Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

Why don’t all Jews love Jesus? Paul asks, “Did they stumble in order that they might fall?” (Romans 11:11). In other words, since the Jews tripped over Jesus, will they stay down forever? Paul continues, “By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!”

Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles in the same way Peter is the apostle to the Jews. Peter stays in Jerusalem and ministers primarily to the Jewish people. Paul hits the road and goes preaching to the Gentiles. He says, “I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” Jesus came as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and many Jewish people stumbled over Him, largely because they were offended by Him. They chose religion and religious traditions over a relationship with Jesus, their God.

I got saved at 19. I didn’t grow up knowing and loving Jesus, but now my kids know and love Him. Lord willing, my grandkids will know and love Jesus, and by God’s grace, this will continue for generations until Jesus comes back. I pray people with my last name love Jesus until He comes back.

Much of what you believe may not be connected to God or the Word of God. It may be religion and tradition that was given to you either from your family, church family, or religious folk. These legalistic people are highly control and performance-oriented and tend to add a lot of things to what God says and command a lot of things God does not command. When people eventually encounter the real God, they’re offended by Him because He is different than religion.

One of the great faults and failures of Bible teaching is telling people that it is enough to repent of sin. We also need to repent of religion and unholy traditions. There’s a story in Luke 15:11–32 of the Prodigal Son. Of the two brothers in the story, which one is the sinner? One acts like a Gentile, and the other acts more religious and traditional. When the father pours out grace on the Gentile-like brother, the religious brother is very offended by grace. He’s very judgmental. You and I need to make sure we don’t just repent of our sins, but we repent of our religion and tradition. If not, we will trip over Jesus. We will be offended by Him like the religious leaders who conspired with the Roman political leaders to murder Jesus because they decided they loved traditions more than God.

Today’s Reflection

What beliefs or traditions have you chosen over Jesus?