Joshua 1:8
"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).
Hmmmmm....(Karyn) when I read books of the Bible like this I realize again why I never went to Bible college. I would have failed!!! Ha ha. I read this and only hope I understand what it is trying to teach me. In a nutshell, I hope to not be arrogant and not think I know more than God. Also, never to take God's grace and mercy for granted. If I am missing something here help me out.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah, I'll be honest here. I had to read a couple commentaries following reading this chapter to really understand the olive branch grafting... And with respect to all of Israel being saved: I'm assuming this isn't necessarily Israel? The true Israel perhaps? I mean Paul talks of God hardening the hearts of the disobedient so that the Gentiles may be grafted in, but also that the disobedient who chose to believe will be grafted back in.. In the end I'm seeing an olive tree of both the Jews and Gentiles, aka the true Israel? What do you think?
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You are right. That makes totals sense.
ReplyDeleteYes Mary, an olive tree possessing both Jews and Gentiles - we are essentially adopted into the redemptive plan for Israel - first the Jew, then the Gentile. However, don't miss the fact that God's chosen people were, and still are, the Jewish people. By God's grace we've been included in the promise "until the fullness of the gentiles" but by no means have replaced them. I think this is the point of the last couple chapters - that God still has a plan for the nation of Israel and we ought to remember that.
ReplyDeleteI really like verse 36...
Josh, I've always been confused by this plan for the nation of Israel. If anyone, including Jewish people, denies that Jesus is God's Son and their Messiah, how are they an exception to anyone else that denies Jesus?
ReplyDeleteHey Joel, in terms of eternal salvation, I don't think there is an exception. However, God made a covenant with Abraham and God never goes back on His promises. The fact that the nation Israel still exists today is proof of that. I find great comfort in this, as we can be confident in the Word of God and the work of Jesus on the cross and the continuation of His work in us through the Holy Spirit.
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