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even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Truth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We can hoard the truth and be poor, or we can give it away and enjoy spiritual riches together with all who will receive it.<\/p>\n Since this verse and the preceding one are tied together, let\u2019s look at them together (my translation):<\/p>\n For as you were once unbelieving in God, yet have now obtained mercy through their<\/span> (the Jews) unwillingness to believe, even so these also have now been unbelieving, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.<\/span><\/p>\n That is to say, we as Gentiles were not believers while the Israelites had possession of God\u2019s Word and God\u2019s blessing. But now, as a result of their rejection of the Messiah, we have been given the gospel message and can now obtain God\u2019s mercy through belief in the Savior. In the same manner these Jews are not believing now. They are still rejecting the Messiah, the Christ, who came to save them. But now, because of the mercy that we have received from the Jews\u2019 rejection of the Messiah, we are to be the instrument of God\u2019s mercy to them by proclaiming the truth of the gospel: namely, that Jesus, whom they crucified, is in fact the Messiah for whom they have been looking all these many years. But now they can receive salvation through belief in His sacrificial death on the cross.<\/p>\n That\u2019s still pretty complicated, though, isn\u2019t it? Let me say it more simply. Because of the disbelief of the Jews, we Gentiles have found God\u2019s mercy, and because of that, they will also receive God\u2019s mercy through our belief and our witness to them. And, to put it even more simply, \u201cWe now have it because they rejected it, and some day they will have it again because we received it and gave it back to them.\u201d<\/p>\n God originally chose the Jews, through Abraham, so that the Gentiles might also be saved. Here\u2019s God\u2019s original promise to Abraham:<\/p>\n Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.<\/strong>“<\/span> (Genesis 12:1-3<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n The tragedy is that Israel became exclusive in their thinking and failed to share the truth with the Gentiles. They thought that the Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be saved. Now we have the truth and an obligation to \u201cprovoke them to jealousy,\u201d as Paul has stated several times in this letter.<\/p>\n The underlying principle is that God has had a plan throughout the ages for mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, and nothing is a surprise to Him. Not only does God have a plan, but all is going, and will continue to go, exactly according to that plan.<\/p>\n We have a treasure of truth contained in the Scripture: the truth about Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus is the one promised to the Jews as their Redeemer, but He is also promised to us as our Redeemer. Let\u2019s not squander this treasure, let\u2019s give it away freely to everyone. The rest is up to God. And He will get the glory!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nMeaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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