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1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

The Promised Path God’s National Salvation for Israel

Romans 11:26: “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.” The “right Roman road” to salvation affirmed the future salvation of all Israel, fulfilling God’s longstanding promises, establishing the restoration and redemption promised since Genesis 3:15. The Gospel we share today is derived from Paul’s revelation of the mystery, which emphasizes the individual’s receipt of the gift of salvation by grace.

through faith. This is a shift from the Kingdom Gospel, presented in the Hebrew Scriptures prior to Paul (Rom. 1:2). The Kingdom Gospel is centered on the restoration of the created order and the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel in their future glory. Indeed, the fulfillment of both the Pauline Gospel and the Kingdom Gospel is a crucial aspect of Biblical teaching. Today, we live under the dispensation of the Pauline Gospel, which is about individual salvation by grace through faith. However, the Book of Romans and Paul’s epistles as a whole cannot be fully understood without recognizing Paul’s longing for the fulfillment of the Kingdom Gospel. This gospel centers on the restoration of the created order and the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel in their future glory. This future glory will be realized when Israel recognizes their Messiah, leading to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s longstanding promises to His chosen people. The first step to understanding the “Right Roman Road” is to see the importance of Israel and her promised Kingdom salvation.

The Gentile’s Gaze

A Rejection of God’s Revelation

Romans 1:20: “For the invisible things of him... are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse.” From Genesis 1-11, there was no distinction between Jew and Gentile, as such a distinction was not yet possible. It was only after Genesis 12, when God chose to bring about the restoration of the created order through the family of one man, 8 THE RIGHT ROMAN ROAD Abraham, and specifically through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, that a distinct line was drawn. Before the time of Paul, being right with God required all people to align themselves with God’s work through Israel, as stated in Ephesians 3:12. Only after Paul was there no distinction between Jew and Gentile. At all times, there has been a path for Gentiles to walk in harmony with God. However, the problem lies in the fact that Gentiles rejected the revelation of God. They have either rejected the concept of God altogether or, more frequently, changed the glory of God into an idol made of wood or stone. Paul asserts that the revelation of God has been clear and that Gentiles should have followed it. Their failure to do so has left them without excuse.

Law and Lapses

Jewish Righteousness and Disobedience

Romans 2:23: “Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?” Despite receiving the law from God, many Jews only paid it lip service, failing to be fully obedient. This disobedience put them in the same position as the gentiles, who rejected the revelation of God altogether. Both groups were left without excuse. Paul’s writings in Romans underscore Israel’s disobedience as one of the reasons why God did not establish the promised Kingdom when the Messiah came. This disobedience is evident in the books of the Old Testament, such as Judges, and is rampant in the writings of the prophets. These prophets were sent by God to warn the people of Israel about their disobedience and urge them to return to God’s laws.

Altogether Now

Jews and Gentiles In The Same Condition

Romans 3:9: “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.” As we continue down the right Roman Road, we learn from Paul that neither Jews nor Gentiles have any leg to stand on. Though their sins have been different, both groups share the same condition of having rejected God and His revelation to mankind. This puts both groups standing in the need of a Savior.

Messiah’s Mission

Jesus Sent To Confirm God’s Promises

Romans 15:8: “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” When Jesus walked on earth, His mission was to confirm to the Jewish people that God was faithful to each of the promises He had made to the Jewish patriarchs and to the nation of Israel as a whole. The miracles performed by Jesus, as well as His teachings, were a demonstration of His identity as the Messiah, the One who could fulfill, on the Father’s behalf, each of these promises. This was a crucial part of His ministry and served to affirm God’s faithfulness  and the certainty of His promises.

Jewish Jeopardy

Messiah Rejected, Gentiles Grafted

Romans 11:11: “Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.” Israel’s stumbling was not over a mere stone, but over the cornerstone itself, Jesus. Instead of recognizing Him as the promised Messiah, they rejected Him. This rejection, which could have resulted in judgment for Israel, became a catalyst for God’s grace to manifest in a new way. In His infinite wisdom and mercy, God used the fall of Israel to pave the way for a novel form of salvation, not just for Israel, but for Jew and Gentile alike. This unexpected turn of events expanded God’s redemptive plan in a way that transcended the boundaries of Israel, and offered salvation to all nations.

Grace’s Gift

Salvation Beyond the Law

Ŗ Romans 6:14: “For ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Having explained that God was embarking on a new course beyond Israel’s borders, Paul reveals that he was entrusted with a mystery revelation pertaining to salvation in a new era referred to as “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Ephesians 3:2). This heralded the introduction of something profoundly innovative and utterly magnificent: liberation from the Mosaic covenants, including the law. This salvation was now being extended as a free gift to anyone, irrespective of their sinful state or ethnic background.

Israel’s Interval

Temporary Blindness before Glory

Romans 11:25: “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” When Israel rejected her Messiah, God in His divine wisdom and mercy, chose to extend His offer of salvation to the Gentiles. However, His faithfulness to His promises to Israel remains unshaken. Although Israel’s role is diminished in the present era while God is offering a different form of salvation to the Gentiles, this is not the end of the story for Israel. There will come a time when the period of God’s grace gift to the Gentiles will conclude, and the spiritual blindness that currently afflicts the nation of Israel will be lifted. In an event mirroring the scales falling from the eyes of Saul of Tarsus following his temporary blindness, Israel too will have her sight restored. She will recognize and accept her Messiah, and receive the fulfillment of her promised kingdom.

Calling to the Chosen

Israel’s Future Faith and Salvation

Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus Himself promised that the Jewish nation would not see Him until they recognized Him as Messiah (Mt. 23:39). Paul, quoting from Joel, speaks of the time when Israel will cry out, and be saved, “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13, quoting from Joel 2:32). Romans is filled with promises that Israel will once again be called out and used by God in future days. The message of individual salvation does not at all mean that the national kingdom salvation promised to Israel has been lost.

Grace’s Golden Opportunity

Salvation for All in the Present

Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul underscores the present opportunity for all individuals, regardless of their background, to attain salvation and reconcile with God through faith. This emphasis is on the grace that is readily available to us now. The salvation we experience today is the Gospel of Grace, a concept that Paul explores in Romans 16:25-26. This Gospel is not limited by nationality or heritage but is a worldwide offering, inviting all to partake in the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

This has been a comprehensive explanation of God’s work in our current time. It offers an understanding of His divine plan, revealing how God extends His grace to all, irrespective of nationality or heritage. It emphasizes the present global offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, while also acknowledging the future fulfillment of God’s promises to His chosen people, Israel. This thorough approach gives us a fuller picture of God’s actions in the world today

author: Randy White

https://old.randywhiteministries.org

REVELATION 22:21

 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

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