Lesson 34: Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles – 15:8-13
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Our verses today remind us how prejudice against anyone – for the color of their skin or their heritage or their beliefs – is not what Jesus wants of us who are Kingdom citizens. Jesus came to bring salvation to every person on earth. He says in Revelation several times that people of every language and tribe and nation will be in Heaven with us.
We see hatred based on these prejudices all over our world today. I do not know of a single problem between nations or peoples today which is not based on hate – they hate because they are a different race or a different religion than themselves. So they kill.
Jesus is the hope for every person of every language or tribe or nation in this entire world. It does not matter their social status, their skin color, their religion – Jesus offers hope and forgiveness and eternal life to everyone.
For every man, woman, or child in this world, salvation can only come through Jesus – who was born of the Jewish nation as God had planned it. God had guided and led the people of Israel through many trials and hard times to let them be an example to all of us of His great love as well as His righteousness in dealing with us too. If God showed mercy to Israel, He can also show mercy to us. If He pronounced righteous judgement on them for disobedience, He will pronounce it on us for continued disobedience too. If He promised them restoration by His grace, He can give us restoration by His grace as well.
*Whom is Jesus reminding you of today, to give up your hatred for them because they are different from you?
Lesson 34: Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles Print
Modified on: Tue, 8 Dec, 2020 at 3:52 PM
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