The Gentile Wittness
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The Gentiles
The Gentiles
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
14 if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Lets unpack:
1 Therefore you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God?
In Romans 2:1–3 Paul used the Gentiles to prove the Jews guilty of sin, but here he used the Gentiles to assure Israel of a future restoration.
His logic here is beautiful.
When the Jews rejected the Gospel, God sent it to the Gentiles and they believed and were saved.
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Three tragedies occurred in Israel:
The nation stumbled badly:
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
The Nation Failed to fulfil God’s Purpose:
12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
and The Nation ultimatly rejected God as their Savior:
15 For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
But the amazing thing is that through Israel’s fall, salvation came to the Gentiles.
God promised that the Gentiles would be saved (Rom. 9:25–26) and He kept His promise.
Will He not also keep His promise to the Jews?
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It is important to understand that the Old Testament promises to the Gentiles were linked to Israel’s “rise”—her entering into her kingdom.
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Prophecies like Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 60 make it clear that the Gentiles will share in Israel’s kingdom.
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But Israel did not “rise”; she fell!
What would God then do with the Gentiles?
God introduced a new factor—the church—in which believing Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ (Eph. 2:11–22).
In Ephesians 3, Paul called this new program “the mystery,” meaning “the sacred secret” that was not revealed in the Old Testament.
Does this mean that God has abandoned His kingdom program for Israel?
Of course not!
Israel is merely set aside until the time comes for God’s plans for Israel to be fulfilled.
Paul stated that the Gentiles had a vital ministry to Israel.
Today, the saved Gentiles provoke Israel “to jealousy” (see Rom. 10:19) because of the spiritual riches they have in Christ.
Israel today is spiritually bankrupt, while Christians have “all spiritual blessings” in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
If an unsaved Jew visited the average church service, would he be provoked to jealousy and wish he had what we have—or would he just be provoked?
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There is a future for Israel.
Paul calls it “their fullness” (Rom. 11:12) and their “receiving” (Rom. 11:15).
Today, Israel is fallen spiritually, but when Christ returns, the nation will rise again.
Today, Israel is cast away from God, but one day they shall be received again.
God will never break His covenant with His people, and He has promised to restore them.