Simple lessons from Romans – part 11
The children of Israel
…the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ – Romans 9:4-5
After reading these verses we can say that being an Israelite seems to have many advantages. But these benefits are not granted to people simply for being descendants of Israel.
For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children…In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. Romans 9:6-8
Those benefits are obtained not by being descendant of Israel, but by being children of the promise.
- To whom was the promise given? To Abraham. – Genesis 12:1-2
- Why? Because he believed, and was credited with righteousness – Galatians 3:6
- What was the promise? All the families of the earth will be blessed in Abraham. – Genesis 12:3
- Who receives the promise? those who believe – Galatians 3:7
What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. – Romans 9:30-32
We could think that we are righteous because of what we do, or because we are ‘good’ Christians, or because we think (or people say) that we are good persons. That is exactly what happened to Israel: they sought to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3). But that is just the human definition of righteousness. If we try to attain righteousness based on our own efforts we will end empty handed.
God established that righteousness can only be obtained through faith in Jesus. Do you want to be a child of God? Do you want to be credited with righteousness? Choose the easiest way. Choose God’s way: put your faith in Jesus.
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