Leading the Jews to Salvation through Jealousy
God knew just how hardened the hearts of the Jews would be when He was going to send Jesus to die for their sins. He also knew just how much they despised the Gentiles, because they felt so superior to everyone who was not a Jew. After all, they were the chosen people of God. However, God knew that feeling of superiority would make it hard for them to be saved, too. Therefore, He used that to make them jealous by allowing the Gentiles to be saved just like the Jews, by grace through faith in Christ. When the unsaved Jews saw the Gentiles enjoying God's salvation, it made them jealous, so they would be motivated to put their trust in Christ. (Romans 11:11,14) This shows us a couple of things about God that we need to always remember.
God loves the Jewish people, and He desires for them to be saved and have a personal relationship with Him by knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If jealousy is what would move them toward this salvation, He was going to use it. His love leads Him to do whatever will lead us to repent and believe in Christ. However, we all have a choice of whether to believe in Jesus or not. The Jews could still reject Jesus, even though they were jealous of the Gentiles. Unfortunately, that was the case for many of them, and it still is the case. However, God is still drawing them by whatever means He can, though He will never force them to be saved. The same goes true for the Gentiles. God wants all of us to be saved, too, and He does whatever it takes to draw us to Jesus. We must choose to trust Jesus, though, and many do not make that step of faith. All of this makes God very sad, because He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 12-14.
God loves the Jewish people, and He desires for them to be saved and have a personal relationship with Him by knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If jealousy is what would move them toward this salvation, He was going to use it. His love leads Him to do whatever will lead us to repent and believe in Christ. However, we all have a choice of whether to believe in Jesus or not. The Jews could still reject Jesus, even though they were jealous of the Gentiles. Unfortunately, that was the case for many of them, and it still is the case. However, God is still drawing them by whatever means He can, though He will never force them to be saved. The same goes true for the Gentiles. God wants all of us to be saved, too, and He does whatever it takes to draw us to Jesus. We must choose to trust Jesus, though, and many do not make that step of faith. All of this makes God very sad, because He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 12-14.