God and the Jewish People, 9:1-18.
In chapters one through eight Paul has explained the sin of man, the sacrifice of Christ for men, and the salvation that comes to all men who believe. But there was a serious matter before Paul’s heart. God’s chosen people, Paul’s own relatives, had turned away from Jesus.
[1-5] Before writing about his deep concern, Paul explained how serious this was to him. He almost takes an oath. In the eyes of Jesus, Paul had taken Him as Saviour and Lord. He assured the Jews that he was being totally honest, not lying at all. Even as the Holy Spirit lived inside him, his deep concern was known to God.
The fact that the Jews did not believe is even more serious because God gave them so many blessings. He called them “Israel,” which means “the prince of God.” God chose them over every other nation to be His chosen people. They were given a special covenant (agreement) with God with all its glory. God gave them the law by Moses to show them good from evil. God’s law always explains His covenant relationships. He taught them how to worship Him so that He would be pleased. He promised them great blessings for their future. They were all the fleshly children of the great ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In fact, they were even the earthly family through whom Jesus was born. He was one of them. How, then, could they turn against their own Son, who was also God’s only Son, and kill Him? This is Paul’s great sorrow and pain!
[6-7] Paul surely felt very deeply about this to make such a strong statement. But what does this mean about God? If God did all this for His people and still they refused Him and His Son, does this mean God failed? The answer is no. What this means is that not all of Israel (the Jews) are really God’s people. Abraham is called the father of the faithful. But not all of Abraham’s children were chosen by God. Abraham had a son Ishmael (his mother was a slave). (See Galatians 4:21-31.) He also had a son Isaac, whose mother was the real wife of Abraham. God chose Isaac to receive the promise and the covenant. He did not choose Ishmael. (See Genesis 21:9-21 for the full story.) Ishmael and his slave mother were sent away with a smaller blessing. But Isaac was the one who was really to be counted Abraham’s son, both in the flesh and in the plans God had for the world.
Romans 9:8-15
8 This means that not all physical descendants are children of God. Instead, the children of God’s promise are counted as the real descendants. 9 This is what the promise said: “At the right time I will come, and Sarah will give birth to a son.” Genesis 18:10 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s two sons came from the same man, Isaac, our ancestor. 11-12 But, before they were born, before they had done anything – good or bad – God told her, “The older son will serve the younger son.” Genesis 25:23 This happened in order to show that the choice came from God, not from human effort. God wanted His special choice to last. 13 This is written: “I loved Jacob more than I loved Esau.” Malachi 1:2-3 14 What should we conclude? God is not unfair, is He? Never! 15 God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to the people I want to show mercy to. I will feel sorry for the people I want to feel sorry for.” Exodus 33:19
[8-9] So not all the physical descendants of Abraham are to be counted as children of God. Only the children of promise have that blessing. “Children of promise” means that, as God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah, only that child would get to receive the call to be the special people. Abraham had many other children later in his life, but they also were left out of the promises. Genesis 25:1-6 tells how that these later children by another woman were treated well and given gifts, but the full inheritance went to Isaac, not to any of the other children.
[10-11] The same thing happened with Isaac and his children. The special promise of God was not given equally to Isaac’s children. His wife had two sons, Esau and Jacob. But even before they were born, God decided which one would carry on the agreement with God. It would be Jacob, not Esau (Genesis 25:21-26).
[12-13] Paul points out that God did this even before the children were born so that it would be plainly known that His choice did not depend on whether the boys had done good or bad, but only by His own choice that it was decided. Many things about our lives were decided without our having anything to say about it: where we were born, what sex we are, who our parents are, whether we would be tall or short, light or dark – many such things.
[14-15] Does this mean, then, that God is unfair because He does certain things even before we have done good or bad? Again, Paul uses that very strong word “never”. God says clearly in Exodus 33:19 that He has the right to show mercy or to feel sorry for whichever human beings He chooses. Whether they have done right or not, whether they want something, or whether they try to do something is not what decides God’s plan. It is the act that comes from God Himself, and nothing else.
