Jesus-Hope of the Nations

If you think of hostility between enemies, you think of probably this rivalry. And of course this was going back to Thanksgiving weekend. Now this was a picture a couple of years ago of the Rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan and there was an altercation after the game of that led to I think this picture was a part of that where the teams were at Midfield and and had a an altercation.

In among fans of Ohio, State and Michigan. Some of them are probably friendly with it, one another, but the hostility can be even worse, especially if you read some of their comments online. And so, unless some sort of Grace is involved, a fan from Ohio State would not necessarily be welcomed at a Michigan fans house. He would not have full acceptance and relationship. He would probably not be fully trusted. Let me use that. As a simple example of the kind of hostility that would pale in comparison, to the hostility that Pious Jews had towards Gentiles in Jesus. remember a Pharisees prayer at the time of Jesus of Pharisees typical prayer would have been Thank you. That I am not a gentile. Thank you. That I am not a woman.

Hostility disguised as piety. The Jews and Gentiles were bitter enemies. Why? Because the entire Old Testament, remember, is from the perspective of the Jewish people against the Gentiles, all of the other nations Gentiles meeting all of the Nations. And so, you've seen the, I saw one t-shirt before the Ohio state, after the Ohio State game. It was wasn't a t-shirt, it was an actual banner, and it said, you know, Ohio, State against the world, you know, it's us against everybody will, that was from the perspective of the Old Testament. That was the story of the Hebrew people. That it was, it was that the Hebrews and the Jews facing all of the Gentiles.

We are God's chosen people battling against the Gentiles, in some sense. It's us against the world and Genesis 12 verse 3, says, whoever honors you, I will honor whoever dishonors you, I will curse So why does this passage in Romans then contain for Old Testament citations from the Old Testament, about the Gentiles?

4, *. Rejoice O Gentiles with his people. Praise the Lord. All you Gentiles. Let all the peoples extol him and then even he, who arises to rule the Gentiles in him, will the Gentiles hope? Because Paul's point the scriptures point, is that both Jew and Gentile are part of the church. The people God has called to himself and who have responded in faith and that is the hostility has now been replaced with acceptance. So 25 years after Jesus death, resurrection and Ascension you at Christians in Rome who were of Jewish and Gentile backgrounds of different races of different ethnicities and different nations welcoming one, another worshiping and praying together eating together, serving their neighbors together. Because they were welcoming one another. Why? Because their Hope was in Christ their relationship with Christ with Jesus overflow to one another because their identity in Jesus superseded any human category of social class or culture that can so often be divisive Answer the main point of this passage that I want us to understand. Is that God is trustworthy. And our hope is in him, our hope is in Jesus, he is the hope of Nations. He fulfills his promises, looking for a state where he says, for I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised Christ, became a servant to the Jews, the circumsized, in order to show God's truthfulness to confirm the promises given to the Patriarchs who are the patriarch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, that the history of the Jewish people, To confirm the promises given to the Patriots and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his Mercy. So, to a Jewish person who became a Christian in Rome, it was who was part of the Roman Church. At this time, Paul's messages look, it's not just about you and the Jews. It's about Jesus, for all the nations in him, the Gentiles will hope. And so, the main point is that God fulfills his promises.

And our hope is in him, our hope is in Christ. Now the first application is that hope and encouragement come as we trust the promises of the one who died for us and gave us eternal life.

As we trust, the promises of God, the one who died for us and gave us eternal life. So, look at verse 13, May the god of Hope fill you with all joy and peace and believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in Hope. Abound, meaning overflow meaning abundant meaning, having having an extra Supply that you may abound in Hope. How do we abound with all joy and peace and believing through the holy spirit so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in Hope.

Hope, and encouragement, as we trust the promises of the one who died for us and gave us eternal life. What are the promises of Jesus that he gave to us? Do not worry about tomorrow, why? Because today has enough trouble of its own to a recovering Warrior. That doesn't sound like, don't worry about tomorrow because I do know what today's trouble.

No one will ever snatch them out of my hand, John 6, John 10. Whoever comes to me, I will in no way cast out.

