Romans 9:25-29 – “As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”  And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.”  And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”

Last time we saw that God has the right over His creation to do whatever He wills.  We, as part of God’s creation, do not get to question Him – since we owe to God our very being and He is not obligated to us in any way.  Some see this as harsh, but it is the very fact that God does not owe us anything that makes His love towards us so amazing.  God would have been right and just to condemn all of us as sinners to display His holiness, but God’s love and mercy are shown to those whom God has ordained to be “vessels of mercy”.  Many of us would read this and cry out against the justice of God, but God’s answer to us would be the same as His answer to Job when he pursued the same line of questioning in Job 38-40.  The problem with man is illustrated by their very desire to ask that question of “fairness” against God.  It stems from man’s desire to have the world center and revolve around them instead of the glory of our Creator.

Now, we are moving from God’s privilege to have mercy on whom He has mercy (to save whom He will) to God’s privilege to save those from the whole world and not simply among the physical nation of Israel.  To understand this, you have to understand that the people of Israel were expecting a Messiah to come, remove Roman rule and restore Israel’s place as the ruling world power, and rule over the physical nation of Israel.  God’s plan was different.  Israel’s greatest need was not the removal of Roman rule, but the removal of the sin that ruled their hearts.  Further, that need was not limited to the physical nation of Israel, that need was universal, and God’s plan was to call a people to Himself from every tribe and language and people and nation from the Earth:

Revelation 5:8-10- “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

God’s plan was never about a physical people, it was always for a Spiritual people, who were God’s chosen not because they were physical descendants of Israel, or even by their own will, but by the will of God.

John 1:11-13 – “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Christian, I wonder if you feel the weight of God’s setting His love upon you.  Do you see that you are not owed anything by God, including salvation?  God’s holiness extends infinitely beyond our own understanding of the word “good”, “just”, moral”, and “righteous”.  If you are owed salvation for your own works or even your own “will”, it is no longer by mercy, grace, and love, that you receive salvation, it is your wage.  It would have been just for God to condemn all of the physical nation of Israel along with the rest of the world, but God has a plan for a remnant, to save a remnant from their sin and reconcile them fully to know and love our Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Brothers and Sisters, if you love God today, if you are looking to Him for salvation, trusting in His death, burial, and resurrection alone for salvation, you are the remnant of God.  You bring nothing to the table, but God draws you to Himself because He IS merciful, He IS full of grace, and He IS loving.  The glory of God shines brightest that His love is not contingent upon anything from us, but is given as a free gift.  As you think about where you are today, the things that occupy your mind and time, does the love of Christ frame your thoughts?  I hope it does.  Your contentment, peace, and ability to love and serve others is directly tied to your heart’s satisfaction in the finished work of Jesus.

Grace and Peace,

Adam