Romans: 19-26
16 Therefore, it does not depend on what man wants or tries to do. Instead, it is the mercy of God. 17 Because the Scripture said this about Pharaoh: “I allowed you to become a leader for a reason – that I might show My power through you. My name will spread to the whole world.” Exodus 9:16 18 So, God shows mercy to those He wants to show mercy to. And, if God wants to, He makes some people stubborn. 19 Surely you will say this to me: “Then why does God blame us? Who can resist God’s plan?” 20 Who are you? You are only a human being. You cannot talk back to God. The thing which is made cannot say to the One who made it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 Does the potter have the right to use the same clay in two ways? Yes. He may use part of it to make a beautiful pot. Or, he may use part of it for something ordinary. 22 God wanted to show His anger and to make His power clear. So, He was very patient with people who would be punished. They were made ready for destruction. 23 God wanted to make the wealth of His glory clear to people who would receive mercy. Long ago, He prepared them to receive glory. 24 God called us not only from among Jews but also from among non-Jews. 25 It is as God says in the book of Hosea: “I will call people who didn’t belong to Me ‘My People.’ I will love the nation that was unloved.” Hosea 2:23 26 “This will happen where they said, ‘You are not My people:’ They will be called ‘the sons of the living God’ in that same place!” Hosea 1:10
[16-18] When the Jews were in Egypt (see Exodus 1-15) the Pharaoh (king of Egypt) was told by God, “I have special reason for having allowed you to become the King. By what you do and what I do, I will cause the name of Jehovah to be known among all the nations of the world.”
God Does What He Wants: He Is God, 9:19-29.
[19-21] In verse eighteen, Paul has said that God does what He wants (which is always just). He is sovereign over mortal men as Creator God. His power is greater than ours. So Paul asks, “If God rules us, why does He then blame us for what He did to us?” But Paul answers his own question by saying, “You must not ask that question.” Why not? Because we are men and because God is God. How can we know enough to make God give us an answer or explanation? The pot-maker has power over the clay; and God has the right over man, for He made him.
[22-23] Whereas God does show people His anger and His power, He also wants to show mercy. Consider Pharaoh. God gave him a choice. Pharaoh chose wrong and thus hardened his heart. If Pharaoh had admitted God’s power and submitted to God’s will, God would have given Pharaoh glory also. But when men will not admit God’s power over them, then God gives them wrath. Whereas the disobedient Pharaoh received wrath, Israel received glory in the eyes of the world. God glorified Israel in the victory over Pharaoh as his army was drowned in the sea.
[24-26] God calls all men to salvation, not just the Jews only. The Jews thought they were the only ones God loved. But Paul reminds them that God calls every man to believe in Him. He proved this by reminding the readers of four passages of Scripture from the Jews’ Bible that says He calls people other than Jews.
Romans 9:27-33
27 Isaiah cried out for Israel: “Even if the number of the sons of Israel becomes as large as the number of grains of the ocean sands, only some of them will be saved. 28 The Lord God will close His books on the whole world quickly and completely.” Isaiah 10:23 29 It is like Isaiah said long ago: “If Almighty God had not left us some descendants, we would have become like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.” Isaiah 1:9 30 What should we conclude? Non-Jews (who were not trying to find righteousness) received righteousness; it was the kind of righteousness which comes from faith. 31 The people of Israel were trying to chase after “law-righteousness” in the law, but they did not get it. 32 Why? Because that kind of righteousness does not come from faith. Instead, it comes from human effort. They stumbled on the stone for stumbling. 33 This is written: “Look! I am putting a stone for stumbling and a rock for tripping in Jerusalem. The person who believes in him will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 28:16
[27-28] It is true that Israel had become a very large nation of people – as many as the grains of sand by the seashore. But not all Israel is going to be saved. Compare this statement with Romans 11:26 which we will discuss later. Out of all Israel some will believe in Jesus will be saved, and those who do not believe will be lost. But God will determine his plan of salvation. God will finish His purposes and plans with all men. No power can stop His divine purposes.
[29] As the armies of heaven were sent by God to rain fire of punishment on the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 19), so God will send death upon all sinners. If God’s mercy had not spared some of us from punishment, all mankind would have been destroyed like those two wicked cities. The Lord of the heavenly armies will come upon the earth. Only by His mercy in Jesus Christ will some be saved. Some of the saved will be people of Israel, and some will be people of the Gentiles (non-Jewish people).
All Are Made Right by Faith, Not by Law, 9:30-10:4.
[30-33] Here, Paul compares the Gentiles with the Jews. The religion of the Jews was not experienced by trusting in God’s love and mercy, but by trying to prove that they could save themselves by keeping the law. If they could, they could be proud of their own religion. But this pride caused them to stumble and be lost. How did this happen? Jesus came to die for us (in fact, He is called our “rock” – Matthew 16:18). The Jews thought that since they could keep the law by themselves, they did not need anyone to help them, even Jesus. So they killed Him to show they did not need Him. So the One who came to save them became the stumbling block that caused their fall.