Now in verse 12 it says the root of Jesse will come even he who arises to rule the Gentiles in him. Will the Gentiles hope? Now you have this distinction between Jew and Gentile but Paul is now bringing them together and same. Look our hope our common hope is in Christ. The disciples expected, Messiah to come to restore the Kingdom of Israel and to rule over the nation's, the Gentiles and their Assumption of ruling over. The Gentiles was either converting them to Judaism or displacing them to other lands, recreating King, David's era of peace. But the text from Isaiah, says in him. Will the Gentiles hope? How can they? Because Christ himself is our peace. Our Hope and encouragement come from Jesus, who is our peace? Look at Ephesians chapter 2, this is a wonderful passage and I'll read through verses 11 through 22. And again, Paul is addressing the Gentiles coming into faith in Christ along with the Jews. he says, therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision which is made in the flesh by hands, meaning of the Jews called the Gentiles, the uncircumcised Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenant of Promise, having no hope and without God in the world. verse 13, but now In Jesus Christ, in Christ Jesus. You who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ for he himself, is our peace. Who has made us both one as broken down in his flesh, the dividing wall of hostility. I'm sorry, I need to take a sip of water. He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commands expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself. One new man in place of the two, so making peace.

And might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross and thereby killing the hostility. Verse 17 and he came and preached peace to you who are far off that is you Gentiles and preached, peace to you and peace to those who are near Twos for through him. We both always referring to we as in both Jew and Gentile have access in one Spirit to the father. So then you are no longer strangers, and Aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Christ. Jesus himself, being the Cornerstone in him in whom the whole structure being joined together. Grows into a holy Temple in the Lord in him. You also are being built together into a dwelling place for God, by the spirit. You Jews and Gentiles are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit. Can we get an amen to that? The good news of the Gospel is that God God has called people out of sin. They have responded in faith and he has brought them together into one new Humanity. That is where he says to create one new man out of the 21, new Humanity, not forgetting their background, not forgetting their Heritage, not forgetting their individuality, but he has created one new Humanity out of different Humanities. One new Humanity in Christ. And our unity and Christ transcends any human category of classification. Now some people have said to me when you know, the gospel isn't about racial reconciliation or bet improved racial relations, between groups or ethnicities. And I say, well how do you do racial reconciliation without the gospel? I mean, how in the world do you bring people together on any sort of common basis unless it is through the Forgiveness of Jesus? So no matter what your ethnic Heritage is Jewish or Gentile, which again Gentile from the perspective of the Jews. Gentile would include Greek Middle Eastern, Asian, Hispanic African American, Indian African European Native American anything other than Jewish. You are welcomed into the body of Christ. Wow. Because of what Jesus has done on your behalf a man. It's so no matter who you are abounding abounding. Hope overflowing hope. Comes from the Holy Spirit as we trust the father to bring us joy and peace as we believe trust in Jesus Christ day by day. Fill you with all joy and peace in believing? In believing, it's not, it's not completely passive on our part. There is a believing. There's a trusting that takes place, not not a work of salvation but a trusting of resting in God's promises and say, Lord, I trust you to bring me peace and joy as I trust you day-by-day. Hope is so important in life, isn't it? When we went to Haiti for a mission trip, they had a, I asked the the, the American missionary who was, who had become fluent in Creole, I said, what are some Haitian sayings? You know? And he said, well, the most famous Haitian proverb is Hope gives man a reason to live. Hope gives man a reason to live. Someone put it this way. You are as young as your hope and as old as your despair,

how can also be misguided. There's a story of a professor who took a Seminary Student young Seminary Student to visit a woman in the hospital. And in practice, you know, visiting people and praying with them. And the student approached one young woman and asked if he could pray for her, she said sure. He bowed his head and he said, dear Lord, we pray that this woman is completely healed from her present difficulty and never has a recurrence. Then he asked a woman, what are you in the hospital for and she said I just delivered my first child. So you do hope can be misplaced sometimes.

