QT 1/7/2025 Rom 15:8-13, We are part of God's grand plan

Romans 15:8–13 (ESV) —

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

and sing to your name.”

10 And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,

even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

 

NOTE: Paul quotes extensively the OT to make his point that God's plan has always been to save the Gentiles. Technically, he intended to use Israel to do that mission but they failed. And technically, all the early believers were Jews, and it was those Jews who did take the gospel to the Gentiles.

 

The four quotations are taken from all three parts of the Old Testament, the Law (v. 10), the Psalms (vv. 9, 11), and the Prophets (v. 12). Accordingly the truth of the inclusion of Jew and Gentile in Christ through the Gospel is shown to extend through the whole range of Old Testament prophecy. This, adds point to the preceding exhortations as to mutual forbearance.” (Vine, p. 209.)

 

Now, it is mostly Gentiles taking the gospel to other Gentiles nations as well as Jews. The church is a new entity composed of Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free, with no distinctions. In the latter days, when the church is taken out of the earth, it will fall upon the Jews to take the gospel to the nations again. The bible tells us that 144 thousand Jews will be his witnesses throughout the world in those last days.

 

We, Gentiles, were not an after-thought in the mind of God. We have always been part of his desire to bring all people to a knowledge of him.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I take my role as a witness seriously?
2. Do I realize my actions toward a Jewish person could affect his faith in Jesus during the tribulation?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to be conscious of my actions. I have no idea who I am witnessing to through my actions. It could be one of the 144 thousand at the end of time.