The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 4:11b-12,
"So then, he [Abraham] is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."
The Jewish nation looks to Abraham as their patriarchal progenitor. From Abraham came Isaac and from Isaac came Jacob (also named Israel). Jacob had twelve sons and the offspring of each became one of the tribes of the Jewish nation, Israel.
The nation of Israel, a nation hand-crafted by God for his redemptive purposes, has always held a unique place among the nations of the world. Paul talks about how the nation of Israel was entrusted with the very words of God, the Scriptures, Romans 3:2. He also talks about the opportunities God provided them, "Theirs [the people of Israel] is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah [Jesus Christ], who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Romans 9:4-5.
In our passage above, Paul explains that God is creating a new people for himself to begin a new age for all eternity. It is made up of both Jews and Gentiles, but only of people of faith. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith join this new human family God is creating through the gospel enterprise. He explains that Abraham, as the father of this new people as well, exhibited a faith in God's power to do all he has promised. The "uncircumcised" Paul speaks of are Gentiles and those circumcised are Jews. God's new people are made up from both groups-- all joined into the one family whose common attribute is holding the same faith Abraham had in God.
There are no favorites in this family. We all will have differing responsibilities and roles to play but there are no "teacher's pets" in the family of God. In the above passage he talks about a righteous standing with God we all are given (credited with). In Ephesians 1:4-6 Paul says, "He [God] chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
Before God created the world, knowing mankind would turn to sin, he decided to redeem us on the basis of faith, and those redeemed he also decided to provide with holiness and blamelessness in his sight and to adopt us as his very own children! No red-headed step children in this family! Today, even before this new age begins, Peter says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10.
"So then, he [Abraham] is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."
The Jewish nation looks to Abraham as their patriarchal progenitor. From Abraham came Isaac and from Isaac came Jacob (also named Israel). Jacob had twelve sons and the offspring of each became one of the tribes of the Jewish nation, Israel.
The nation of Israel, a nation hand-crafted by God for his redemptive purposes, has always held a unique place among the nations of the world. Paul talks about how the nation of Israel was entrusted with the very words of God, the Scriptures, Romans 3:2. He also talks about the opportunities God provided them, "Theirs [the people of Israel] is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah [Jesus Christ], who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Romans 9:4-5.
In our passage above, Paul explains that God is creating a new people for himself to begin a new age for all eternity. It is made up of both Jews and Gentiles, but only of people of faith. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith join this new human family God is creating through the gospel enterprise. He explains that Abraham, as the father of this new people as well, exhibited a faith in God's power to do all he has promised. The "uncircumcised" Paul speaks of are Gentiles and those circumcised are Jews. God's new people are made up from both groups-- all joined into the one family whose common attribute is holding the same faith Abraham had in God.
There are no favorites in this family. We all will have differing responsibilities and roles to play but there are no "teacher's pets" in the family of God. In the above passage he talks about a righteous standing with God we all are given (credited with). In Ephesians 1:4-6 Paul says, "He [God] chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
Before God created the world, knowing mankind would turn to sin, he decided to redeem us on the basis of faith, and those redeemed he also decided to provide with holiness and blamelessness in his sight and to adopt us as his very own children! No red-headed step children in this family! Today, even before this new age begins, Peter says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10.
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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