Romans 10:1-11
10 1 Brothers, I pray to God that the Jewish people will be saved; that is my heart’s desire. 2 I tell you the truth, they have much enthusiasm for God, but they don’t understand! 3 They ignored God’s righteousness and tried to establish their own type of righteousness. They did not put themselves under God’s kind of righteousness. 4 Christ is the purpose of the law. Everyone who believes in Christ will be made right with God. 5 Moses wrote about the type of righteousness which comes from the law: “A person who wants to find life by following these things must do the things that the law says.” Leviticus 18:5 6 But the kind of righteousness which comes from faith says things like this: “You must not say this in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (This means to bring Christ down.) 7 or ‘Who will go down to the bottomless pit?’ (This means to bring Christ back from death.).” 8 But, what does it say? “The message is near you; It is in your mouth and in your heart.” Deuteronomy 30:14 This refers to the message about faith which we preach. 9 If you confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from death, you will be saved. 10 To become right with God a person believes with his heart. Declaring it openly, that person comes into salvation. 11 The Scripture says: “Everyone who believes in him will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 28:16
[10:1-4] Paul clearly understood the mistake of the Jews. He knew they were lost, but he wanted them all to be saved. Paul admitted that there was much good about the Jews, his kinsmen. They really tried hard to follow God. But they did not know the right way – the right road to God. It does not matter how fast you run if you are on the wrong road. Trying hard is not what counts. Believing in God’s love and mercy as demonstrated in Jesus Christ is what counts. They ignored God’s way and tried to make their own way work. If they had trusted God, loved Him, and submitted to His way of saving man, they could have been saved. In fact, many Jews did find salvation this way by believing that God sent Jesus to die for their sins. But many took the law into their own hands and tried to be saved by it.
That was not what the law was for. The law was really given to prepare men for Jesus (see Galatians 3:24-25). Christ was the perfect fulfillment for which the law was given. To have faith in Jesus is to be made right with God. To trust and obey is to move from death to life.
Where Does This Faith Work to Make Us Right? 10:5-15.
[5] The way the Jews tried to be saved was like this: Moses said, “If you want to be made right by following the law, you must do it all.”
[6-7] But faith is like this: “Is anyone strong enough to climb up to God in heaven? Or is anyone strong enough to enter the grave to bring back someone from the dead to life?” The answer is no. These tasks are too great, and no one can do them – except Christ. Christ came down from heaven with God. Christ went into the grave and came back to life. Therefore, none of us is worthy – strong enough to do these. Only Christ is worthy (see Revelation 5 about the “worthy Christ”).
[8-11] How, then, can weak man be saved? The answer is not in heaven or in hell. The answer is inside you. It is in your own mouth. It is in your own heart, not in some far-distant journey. To confess Jesus as the Son of God with your mouth and to believe on Him in your heart is the way we can be saved. Remember, this faith includes the culminating act of baptism (immersion) for the forgiveness of sins that we saw in Romans 6.
Romans 10:12-21
12 There is no difference between Jews and non-Jews! The Lord is the same Lord of everybody He richly blesses everyone who trusts in Him: 13 “Every person who trusts in the Lord will be saved.” Joel 2:32 14 But, how could they trust in One in whom they did not believe? How could they believe in One they had never heard about? How can they hear about God, if someone doesn’t preach about Him? 15 How are they going to be able to preach about Him, if men are not being sent? This is written: “It is wonderful when men come to tell good news!” Isaiah 52:7 16 However, not everyone has obeyed the Good News. Isaiah said, “Lord God, who believed our report?” Isaiah 53:1 17 Since a person believes something because he hears about it, he should hear the message of Christ. 18 But, I ask, “Didn’t they hear?” Yes! “The sound of their voices went out to all the earth. Their words went out to the farthest places in the world.” Psalm 19:4 19 But, I ask, “Didn’t Israel know this?” First, Moses said: “I will use a non-nation to make you jealous. I will make you angry with a stupid nation.” Deuteronomy 32:21 20 Then Isaiah dared to say: “The people who were not looking for Me found Me. I appeared to people who were not asking for Me.” Isaiah 65:1 21 God said this to the people of Israel: “I have held out my hands all day long to a people that is rebellious and won’t obey.” Isaiah 65:2
[12-15] All men are saved (made right with God) in this way. God is the Lord of all men alike, and He saves them all alike, both Jews and Gentiles. The greatest of all blessings – salvation comes when men arrive to tell us about Christ. Even the feet of such men are beautiful. They bring good news.
