January 25, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Marvelous Mystery

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, You inhabit all times and places. Your name is upon my lips because You have placed it in my heart.

Read Romans 11:25-36

For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.

[25] I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, [26] and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. [27] And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” [28] As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, [29] for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. [30] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. [32] For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. [33] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! [34] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” [35] “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” [36] For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“There are deep riches of God’s wisdom and ways. That is why we are always being surprised by God. He is always enriching us in ways we do not anticipate. There is no way that we can finally fathom God” (Ray Stedman, 1917-1992).

Paul concludes this section of his letter by considering the second question raised by his argument: what will be the fate of those who are part of ethnic Israel but who have not responded to Jesus? Many commentators have seen this passage as being about a final, sudden, saving of all of ethnic Israel when Jesus returns. This is difficult to fit with the last two chapters: Paul has been careful to show that faith in God through Christ is not some novel way of encountering God. Instead, faith has always been central to God’s covenant promises. There are not two “routes” to salvation, one through Moses and one through Jesus, but a single route, to receive God’s invitation by faith. This invitation was made first through Abraham, was filled out in the law, and reaches its fullest expression in the invitation of Jesus to all.

Today’s passage confirms this. The “mystery” he refers to (25) is not some end-times secret, but God’s whole plan of salvation, which Paul often calls a “mystery” (see 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:9). Some English translations render v. 26 “And then all Israel will be saved …” but, in fact, Paul says “And in this way ….” In other words, he is summing up his argument from ch. 10: (ethnic) Israel’s disobedience has allowed God’s grace to spill over to reach both Jew and Gentile, who together become (faithful) Israel. Jew and Gentile share the human destiny of being disobedient and yet still being shown God’s mercy (30-32). As he said earlier (3:23; 10:12), there is no distinction between them. No one need be excluded; this mercy is open to “all.” No wonder Paul is caught up in praise at the wonder of God’s mercy as he finishes his argument.

Apply

These are challenging verses, and yet they focus on God’s mercy, which is easy to understand. How can you help others to understand the good news better?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, You are full of surprises. My mind cannot contain You. I praise You for Your great and wonderful mercy open to all. I, too, praise You.

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