The Max Lucado tells a story about a friend of his named Joy, who taught a Sunday school class in an underprivileged area. And she had a timid nine-year-old girl in her class named Barbara Barbers, difficult home. Life had left her afraid and insecure. 4 weeks, Joy was teaching the class and Barbara never spoke, while the other children talked, she sat silent while the other children sang. She was not seen when the others giggled she was quiet. She was always present, always listening but always speechless. Until one day Joy, the teacher gave us a lesson on Heaven. Joy talked about seeing God, she talked about tearless eyes and and life after death and Barbara was fascinated. She wouldn't she wouldn't look away from joy as she was teaching, she listened with hunger and then she raised her hand. If I ever had never asked a question in the class again, nine-year-old, girl, Joy was stunned. And she said yes, Barbara. Barbara ass is Heaven for girls like me. Yes, Barbra Heaven is for girls like you our hope is in Christ. Because he is the one who gives us forgiveness and New Life.

Now, I do want to make an important aside Point here.

And that is how do Christians view, the relationship between the Old Testament Israel and the Modern Nation of America as we know it because a lot of times there's rhetoric that that takes Old Testament language and applies it to our modern-day America, actually a lot of the priests at the preachers in New England before the Revolutionary War were quoting Old Testament passages about the Israelites coming out of bondage. And and founding this new country with religious freedom was our deliverance out of bondage of a tyranny from the the king of England. And you have versus such as Psalm. 33:12 blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. So I'm 3312. So here's where it gets confusing. As we have some terms, I think on the next slide.

So in Hebrew, the term for Gentiles Nations or people's the plural term is going, the singular would be good. Boy. So in Genesis 12 verse 3 when God said to Abraham, I will make you into a great nation. He says I will make you into a great boy. That's the Hebrew word in Greek, where we get the word ethnicity from is the Greek term ethnosh, Nations, or ethnicities, or can be translated people. And an English obviously, the word Nation can mean countries or Nation can also be used as a general term for four people groups. I mean, we have Nations. We have countries in the world that have Nations within them. In the sense that it's a particular, people group, not recognized as a sovereign government, but it's nationality within another country. So this is where it gets confusing. So, when Abraham's time the Hebrew word, goyim, could refer to a Jew or Gentile, but by the Greco-Roman. And the time of Christ, the word, goyim referred only to the Gentiles and was derogatory. So so going to our day, when people say things like what we need to turn this nation back to God, well, that question needs a little bit more investigating. What do you mean by that? Do you mean the nation as in America as a political entity? Do you mean the nation? As in all people who are currently living in all 50 states? Regardless of whether they're here illegally or not, do you mean the nation as in the heritage of a country founded on religious freedom? Those are some questions that need further investigating but in general, people have are well-meaning when they make that when they make that same, you know, we need to turn this nation back to God, only the Holy Spirit can do that through Revival.

But here's my point, it is wrong to equate. God's chosen people in the Old Testament. That is what we understand as the people of Israel, or the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, with the nation of America today or to seek a theonomy. Where the civil government, enforces judicial penalties from the Old Testament molds, Mosaic law. For several reasons. One this nation does not function as a theocracy which is what the Israelites had leaving Mount Sinai. The New Testament, recognizes the difference fears of authority between that of the state. And that of the church,

Secondly, the ceremonial law regarding Temple worship, given to Israel. Is now fulfilled in Christ. The moral law is still in effect, but Jesus did not Implement Old Testament penalties when meeting centers, so he meets the woman who is caught in adultery and the Pharisees, say the people there, say woke Moses commanded us to Stone such women. What do you say? And he says let him who is without sin cast the first stone or the woman who comes to anoint Jesus feet when he is at the Pharisees house.

He said, you know what to do, if this if this man were a prophet he would know what kind of person is is is touching him right now. She's a sinner what Jesus didn't Implement Old Testament law, because this woman was a sinner.

Thirdly Christians in any country are not commanded today to drive other people out of the land that they are living with in as the Israelites were commanded to do. When God gave them the land of Canaan.

And so there's a rhetoric today that says, well, this is a Christian country and so therefore we need to, we need to have less of these kinds of people. That's not I don't think that's a good understanding of the Old Testament related to the New Testament. What what God commands of us yet many who are Christian nationalist talk as if America were God's chosen people promoting dislike for people who are not politically conservative white men, born in America. And so sometimes Christian nationalism is is it can be synonymous with the term white nationalism. Now Christian nationalism as a term is is can mean a lot of different things and it's not that that helpful as a general term but the leaders of the efca, I think we're wise a couple of years ago to State the following, And I think we have that on this next slide.

