Romans 11:25-27

Passage

For I do not desire you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, in order that you should not be wise in your own presence.  Because a partial hardening of Israel has come until when the full measure of the Gentiles should come in.  In this way all Israel will be saved just as it has been written, “The one who delivers will come out of Zion.  He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.  And this is the covenant from me for them, when I take away their sins.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We’ve been struggle for some time with understanding how it is that God’s people could reject God.  We’ve also been struggling to consider how that can happen yet we can still avoid worry about our own salvation.  Here we come to Paul’s warning.  This concept is important to consider because it prevents us from thinking too highly about ourselves.  Paul wants us to know that the hardening of the Hebrew heart was for our benefit.  Yet, while it is for our benefit it certainly doesn’t make us untouchable, either.  If the Hebrew people can fall, so can we.  Salvation comes by God’s grace, not by our greatness.

Why is it possible to become haughty in our salvation?  What can we do to keep a sober mentality?

Second Thought:

This passage also leads us to consider God as a God with a plan.  He came to the Hebrew people to invite any who would genuinely listen.  Those among the Hebrew people who would not listen drove His followers into the Gentiles so that any Gentiles who would listen would also be included.  In this way, salvation could come to both the Hebrew and the Gentile people.  God had a plan, and He is so great that He can actually use those who reject Him to accomplish His plan.

Why is it neat to see God as a God who can use those who follow Him as well as those who do not?  How does this put God’s power on display?

Third Thought:

At the end of this passage Paul reminds us what salvation is all about.  Deliverance will come out of Zion.  God will remove the sin from His people.  Remembering, of course, that spiritually Israel are the Hebrew people who humble themselves to God and see His Messiah as the source of salvation.  But what is neat about this passage is that it actually provides a very uniform approach to salvation.  God removes the sin from Gentiles.  Likewise, God removes the sin from Hebrew people as well.  Nobody is saved by works.  Nobody is saved through their own righteousness.  We all need God, both Hebrew and Gentile.

How does this passage display God’s consistency?  How can you know that you are saved by God?  If God saves you, do you truly believe He can save anyone who humbles themselves before Him?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 11:28-32