What can I say? Everything that I prepared to teach yesterday was suddenly replaced with those things that we needed to grasp in Romans 11:1-15 & 25-27. The Three Strikes against Israel, removing them as the repository of God’s grace toward mankind during this Mystery Period known as the Dispensation of the Grace of God is outlined by Paul. Yet, they will be restored to their appointed position among the nations after they go through the process of purging and purification in the tribulation.
Zechariah 13:8-9: And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Even though Israel had been chosen to be the recipients of the promises, covenants, and law, they stumbled at the message of John the Baptist, and the Lord himself, beheading John and crucifying Christ. These were the first two strikes against Israel.
1 Peter 2:6-8: Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
After seven weeks in this study, we understand that the gospel of the kingdom preached by John, Jesus, and the apostles (please read today’s devotion, Monday, October 5th – Why Parables? to help you understand the case against Israel.), concerned the literal, physical kingdom of heaven, the messianic kingdom prophesied throughout the Old Testament. When Jesus was rejected and killed, Israel stumbled. Her fall occurred when the religious leaders rejected Stephen’s message and plea for repentance, in Acts 7.
Romans 11:11-15: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
For us, the fall of Israel opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles without going through Israel. We are given a direct path to the grace and mercy of God, through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, hearing the Word — Romans 10:17, believing and trusting in the gift of the grace of God, by faith – Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:8-9, we are saved, begotten, born again by the gospel of Paul to the uncircumcision, the Gentile world.
1 Corinthians 4:15: For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
This coming Sunday we will look at the four gospels and their importance, as the hinge between the Old Testament and the New Testament. I am already charged up, and ready to share what we did not get to yesterday!