"Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all" (Romans 11:30-32)

Mercy is a wonderful theme throughout the entire Bible. God has dealt with mankind in leniency and compassion since the beginning, but his expression of mercy was in the person of Jesus Christ. This is because Jesus brought into reality the forgiveness of sins so we could be reconciled to God once for all.

Once we were disobedient and rebellious toward God. But in spite of that defiance He showed us his mercy, "at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" ( Romans 5:6 ). This was a complete act of mercy on God's part. We were helpless and condemned because sin had ruined us. God did what we could not do by sending Jesus in our stead; he did this out of love. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ( Romans 5:10 ). This mercy is offered to us even though we were disobedient to God and his precepts.

Understanding God's mercy toward us is what brings us to Christ to be justified by him. Romans 2 says, it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance ( Romans 2:4 ). In other words, it is the goodness of God, his love, his mercy and his compassion that brings us to him. Repentance simply means to turn around and go the other way. So when we experience the mercy and goodness of God we abandon the rebellious direction in which we are walking and turn 180 degrees toward God to follow after Him. When we turn to God and accept his message of grace we receive his mercy that also brings us into right relationship with Him.  This is the good news of the gospel, that we are reconciled to God based on his mercy and grace.

The Jews at present are disobedient to God's message of the cross. At one time they were inside of his covenants but became outsiders to the promise when they rejected Jesus as their Messiah. They looked at the cross as foolishness and walked away from it. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" ( I Corinthians 1:18 ). In their disobedience they walked away from the long awaited promise of God and his saving power through faith in Christ. The cross is so simple yet so profound, but the message of the cross is a stumbling block to the Jews. They are steeped in tradition and law and looking to Jesus as their savior seems too simple.  But its simplicity is what holds such incredible power. "We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" ( I Corinthians 1:23-25 ).

The Jews have experienced this hardening toward God on our account so that we can come to him in faith ( Romans 11:25 ). But they too in the end will return to God and find mercy through Christ. The purpose in this is that God's mercy will be displayed on all mankind alike, both to the Jews and the Gentles. We all know what it is like to be an outsider because of our sin nature and then we too will all know what it is like to find reconciliation with him based solely on his grace toward us. This is experiencing God's mercy first hand.  We all must come to him in the very same way, through faith in Christ Jesus, and then He personally opens the door and welcomes us into his family.

Today, I rejoice in His brilliant plan for mankind. I am thankful that God sent Jesus to bring us into relationship with him. His mercy is incredible and his grace is abundant. My prayer today is that you experience this life changing mercy that is freely offered to you in the person of Jesus. I pray that His grace brings fullness of joy into your life, amen.

"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" (Romans 11:28-29)

Paul said in both Corinthians and Galatians that if someone preaches a different gospel other than the one he preached, it was corrupt and far from the truth ( II Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-9 ). Paul preached Christ, Christ crucified and Christ raised again. Christ was its foundation. He preached that through Christ's sacrifice we have been made perfect by faith. He made much of this grace message because this truth is the means whereby we are justified before God, having our sin cancelled and forgotten. This is the good news of Christ Jesus and hearing this message brings saving faith.

However this message gets distorted all the time and that is why Paul warns about straying from the gospel message he preached, based solely on Christ, him crucified and raised again. Otherwise, we are at risk of falling into a completely different gospel that takes Christ out of its center. There are several reasons this happens, one is ignorance of the scriptures and not knowing the truth of God's word. Secondly, some distort the message out of deceptiveness to lead people away from Christ and lastly, simply being "religious" can hinder you from this message of Christ.  This happens when you no longer look to Jesus as the means for relationship with God but instead look to yourself and what you can do for Him. Paul said in today's passage that those contrary to the gospel are enemies of God.

Concerning Israel and the gospel, Paul said that they too are enemies on our account. Fortunately we know that this is a temporary thing because up until this time they have experience a hardness to this message of grace ( Romans 11:25 ). This is for our benefit because salvation was then opened up to the entire world ( Romans 11:12, Romans 11:15 ). So currently they are against the gospel and therefore enemies of God, but from the viewpoint of God's divine election and choice, they are still very dear to him. We must keep this in mind and look forward to the time when the full understanding of God is revealed to the Jewish nation and they turn to Jesus as their Messiah and cornerstone.

This is an awesome truth and one that bring us further understanding of God. He has chosen the nation of Israel as his own and he remains true to that choice even after their rejection of Jesus. Paul said in today's passage that "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable" ( Romans 11:29 ). Once decided, God does not change his mind. This is a comforting thought. James said, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" ( James 1:17 ). There is security in knowing that God does not waver and change his mind like man does. You can be confident before him because he is not subject to whims and moods. He does not change like shifting shadows and so we can rest assured in those things he has promised. Hebrews says, "it is impossible for God to lie" ( Hebrews 6:18 ). If he spoke it, then he will carry it out unto completion. He has chosen Israel as a nation set apart for him and he remains true to choice. Even though they are enemies from the viewpoint of the gospel, they are beloved and dear to God for the sake of their forefathers.

This is great news for us today. God never withdraws his calls or gifts once they are given and he will not change his mind about who he offers his grace to. Even if we mess up greatly in life, God still does not revoke his call. His grace is more than enough for us no matter how we have failed. Remember; the gospel Paul preached had Christ at the epicenter and when we shift our focus to him then it takes the burden of our mess off us and places it on Christ who has the power to remove it as far as the east is from the west.

Today, I am thankful that God is faithful and true to His word. I am thankful that he does not resend his grace and calling. I am overjoyed that his grace is more than enough for us to continue through this life. May this revelation of grace bless you, amen.