"I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Romans 11:13-15)

Paul made every opportunity to share the Gospel when he was around the Israelites even though he was an apostle to the Gentiles. God specifically commissioned him to spread the good news to the rest of the world. Paul understood that the Gentiles readily accepted Jesus and he anticipated both envy and curiosity among his own people in hopes that they too would accept his gospel message. Throughout his travels he encountered many of his kin and he saw them both reject Jesus and accept him as their Messiah.

In today's passage, Paul is stressing the importance that we who are outside of the natural line of Israel understand that Israel is still part of the plan.  Since their rejection and exclusion from the benefits of salvation meant the reconciliation of the world to God, can you imagine what their acceptance and admission will mean? When they finally understand as a whole that Jesus is their promised Messiah this revelation will bless the entire world by their obedience to this message of grace.

Paul is a great example of this. According to Philippians 3, he was the ideal example of Israel. "If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless" ( Philippians 3:4-6 ). According to their laws, customs and traditions Paul was the perfect example of who Israel was. He was zealous for God and a leader among his people. However, after he meant Jesus on the road to Damascus and saw the gloried savior he could never go back to his life before Christ. He went on to say in Philippians, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith" ( Philippians 3:7-9 ). He considered all things as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. This revelation of Jesus changed and blessed the entire world.

Paul started out as a Pharisee; he knew the law and studied under Gamaliel, who was a well known and well educated Rabbi of the time. Paul understood the fine points of the law, and was well ahead of his peers in this knowledge. The amazing thing is that once Paul accepted Christ he brought all of this knowledge with him and the Lord revealed to him what it all meant. It went from head knowledge to heart knowledge. He connected all the dots between the law and the savior. After his conversion, he spent over fourteen years in seclusion understanding the fullness of the gospel of Christ in regard to the law. In Galatians he said, "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" ( Galatians 1:11-12 ). This revelation of Christ as told by Paul changed the known world.

Out of this experience, all of mankind has been blessed by Paul's revelation of grace.  What he has shared through the epistles changed the church and by default has changed the world. Wonderful books like Romans and Hebrews came from understanding the entire law and then seeing it's fulfillment through Christ Jesus.  These are books that were written to show how complete our redemption has been; books that show how Jesus fulfilled the entire law and was our substitution for the punishment for sin. Amazing books full of the promises of God. Just the acceptance of this one Jew brought amazing benefits to the world over the past two thousand years. Imagine what the entire nation's acceptance of Jesus will bring. It will be nothing short of life from death. Like Paul they are zealous for God, but their knowledge is not based upon the truth of Christ ( Romans 10:2 ). When they understand Jesus is their Messiah, this truth will change and bless humanity and we will see amazing things happen.

Today, I am thankful that Paul was sent to the Gentiles to reveal to us the Christ. I am excited to see the days unfold when Israel returns to the Lord and sees Jesus for who he is. May you understand this grace to which you were called and live a life worthy of your calling, amen!

"Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!" (Romans 11:11-12)

Part of the plan has always been this hardening in regards to Israel so that the salvation message would be opened to the Gentiles. John said, "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" ( John 1:11-13 ). In other words the Jews left the door wide open for the Gentiles to come to Jesus and be part of his chosen people.

The good news is that this is only a temporary thing for Israel. There is currently a believing remnant chosen by grace ( Romans 11:5 ). But as a whole they have not stumbled to the point of spiritual ruin. Paul said later on in this very chapter that "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable" ( Romans 11:29 ). Israel has a long standing relationship with the Lord and he has chosen and called them as his own. Eventually they will turn from their self-sufficiency towards Christ's redeeming love. Once they turn their eyes again towards him, their spiritual blindness will be removed and they will see Jesus clearly.

There is no doubt that the enormous number of Gentiles who turned to Jesus over the centuries has aroused the Israelites to jealousy. They look upon us and see and feel what they forfeited. But even in their jealousy they did not turn to the Messiah. This failure on their part has enriched and blessed the entire world. Because they rejected Jesus, his salvation was offered to all of mankind. Their loss meant riches for those originally outside of His covenants.

Paul spoke about this in Ephesians 2. "Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" ( Ephesians 2:12-13 ). Israel's rejection of Jesus made it possible for us to be brought into the promise. Our condition before this was hopeless. We were aliens to God's covenants, we were excluded from his promises and we did not know God in any way. But by the blood of Jesus we who were far away were brought near and included in this new family.

Paul went on to say, "he came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household" ( Ephesians 2:17-19 ). Through Jesus we have been brought into the promises and have been joined together with Israel and reconciled to God. Jesus came and brought both the Jews and the Gentiles everlasting peace with God. Through faith we now have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit. Inclusion in the promise is the rich blessing that came to us because Israel rejected Jesus. If this is the case imagine what blessings will occur when they finally receive him as their Messiah.

Today, I am so thankful to be included in the promises spoken to the Israelites. I am thankful that Jesus provided the peace and hope that I live by through the blood of Jesus. Today, may you join me in a thankful heart for what Jesus has done for you, amen.