Title Romans 09:25-33 Unexpected news
Content Unexpected news Roman (35)
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Romans 9:25-33
25 It is also said in Hosea, “Those who are not my people I will call my people, and those who have not loved I will call them lover. 26 As it is said, You are not my people, but in one place they will be called sons of the living God. 27 And Isaiah cried out concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved. 29 And just as Isaiah had previously said, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us a seed, we would be like Sodom, and like Gomorrah." 30 What then shall we say? For the Gentiles who follow not righteousness have obtained righteousness, the righteousness of faith. 31 Israel, who has followed the law of righteousness, has not come to the law. 32 How is this? For they do not rely on faith, but on works, and they have hit a stone to be struck. 33 As it is written, Behold, I put in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of stumbling, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.
1. Those who are not my people shall be called my people.
"As it is said in Hosea, "Those who are not my people I will call my people, and those who did not love I will call them the lover. In that place where you say you are not my people, they will be called sons of the living God." "(verses 25-26)
Sometimes we hear unexpected news. The "unexpected news" means to hear something you never expected (unexpected news). These days, the job openings are so narrow that there are many places where you have to beat the competition of hundreds of jobs to get a job. However, the news will be indescribable joy when I have been selected in the test to select that one person.
How would a woman who had been barren for a long time express the immense joy of becoming pregnant? When people who had been enslaved for hundreds of years are set free and set free, the cries of those people will pierce the sky. How much heartbreak will it be when a person who has left their hometown and has lived abroad is given the opportunity to return home? Psalm 126 contains this.
It was as if we were dreaming when the LORD turned away the captivity of Zion.
Then our mouths were full of laughter, and our tongues were filled with praise.
It is said among the nations that the LORD has done great things for them.
We are glad that the LORD has done great things for us.
O LORD, turn our captivity like the streams of the south.
The Bible is full of such unexpected news. Karl Barth once said that there is "a strange new world in the Bible". If you do not have this experience while reading the Bible, you can say that you have not yet properly understood the Bible.
Today's text shows God who first changes the people. It is said that the Gentiles who have not been born in their own land, who have never lived, who have never paid taxes, and who have not performed the duty of national defense, are called to be their people. Why is this unexpected news? The reason is that people don't. We call those who were born in that land, grow up in that land, and who sweat for the land, call them people, call them patriots, ignore or neglect those who are not, and let them stay for a certain period of time before sending them out. A typical example is the United States. Citizenship is granted to those born in their country who pay taxes to their country and work there. Those who do not are strictly classified as illegal immigrants and deported.
So did Israel. Only those who had to be members of their tribe, kept their traditions, obeyed the law, and were circumcised, were considered a people like them. But unexpectedly, he calls people who do not have such conditions as “my people.”
In 1989, when I went to study in the United States, it was a time when a student visa was rarely issued to the pastor. Many of my friends did not get visas and had to give up studying abroad. I also went to the US embassy for my visa interview with great concern. However, after asking a few words, the consular officer signed the paperwork saying that he would give me an F-1 visa right away and told me to come pick it up a week later. Of course, it was to issue F-2 visas to families. I remember it being so unexpected that I couldn't hide my feelings and say I like it.
However, the text of the Bible is not just about issuing a student visa. It's all about giving you citizenship. It is a permission that you are free to come and live as you please. It's not just permission. Because they are my people, I will protect them and take responsibility for their survival. It is a permission to enjoy all the glory of the kingdom of God together.
Saints! This is the gospel. I pray that you will hear this gospel and become the people of the Lord's kingdom.
2. Not all Israelis are saved
Another unexpected news is coming. Contrary to the above, not all Israelis are saved. In other words, it is a surprising declaration that even if you were born in Israel - inheriting blood, keeping traditions and ancestral traditions, being circumcised, and keeping the law - you may not be God's people. Most of the Israelites live as if they were the people of God's kingdom. But only the "remnant" tells them so. He is unexpectedly saying that Israel will not perish because of the remnant.
What would happen if we applied these words to us?
Everyone thinks they are God's people, but what if God unexpectedly says "not all"?
3. Righteousness comes from faith
So who the hell is that "remnant"? What the hell happens if you go to church well, do good volunteer work, and don't miss worship, but if you don't have the confidence to become the people of God's kingdom?
One of the Sunday School hymns has these lyrics
Money can't go to the kingdom of God
I can't go even by my strength
The country to go if you are born again The kingdom of God
Kingdom of God by faith
I can't even go to the post office
I can't go with knowledge, the kingdom of God
The country to go if you are born again The kingdom of God
Kingdom of God by faith
I can't go even if I'm pretty
Even if I like it, I can’t go to God
The country to go if you are born again The kingdom of God
Kingdom of God by faith
Today's Bible text, verse 30 and below, explains this.
What then shall we say? The Gentiles who follow not righteousness have obtained righteousness, which is the righteousness of faith. Israel, who followed the law of righteousness, did not come to the law, so what? For they do not rely on faith, but on works (vv. 30-32).
That's right. Even today, God wants us to have sincere and humble faith. And I hope that we all become worshipers, raising the wonderful grace of the Lord who calls those who are not people as people and loves those who cannot love them.