Skip to main content

Romans 11:12: Now If Their Trespass Means Riches For The World, . . . How Much More Will Their Full Inclusion Mean!


Romans 11:12
[12] Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (ESV)

It is a wonderful thing when good things come out of tragedy. Perhaps you have known a person who lost their eyesight. The tragic loss may have led to an enhanced ability to use their sense of hearing. Someone who has become a paraplegic may have an ability to minister to those who are in similar condition that a person without said condition would not be able to minister in the same way.

There is no question that the Jews' rejection of their Messiah was tragic. It was tragic that in the first sense they failed to acknowledge his Lordship when he was on the Earth. It was also tragic that they continued to refuse to place their faith in him even after he had raised from the dead, securing eternal life and forgiveness for all who would believe in him.

Could any good come from the trespass of the Jews? Paul would give a resounding "Yes." Their trespass meant riches for the world, in particular riches for the Gentiles. Those who did not belong to the covenant people of Abraham were left on the outside of God's plan for salvation. Because of the Jews' rejection of the Messiah the Gentiles were now invited to be part of God's people.

The reality is that God's plan was always to bring salvation to all people. The Jews were to be a shining light to the world. There were means by which all peoples could come to the Lord through the Jewish people. The Jews made a practice of withholding that invitation from the Gentiles. Now, through the impetus of the Jews disobedience the Gentiles were becoming the church of God.

Good things can come out of tragedy. God uses all things, including tragedy, for his ultimate good and glory. The Lord used the disobedience of the Jews to bring the Gentiles closer. How is he using your failings to ultimately bring others, including yourself, closer to him?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their