And this is My covenant with them, that I will take away their sins. Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people He loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.
Romans 11:27-29
In this section Paul starts with the statement of the covenant and interestingly doesn’t mention Israel as a part of the process but focuses on God. “It is My (God’s) Covenant with them”. He still loves them and is committed to them. This is not a reciprocal covenant and nor is it conditional. This is God pledging to do something and not asking for them to do anything. There are no conditions to fulfil. Thus it all depends on God to ensure the covenant is kept. Paul is reminding the Roman church of this fact to ensure they know the certainty of it and the place of Israel in it all. Then he makes the statement related to the gifts and call being irrevocable. What does that mean? What gifts and call does he refer to? Does it refer to the gifts of the spirit, the gifts for service (the “ministry” gifts)? What call? The call to be an evangelist, an apostle? A preacher and teacher or what? No! this passage is still connected to Paul’s main point relating to what happened to God’s faithfulness to His promises? If nothing can separate us from God’s love, then what about the Jews? Have they been abandoned? No, no, a thousand times NO.
Paul is thinking of the gifts that relate to the covenant. What are they? He listed them in chapter 9. As a result of this special covenant relationship with God there are benefits / gifts.
- They have adoption as sons,
- partakers of the divine glory,
- the covenant,
- recipients of the law,
- the privilege of worship and the promises of God.
- The patriarchs are theirs and
- they are found in the Messiah’s lineage.
All of which demonstrate God has not abandoned them.
In addition to that they remain a called out people. A people set apart for God. That has not changed. God’s hand is still upon them even though it may appear to the contrary. All of these gifts and calling are still theirs despite their unbelief because God cannot lie. What He says, He will fulfil.
The inference is that Israel remains in God’s purposes even though for a time they may have removed themselves from the blessing. God’s purposes for Israel will still be fulfilled. Another inference is watch yourselves you Gentiles (viz the verses above) because if these things happened to the root stock what might happen to you grafted branches? Make sure you keep things in balance and don’t get cocky and proud.
Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Anon
Don’t judge life by one difficult season.
Anon
We don’t need our mouth to speak up for our character, it’ll speak by itself.
Anon