Sunday, February 15, 2015
TEXT: ROMANS 11:11-24
Key Verse: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Roman 11:22).
A was running a 300 metres race story was told of an athlete who with a strong determination to win. He was leading the race until he suddenly and inexplicably began to slow down. The spectators at the amphitheatre began to shout “Continue! Continue!! Continue!!! Spurred on by this, he made it to the end and won. The foregoing, illustrates the words of our Lord Jesus to the Jews who believed in Him. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31,32).
Paul, in the text, was talking to Gentile believers to be careful lest they become puffed-up and hardened against the Jews. The spiritual blindness of the Jews had given light to the Gentiles. Yet, it was not the will of God for the hardened Jews to be lost; neither did He predestine them to be hardened. Curiously, the hardness of heart through unbelief by the Jews led to the speedy expansion of the gospel to the idolatrous Gentiles, who became partakers of the gospel of peace. The Jews were cast off momentarily because they rejected the gospel while the Gentiles were grafted in to provoke the Jews to godly living. Paul admonished that the Gentiles must continue in the grace of God and not boast, lest they also should be cut off.
The security of a believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is conditional. The final salvation of believers who are heaven-bound is conditioned on his continuous obedience to the word of God. It was unbelief that cut short the relationship between God and Israel. Christians must be careful not to allow unbelief and hardness of heart to sever them from God.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOSHUA 15 - 18
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Dear believer, continue in His word.
Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/
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