And this was at this was a statement in 2023. It's it's not it's not a statement that is binding on every efca church but it's a statement of where the leadership of the efca is is trying to to carve a path forward up amongst these very hot button, political issues. We are not Christian nationalist who believe that the federal government should declare the United States, a Christian Nation or who believed that America. Americans are God's chosen people. But we do believe that a patriotic love of one's nation is appropriate, and that Christian should be good citizens who may freely advocate for God. Honoring public policies, you can find problems with the Christian nationalism. But what the, what the essence of the statement is saying is that we don't believe as Christians that we are called to to recreate or or Implement a sort of a Christian nationality. In that sense. The kingdom of God is broader than human government. 1st Peter 2:9. Look at how he the scriptures describe the people that Peter is writing to.

He called he says you are strangers and Aliens 1st, Peter 2:9, but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light. You are a holy nation and who is that referring to? That's referring to those who are elect exiles. In Pontius Glacier. Cappadocia Asia, Bethania. is that was not referring to, to People in a particular, a nation-state you say you are called to be a holy nation. That is the people of God are called to be holy, not in a political sense or, or national sense, but in a corporate Collective sense of being God's people.

Do political views that sometimes are under a Christian label can become an idol. When the social outcomes to gain. Power are more important than people becoming made new in Christ.

That is certain views under a Christian label can become idolatrous when the social outcomes to gain influence and power are more important than people becoming made new in Christ that you may be surprised to hear this, but at least two pastors that I know of in our pastors prayer group have had to deal with the hateful heresy of kinism. Now you say what is kinism, what Ken ism is the view that God forbids interracial marriage today because he forbid interracial into religious marriage in the Old Testament. And kinism teaches that well, people are better off associating with their own kind.

And so two of our Pastors in our prayer group that had to deal with discipline situations, where pastors have been that they have had their credentials taken away because of teaching that that hateful heresy. And in essence, it's white supremacy. Describes the skies as clever theology, clever theological arguments, So that's just an aside in and you may be surprised that that's out there but there's a lot of stuff out there that is. That is Christian in name but really does not honor the god of the Bible or does not honor. People being made all people being made in the image of God and I have a few more examples of the the one resource that I found that was really helpful was A professor on the west coast is name, is R. Scott Clark are Scott Clark? And I think he teaches at Westminster Seminary in California, and he has a Blog called the heidelblog. As in the Heidelberg Catechism, he calls his Blog, the heidelblog and that's a very helpful resource for 4. We're going through these these issues.

so now, back to the text, Application number to do followers of Christ. Welcome fellow Christians of all backgrounds and categories because Jesus has welcomed us notice what the text says. Welcome one another Wholeheartedly. Welcome one. Another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.

How is a person received when he or she comes to Trinity Community Church? Will that person be greeted with eye contact and a smile? No matter how he or she is dressed? Will that person be welcomed equally? Regardless of how long they have attended the trip. Will they be welcomed regardless, of the color of their skin or the unfamiliarity of their name? It's a wood pole is really pressing at here. What the scriptures are pressing at is that to not, welcome one another, to not accept one another to not receive one. Another, as a fellow, Christian is a sin. The word for welcome, there is the same word that is used. Where the angel says to Joseph, do not be afraid to take to receive to, welcome to accept Mary as your wife for what is conceived in her, is from the holy spirit. That word do not be afraid to take, Mary as your wife is the same where that used for welcome here in Romans chapter 15.

So rejecting someone or treating them differently on the basis of social stereotypes personality, dislikes, family background, the status of being married or unmarried discriminating on that basis is sin. Why? Because it ignores the great sacrifice, which Christ Jesus made to welcome each one of us to accept each one of us sinners as is We need Christ to change our hearts so that we can live out the Overflow of love that he showed to each one of us. And we can live with hope because God is trustworthy and because he keeps his promise. For me this is this is hard. Welcome one another. I mean you have to recognize in a church you don't have the same level of friendship and and and you know closeness with every single individual purse, right? I mean that's just the reality of a human congregation. Some people you spent more time with some people you haven't spent as much time with your not as closed, but God calls us to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. And that takes time that takes hard conversation sometimes, but it takes most importantly. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts to soften our hearts. So that we know the hope that we have in Christ, let's pray.