God Turns to Gentiles When Israel Refuses Faith, 10:16-21.
From Romans 9:1, Paul has been writing about the problem of his own tribe in the flesh who rejected Christ and did not believe. Even though being made right by faith is such good news, Paul still struggled with the painful fact that his own brothers did not believe. They were lost. Paul found this same mystery centuries before in the time of Isaiah.
[16-19] Even in the ancient time of the prophet, Isaiah felt rejected by his people because they did not believe his good word from God for them. He asks, “Lord, after I prophesied to your people, did anyone believe?” The implied answer is, “Very few or none at all.”
That was Paul’s painful problem. His people did hear. But they refused to believe. In a similar way as did Isaiah, Moses also said, “When the people refuse to believe me, then I will turn to bless a people who are not really a nation, so you will be jealous and angry to see them blessed when you have refused my blessing.”
[20-21] Since Israel rejected God, God turned to people who had not received the law and who were not a prepared people. This means the Gentiles (non-Jews). God gave them an opportunity to believe and be saved. They reacted in obedience and were accepted by God. Then God again said to Israel, “I turned to the Gentiles because I held out my grace to bless you all day long; . . . but you were a rebellious people and would not obey Me.” It is the same today. We must teach people to trust in Christ.
Romans 11:1-12
11 1 So, I ask, “God has not rejected His people, has He?” Never! I am a Jew, too. I am a descendant of Abraham. I come from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject His people whom He knew about ahead of time. You know the Scripture about Elijah when he was pleading to God against the people of Israel: 3 “Lord God, they have killed Your prophets. They have torn down Your altars. I am the only one left. And, they are trying to kill me!” 1 Kings 19:10 4 What did God tell him? “I have kept for Myself 7,000 men who have never worshiped Baal.” 1 Kings 19:18 5 So, it is the same today. There is only a small group whom God has chosen through His gracious love. 6 Since it is by God’s mercy, it is not through human effort anymore. If that were not true, grace would not mean grace. 7 So, what does this mean? The people of Israel tried so hard to get something, but they didn’t get it. However, God’s chosen few did get it! The rest became stubborn. 8 This is written: “God gave them a numb spirit. They have eyes, but they don’t see. They have ears, but they don’t listen. This is true even today.” Deuteronomy 29:4 9 David said, “I hope they will be caught and trapped at their own table! I hope they will trip and be paid back! 10 I hope their eyes will become dark, so that they can’t see! I hope their backs will always break!” Psalm 69:22-23 11 So, I ask, “When the Jews stumbled, did it ruin them?” No! Through their sin, salvation came to people who are not Jewish. Why? To make Jewish people jealous! 12 But, if their sin brings rich blessings to the world and their defeat brings rich blessings to non-Jews, then including them would bring even richer blessings!
God Still Has a Few of His Chosen People, 11:1-12.
Throughout the history of the world, God has always had a few faithful ones who followed Him, even when most did not. Remember Noah and the flood (Genesis 6). Remember Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).
[1-4] Since many Jews have rejected God, does this mean that God has thrown them all out and rejected all Jews? Paul’s reply is “never”. Remember, from Romans 9:1 until this verse, Paul was pleading and begging that God would save his own beloved Jewish people. Paul said there was hope for Israel and proved it by the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19:10). Elijah was discouraged with the struggle against Israel’s idolatry with Baal, the idol god. But God said that even though most of Israel had fallen into sin, there were still seven thousand believers true to God. Although Elijah didn’t know the true ones, God knew them.”
[5-6] Paul said that it is the same now. Although many Jews turned away from Jesus, the Son of God, a few had believed and were God’s chosen beloved ones. They did not become right with God by what they did. If they had worked for salvation, they would have deserved to be saved. That is the opposite of grace. Grace is an undeserved blessing from God.
[7-10] So what did this mean for the Jews? They tried very hard to work for and to deserve their blessing, but they failed. A few of them did get the blessing (being made right with God) because they believed and were counted righteous. But all the others failed. Most of them became stubborn. Their eyes would not see God. Their ears would not hear God (Deuteronomy 29:4). This was what Moses said about their hard hearts. But, also, King David said about his own Jewish people that they deserved to be lost without sympathy because they were so hardhearted. He even said he hoped they would be punished.
