Enemies and yet "Elect"
Rom 11:28,29 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Everyone who is an unbeliever is reckoned an enemy, including all of us who presently believe prior to us coming to faith. "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies" Col 1:21a But God loves his enemies. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8 But how does this differ in the case of Jews? What does it mean that concerning "election", the Jews are loved? And what gifts and calling is he alluding to?
At the beginning of Romans 9 and Romans 10 Paul expresses his sorrow at the fact that the vast majority of his fellow Jews were unsaved. Yet notice he also affirms their value. "Theirs is the adoption as sons; 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 Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Rom 9:4,5 And what is the primary advantage to being Jewish? "What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." Rom 3:1,2
It was not that they were elect to be saved, but rather they were elected to carry to the Word of God down. It was through the Jews that we received not only the Old Testament, but the New as well seeing as most, if not all, the authors of the New Testament were Jews as well as for the Old. Thus their primary calling was to be instruments through which the Word of God has been brought to us. How does this fact bring mercy to them? That's next.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
Rom 11:28,29 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Everyone who is an unbeliever is reckoned an enemy, including all of us who presently believe prior to us coming to faith. "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies" Col 1:21a But God loves his enemies. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8 But how does this differ in the case of Jews? What does it mean that concerning "election", the Jews are loved? And what gifts and calling is he alluding to?
At the beginning of Romans 9 and Romans 10 Paul expresses his sorrow at the fact that the vast majority of his fellow Jews were unsaved. Yet notice he also affirms their value. "Theirs is the adoption as sons; 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 Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Rom 9:4,5 And what is the primary advantage to being Jewish? "What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." Rom 3:1,2
It was not that they were elect to be saved, but rather they were elected to carry to the Word of God down. It was through the Jews that we received not only the Old Testament, but the New as well seeing as most, if not all, the authors of the New Testament were Jews as well as for the Old. Thus their primary calling was to be instruments through which the Word of God has been brought to us. How does this fact bring mercy to them? That's next.
The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources
