts out into praise. We have a God who has never given up on the world, never rejected people totally, never ceased to love and care for what he has made.
Paul’s concern for the Jews
Romans 9:1-13
God’s sovereignty
Romans 9:14-29
Israel’s present failure
Romans 9:30-33
Paul’s prayer for Israel
Romans 10:1-4
The righteousness of faith
Romans 10:5-11
Jew and Gentile equally in need
Romans 10:12-21
Israel not finally rejected
Romans 11:1-11
They will be grafted back in
Romans 11:12 -21
Gentiles cautioned against pride
Romans 11:22-32
Praise of God’s wisdom and goodness
Romans 11:33-36
If Gentiles are saying, “We don’t need any Jewish heritage,” if people today are saying, “I can believe in the God of the New Testament, but not the God of the Old,” then what has happened to all God’s promises to the Jews? Has God moved on, and left them all behind?
Paul wants to say, “No - God has not forgotten or abandoned his ancient people.” He wrestles with difficult questions of election - how God can seem to choose one people and reject another.
His conclusion is that in the end Israel will be gathered back in to God’s purposes. He uses the analogy of an olive tree, and describes Gentiles Christians as being branches grafted into the tree, nourished by the sap of God’s love, but not from birth, they are new to these blessings. The Jews, who are like branches that have been broken off, can one day be grafted back in.
For Paul this is wonderful. As he surveys all of history, and gazes into the future, at every point he sees God’s loving hand at work, and he bursts out into praise. We have a God who has never given up on the world, never rejected people totally, never ceased to love and care for what he has made.
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