Be It Known Unto You That the Salvation of God Is Sent Unto the Gentiles, And They Will Hear It - Part 1257

Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto the fathers, saying, "Go unto this people and say, "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Acts 28:25-27)

I can only imagine what the Jews were thinking, after apostle Paul said, "Be it known therefore unto you -- that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it." (Acts 28:28) It is no wonder they left to reason among themselves. This news would have been a shock, given their privileged status up until now.

We have to remember here that God had a chosen people throughout the old covenant, but these people wandered aimlessly (worshiping other gods), even though Almighty God continually provided them with manna from heaven for sustenance. As a consequence, only two people reached the promised land. And in time, the Lord looked beyond His chosen to a people who were not His people -- the Gentiles -- personally delivering to them His precious gift of salvation.

God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)

But, as Paul rightly questions, this does not mean that God hath cast away His people. Indeed, there is at present, a remnant according tot eh election of grace. (Romans 11:4-5)

"And if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace. Otherwise, work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, "Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."

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 if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, "The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in." Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear, for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness .... otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sakes ... for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:6-36)
"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings, for both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one -- for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing my praise unto Thee."

And again, "I will put my trust in Him,"

And again, "Behold I and the children which God hath given me."

For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage; for verily He took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things, it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:11-18; Psalm 22:22; II Samuel 22:3; Isaiah 8:17-18)

Jesus -- the same yesterday, today and forever.

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 1:3)

Let him with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.