April 10 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 11:26-32 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. or God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

In today's passage Paul is concluding his teaching on the future of Israel. We saw yesterday from verse 26 that all Israel will be saved when Jesus Christ returns. In verse 27 Paul mentions God's covenant with Israel. This covenant is spelled out in Jeremiah 31:31-34, which reads,

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

"for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God".

In verse 28 Paul addresses the Gentiles. He states that at that time the Jews were the enemies of the Gospel. This is because they had rejected it, and also rejected those who received it. As stated previously, this was ultimately so that the Gentiles could be "grafted in" (Romans 11:19). However, they are still God's chosen people based on God's unconditional covenant with Abraham, and God still loves them for the sake of Abraham and the other Patriarchs (Deuteronomy 10:15) . According to verse 29, God's choosing of Israel is "without repentance". God has never changed His mind about Israel, and He never will. He chose them and they will continue to be chosen.

In verses 30-31 Paul reiterates the symbiotic relationship between the Jews and the Gentiles. In the past the Gentiles were unbelievers, but because of Israel's rebellion God showed them mercy. In the future, Israel will return to God and receive His mercy as a result of God's current blessings upon the Gentiles. Paul then concludes this section in verse 32 with two vital truths: all men are sinners and start off in unbelief, and God's mercy is available to all. Back in Romans 3:9 Paul wrote

"we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin".

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference".

"not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".

As we draw the theological section of Romans to a close, the important question is this: have you chosen to receive God's mercy? It's available, and you need it, but you have to receive it by faith. If you haven't done so, you need to call upon the Lord today.