Thursday 29 March 2012

Background

In this passage Paul gives the first indication of his answer tothe question that occupies him throughout Romans chapters 9 to 11: why have so few Jews respondedto the message about Jesus Christ in contrast to the welcome givenby Gentile (non Jew) converts? Has God given up on the chosenpeople? Has God's favour now moved to the Gentiles?

Throughout the discussion Paul holds in tension humanresponsibility and divine providence. Those who reject God areresponsible for their action, yet that action fits God's plan. Itcan even be said that God has brought it about.

God remains committed to the Jewish people. There are Jews who havebecome Christians and Paul himself is one of these. He stresses hisJewish pedigree lest it be thought that he was a Gentile by birthwho had adopted Judaism, as many Gentiles in his day did.

But God has always worked through minorities. Paul quotes OldTestament examples to illustrate the point. The relatively smallnumber of Jews like himself who have embraced faith in Jesus are acontemporary example.

But Jewish rejection of the message led to the rapidly-expandingmission to Gentiles. That was what God had in mind. But it is notthe end of the story. The day will come when the pendulum willswing and the Jewish people will come to faith (see Romans11:25-32).

In verse 6 Paul underlines the point made throughout the letter tothe Romans: human beings do not deserve God's favour, since fromthe beginning all have sinned (Romans3:23). What we know of God and the good things we receive fromGod are wholly the result of God's generosity, God's grace.

To Ponder

Many Christians today have a strong sense ofbeing a minority in a world which does not share their faith. Whatmight this passage have to say to them?

If everything depends on God's grace, what placeis there for good works?