[11-12] They stumbled, and David and Elijah pleaded with God to punish them. Did God destroy them and cut them off forever? Paul’s answer, again, is a strong no! When most of the Jews disbelieved, then God turned to the Gentiles and saved many believers among them. Even in that act of turning to another people, God was doing it because He hoped that the Jews would see His blessings given to others, would become jealous, and would turn back to love and obey Him.
Two Kinds of Branches in One Olive Tree, 11:13-24.
Since Romans 9:1 Paul has been speaking mostly to Jews about their lost state out of Christ. But now he turns to speak to the Gentiles about how God feels about them.
Romans 11:13-21
13 Now, I am talking to you non-Jews: Since I am the apostle to non-Jewish people, I will be proud of my ministry. 14 Perhaps, I can make physical Israel, my own people, jealous. Then I can save some of them. 15 If throwing them away means that the world is brought back to God, what would receiving them be? It would be like coming back to life from death! 16 If the first piece of bread offered to God is holy, then all of it is holy. And, if the root is holy, the branches are holy, too. 17 Yes, some of the branches were broken off. You non-Jews are like part of a wild olive tree which has been grafted in among the natural olive branches. You are sharing in the sap of the root of the olive tree. 18 Don’t brag! You are not more important than the natural branches. If you brag, remember, you are not holding up the root. The root is holding you up! 19 You might say this: “But the natural branches were broken off, so that I could be grafted in!” 20 True, they were broken off, but it was because they did not believe. But you keep your position by faith. Don’t think you are more special. Instead, fear! 21 Since God did not keep the natural branches, He may not spare you, either!
[13-14] Paul has explained that he loved the Jews because he is a Jew. Then he explained that he also loved the Gentiles because God had sent him as a special messenger to the Gentiles. He served well, worked hard, and loved his ministry to the Gentiles. So, he loved both Jews and Gentiles. He hoped that, by working hard to preach to Gentiles, he would cause the Jews to see what they had missed and that they would turn to believe again.
[15-16] When God turned away from the Jews, He moved the rest of the world to love Him. Now if the Jews also turn back to love Him again, then this would be like a dead man being brought back to life again.
[17] For people who lived around the Mediterranean Sea, olive trees were very important. They grew them, ate their fruits, and cooked with their oil. Caring for olive trees was common knowledge. Sometimes to get different kinds of olives, the farmer would cut off some branches and graft in other branches from different kinds of olive trees. Paul now compares Jews and Gentiles with these two kinds of branches. The owner of the vineyard (which is God) had cut off some of His branches. These were the Jews. He then grafted in some other branches from a wild olive tree. These were the Gentiles. So now the sap and life of the tree goes to two kinds of branches: the natural and the grafted. The whole tree with both kinds of branches shares in the strength and life of God, who is the root of the tree.
[18] Does this mean then that Gentiles can boast? Can they say the Jews were broken off so the Gentiles could take their place? Can they say God loves Gentiles more than Jews? Not at all. The Gentiles must not think that they supply life to the root of the tree. The root supplies life to the branch. The Gentiles live because God has made them a part of Himself.
[19-21] To be sure the Gentiles were not boasting, Paul showed why the Jews were cut off the tree. It was not because God loved Gentiles more. It was because the Jews refused to believe God (and His Son, Jesus). Because of unbelief they were cut off. Because of the Gentiles’ belief they were grafted in. The whole question depends on faith. Without faith, Israel was cut off the tree. With faith, the Gentiles were grafted in. Therefore, the Gentiles cannot be proud. On the other hand, if the Gentiles should give up their faith, He would not spare them. They, like the Jews, would be cut off for the same reason.
Romans 11:22-27
22 So, look at how kind God is and how harsh God is! He was harsh to those who fell, but He is kind to you – if you stay in His kindness. If you don’t, you will be cut off. 23 And, if the Jewish people start believing, they will be grafted in! God is able to graft them in again. 24 Because, since you non-Jews were cut from a wild olive tree and grafted in – in an unnatural way, against nature – into a tame olive tree, how much easier it would be to graft in these natural branches into their own olive tree. 25 Brothers, I want you to know this secret: (This should make you feel humble.) Part of the people of Israel have become stubborn until the time when the complete number of non-Jewish people have come in. 26 And, in this way, all “Israel” will be saved. This is written: “The savior will come out of Jerusalem. He will remove all ungodly ways from the people of Jacob. 27 This will be My agreement with them when I take their sins away.” Isaiah 59:20-21
[22] So God is both kind and strict. He was strict, or demanding, to those who did not follow Him (in the words His Son gave them). When they did not believe, He cut them off. But the same God was kind to the Gentiles. He accepted them as righteous (made them to be right) because they believed in Jesus and loved His Father. And He would go on being kind to them, if they continued to believe in Him. If they turned away and stopped believing, then God would cut them out of the tree, just as He did the Jews. We must be careful that this does not happen to us.
