Comment: How
many Bibles do you presently own? No doubt you have more than one! Some of us;
like myself, have seven Bibles that I can see here in my office, this does not include
my wife’s Bible. I have a Bible on my phone where I can review ALL the versions
ever published. If someone is preaching or teaching from a Bible version I do
not have, the app on my phone will bring it up immediately. Now if I were alone
in this it would be one thing, but I am not alone, here in the U.S.A. the average
family has at least one, while those who claim to be saved have at least one
for every family member. So, now the point!
Devotional: The apostle Paul while writing to the Romans
begins a discourse about Israel, Paul’s countrymen. Starting in Chapter 9:1 and
finding a resting place for this discourse at Chapter 11:36 the apostle laments
over his beloved nation. Israel rejected their Messiah – 9:1-5; Israel’s
rejection was within God’s Purpose and Plan – 9:6-13; Israel’s rejection
clashes with God’s Justice – 9:14-29; and Israel’s present condition – 9:30-33.
God’s Plan for the Nation of Israel now, like
the Nations of the Gentiles is for all (both the Jew and the Gentile) to be
saved by grace through faith. Israel is lost, in the same way the Gentile is
lost through sin. The nation Israel is NOT replaced by the church. Chapter
11:1-10 – Israel’s rejection of Messiah is not TOTAL rejection, 11:11-33 –
Israel’s rejection of the Messiah is not FINAL.
The concluding point! Israel at the time of
Paul’s writing of this epistle did not have a Bible in every family, nor did
the average Gentile. If they went to the synagogue they would HEAR the
Old Testament read to them. Being able to read and write had nothing to do with
this, since it was the NORMAL way to hear the WORD in those days. Bibles were
not widespread as they are today, and there was but one version, “GOD’s WORD”.
Now you no doubt have read this verse a time or
two, but as you read it now, HEAR what the apostle says; Romans 10:17 – Faith comes
by HEARING and hearing by the Word of God. See too Colossians 4:16 and 1
Thessalonians 5:27. There is POWER and FAITH with the hearing of the Word.
Sadly, today we “field strip” every word in the Bible, adopt versions that DUMB
down the Truth, we believe the study notes of some professor over “Thus saith
the LORD” and when it comes to obedience to God we would rather apply the Word
to our circumstance.
With all of this going for us today, we are no
better than Israel when they rejected their Messiah. Israel did not hold on to its
confession of Faith, nor have we! We ought to have boldness to enter the Holy
of Holies, are we not redeemed by the Blood of the Messiah? Are we not
sanctified by a new and living way which He (Jesus) consecrated for us? His
sacrifice (that is His flesh) split the veil in half. Study today Hebrews 10:19-25
and meditate on verse 25, so much more as you see the Day approaching. He,
Messiah is coming again and soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment