| Romans 15:8-12 - Christ Confirmed the Promises Made to the Patriarchs | |||
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"For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name." Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples." And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him" (Romans 15:8-12)
We have a lot to praise God for. Did you know that if you were born outside of the Jewish nation, up until Jesus, you were outside of God's covenant? We were lost and hopeless without God in this world (Ephesians 2:13-14). But because of God's great love, mercy and faithfulness Christ became a servant to the Jewish nation in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. The promise was Jesus, the hope of Israel and author of salvation. Now we who were once far away and excluded from the promise have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Through faith we are included in a better and more perfect covenant. Many scriptures are fulfilled when we celebrate and praise God for this mercy and grace not originally covenanted to us. Once we were outsiders, but God confirmed and ratified the words spoken throughout the scriptures when he sent Jesus to earth. Not only for the Jewish nation, but for the sins of the entire world so that anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame (I John 2:2, Romans 10:11). The Old Testament prophesied that the Gentile nation would praise God and rejoice in His redemptive work. Paul brings those passages to the forefront so that we will know this was always part of the plan. We can celebrate and praise God continually for what he has done. He has included us in the promise of Christ and has offered us the same privileges that the Jewish nation has always enjoyed. We are no longer foreigners to His promises, but through faith we have become heirs and considered as sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:17). Ephesians tells us that Jesus "came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:17-18). What a marvelous truth to know and understand. We have been accepted by God as He extends love and mercy toward us based on His covenant with us. Today, I am so thankful for inclusion in the promises of God. I am so grateful that God sent Jesus to offer me a more perfect covenant of grace based not on what I do, but on what Jesus did. I join with all those who went before me praising God for his loving-kindness toward me. May you also join with the saints of God praising Jesus for what he has done, amen!          |