[23] The great, wonderful surprise is that if the Jews remembered what they heard about Christ and began to believe, they could be grafted back into the tree along with the Gentiles. God wanted both Jews and Gentiles in His tree.
This Is How Israel Can Be Saved, 11:25-32.
God loves all men the same. Jews and Gentiles are alike before Him. Every nation, tribe, tongue, and people are accepted with Him in the same way: by faith.
[25-27] Since Israel had been hardened and had become stubborn, could they be saved? Yes, they could be saved. Paul said the same thing again as he explained about the two kinds of branches in the olive tree. This verse does not mean that someday every Jew will be saved in some magic kind of conversion. It means that, by the same process of believing in Jesus that Gentiles are saved, in the same way the Jews will be saved. Isaiah 59:20-21 affirms the completeness of their salvation: All evil will be removed, they and God will agree, and their sins will be taken away. God will give the same complete salvation to the Jews that He has given to the Gentiles. He will offer a new covenant (agreement) to the Jews and the Gentiles. This is the New Testament.
Romans 11:28-36
28 For the sake of you non-Jews, they are enemies of the gospel. But, because of the ancestors, they are dear friends by God’s choice. 29 God’s gifts and God’s calling cannot be changed. 30 You non-Jews did not obey God in the past, but now you have received mercy because they did not obey. 31 In the same way, the Jewish people are now disobedient to God, so that they can receive God’s mercy, too. You have already received His mercy. 32 God has classed all men under the category of disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all of them. 33 O the depth of God’s wealth, wisdom, and knowledge! His decisions cannot be searched. His ways cannot be found: 34 “Who understands the Lord’s mind? Who gives Him advice?” Isaiah 40:13 35 “Who has loaned something to God, so that God needs to pay him back?” Job 41:11 36 Everything exists because of Him, through Him, and for Him. Let the glory be His forever! Amen!
[28-32] When the Jews refused the good news about Jesus’ death for their sins – His burial and His resurrection – they became the enemies of God. Without the Jews to be His friends, God turned to the Gentiles so that they could have a chance to be His friends. Does that mean that God will never again be friends with the Jews? Not at all. God was a very close friend of the fathers of the Jews. Think of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, and many more. They were very dear friends of God. If God loved these ancestors of the Jews as His friends, will not God also love their sons? Even if the sons turn away as enemies of God by killing His only Son, Jesus, will not God welcome them back when they believe? (See Luke 15:11-32.) Yes, certainly. God will never close the door of welcome to them. If they refuse to enter, unbelief causes them to be enemies. But God keeps the door open and welcomes them.
To God Be the Glory, 11:33-36.
Paul closed this chapter with a glorious word of praise to God. God had seen both Jew and Gentile in their sins. He had still loved His people even in their wicked ways of behaving. Jesus had come to die in their place. All He demanded was that they believe in Him. Thus, we cannot save ourselves. God saves us. Whether Jew or Gentile, His love has called us back to being right with Him.
Romans 12:1-8
12 1 So, brothers, with God’s tender feelings, I beg you to offer your bodies as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice to God. This is true worship from you. 2 Don’t act like people of this world. Instead, be changed inside by letting your mind he made new again. Then you can determine what is good, pleasing, and perfect – what God wants. 3 Through God’s gracious love which has been given to me, I am telling each one of you, don’t think you are better than you really are. Instead, be modest in the way you think. God distributed a measure of faith to each person. 4 In one body we have many parts. These parts don’t all do the same thing. 5 In the same way, many people are one body in Christ. Each part is a member of the other parts. 6 God’s gracious love gave us different gifts: If it is prophesying, then prophesy by degree of faith. If it is helping other people, then help. 7 If it is teaching, then teach. 8 If it is encouraging people, then encourage. If it is giving money, then be generous. If it is leading others, then work hard. If it is showing mercy, then be cheerful.