God Deserves all Our Glory

Paul ends chapter eleven with the desire that his brethren are not ignorant and are willing to seek and fully understand the mystery of God’s plan. Paul begins this section with advising that you should not trust in your own opinion but trust in the Lord. Don’t be blind to what has happened to Israel and the Gentiles. Paul teaches us that it is because of the Jewish rejection in Christ that God has brought the Gentiles into the kingdom of heaven to join with the Jewish Christians as one body in Christ.

Paul then goes on to say that when the last Gentile comes into the family of Christ, all of Israel will be saved. What Paul is saying here is that the land Israel will be saved. He is not making the statement that all Jewish people will be saved. Paul is speaking in eschatological terms as he is describing what the future of Israel will look like. Paul is not suggesting that all the Jewish population will be saved as we know that in (Zechariah 13:8) scripture says two thirds of all Israel will be murdered at the end of the tribulation. God will protect the one third left but they will go through the fire and be saved through their belief in Jesus Christ. They will be joined with the Jesus believing gentiles to live for eternity in heaven.

God has made a covenant with His people to remove their sins. God has sent Jesus as the redeemer of all of our sins. This includes both Jews and Gentiles. For those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we will live in the promises He has made to us in this life and in heaven. God does not lie He is incapable of doing so (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2).

Because God is righteous, every sin we commit has a consequence and it is through our consequences that we should change. Unbridled disobedience will always lead to destruction. God uses our own disobedience against us to course correct our lives and to remind us of what is important to Him. God allows us to stay in our disobedient ways so He may have mercy on all who follow Him.

The misinterpretation of some is that we can live a life filled with sin and that there will be no consequence for our sins (Romans 6:23). This is because we believe that God has mercy on all of us. While this is true God has mercy, we must remember that God is righteous and just! When we allow sin to control us, the results will never work in our favor.

Paul then concludes chapter 11 with a doxology stating that No One has the depth, riches, wisdom and knowledge of God. Remember that Satan wanted to be the one who sits above God (Isaiah 14:12-18). This scripture describes just how pompous Satan is to believe he can sit higher than God. When we recognize the true depth and breadth of God, when we reverence Him realizing the Love, Grace and Mercy He has for us then we will be on the right path in changing our lives.

It is clear to me that in life the steps required to living a more godly life starts with the changing of your mind. Changing your mind in most cases leads to a changing of your heart. Once you renew your heart and mind then your behaviors will follow, eventually leading to a life which includes Jesus and God as the leader. Developing this perspective, one that embraces the belief that God is in control of all things leads to a more robust life and prepares us for our eternal life in heaven.

My prayer is that we fully grasp the gift that God has truly given us. This gift is living a life filled with the love of the Lord in us and through us. The gift is Jesus Christ. I pray that we recognize that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to redeem our sins so we may find Heaven. I pray that we would receive Jesus as our Lord and put God first in our lives above all other things. I pray that we turn from the ways of the world and with all our hearts find the peace and the joy that God has for each one of us. To follow the Lord for the rest of our days into the Kingdom of Heaven for eternity. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, Amen! Amen!