A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – Parts 1 & 2: “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Eleven – The Remnant of Israel

~ By James Fire

[note to readers: due to the length of this study, I've divided it into two parts, both have been posted in this one article.]

PART ONE of CHAPTER 11

Early on in the book of Genesis we see the development of two cities: Jerusalem (formerly Salem) and Babel (later, this abandoned city-state becomes an empire, Babylon). These two serve as the dual themes in the Scriptures that portray the work of God – Jerusalem and the work of man and Satan – Babylon.

It’s important to note that in the book of Revelation; both cities are in view, having a longevity that spans nearly the whole of human history. But only one work endures beyond this present reality of creation: Jerusalem, in the form of the eternal New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven, but is nonetheless the habitation of all the “seed of Abraham” which numbers as “the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore” (GEN 22:17; HEB 11:11-13) – that is, the seed of believing Israel (the sand on the seashore, referring to the earthly kingdom of the Messiah) and the church (the stars of heaven, referring to that heavenly kingdom of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Head of the church and His bride); ROM 10:11-13.

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A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Nine – The Future Hope of Israel

~  By James Fire

Attitude is Everything –

A very dangerous attitude to hold is esteeming our own seemingly immediate and urgent priorities to usurp those priorities esteemed by God.
During the days of Jesus, Israel wanted their Messiah to come as the Lion of Judah and deliver them from the oppressive enslavement to Rome.

Yet God’s priority was far more important – to deliver them from the oppressive enslavement to sin and death and their inevitable consequence: eternal damnation.

And so the Messiah came not as the Lion of Judah but as the Lamb of God to die for the sin of the world (JOHN 1:29); He did not arrive as the Avenger of Blood, the kinsman Goel and the warrior Messiah as was prophesied and desired by the Jews, but as a lowly carpenter rabbi who spoke of love, even loving one’s enemies, and admonishing his followers to turn the other cheek, bless them that curse them and to pick up their crosses (instruments of capital punishment in those days, right?) and follow Him.

Scripture prophesies both aspects of the Messiah – He is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, but are only revealed in accord to God’s priorities, not man’s. The LORD Jesus was all about the kingdom of God, not subjecting earthly kingdoms to His rule – not yet (DAN 2:34-35, 44-45)! Likewise we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (MATT 6:33) and conduct ourselves properly as its citizens.

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