The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Romans 11:20,
"They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith."
As Paul discusses the appropriate perspective believing Gentiles should maintain toward law-keeping Jews, he notes why it is the law-keeping Jews had fallen from God's promises. They "were broken off because of unbelief". He reminds the Gentiles of faith that it is their faith that has made their standing in the promises of God a reality.
He goes on to say that if the Gentiles did not maintain a perspective of faith toward God, as a demographic, they would be cut off just as the law-keeping unbelieving Jews had been. Here he is not speaking of individuals specifically, rather he is addressing the larger issue of how Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ as a nation and the Gentile's embrace of the gospel message fit into God's scheme of things.
In reading what Paul says here, I am reminded of the importance of faith as the central dynamic in God's offer of salvation for us all. To be delivered from God's judgment and ushered into his promises of eternal life with all of the blessings of being a co-heir with Jesus Christ, faith is the issue. It is all about faith. The gospel message is a message that declares if we place our trust and faith in God we will be saved. "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.
In that our opportunity for salvation is based on our embrace of God in faith, it is a wonderful gift from God. "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." Romans 4:16. Paul uses Abraham as our example, "What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness."
Salvation is a true gift of God to us. As Paul points out, gifts are not given for compensation, but are freely given. Not that our salvation was free. It cost God dearly as he poured out his horrible wrath on the Son of his love to satisfy his justice for our sins. What a manifestation of love this is! What a gift!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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