This article was really helpful but I don't know if i agree with the wording of this sentence - "We can be thankful the first-century Jewish world initially rejected the wedding feast invitation. Because of their rejection, space was made for all of us."
Isn't it devastating that God's people, the Jews, rejected Jesus' invitation? And wouldn't Gentiles still be welcomed into God's kingdom even if all Jews did accept Christ?
That’s a great question, “Wouldn’t the Gentiles still be welcomed into God’s kingdom even if all Jews did accept Christ?”
The way Paul phrases it in Romans is that the offer of salvation through Christ is for the Jew first, but also for the Greek. This is the pattern he followed throughout his missionary journeys. He preached to the Jewish community first, and only after the Gospel was rejected, did he go to the Gentiles.
He explains this in Romans 11 as the Gospel is shared with the Gentiles in order to make the Jews jealous and provoke them to come to Christ. He says in verse 15, “For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?”
The Jews’ rejection of the Gospel meant reconciliation for the world. And if they were to accept the Gospel, it would mean they would be brought back from the dead. Paul is explaining, in context, that Gentiles should be humble and recognize they’ve received this opportunity because many Jews rejected the Gospel (as God knew they would), but God can and desires to graft them back into the family tree if they will believe.
This article was really helpful but I don't know if i agree with the wording of this sentence - "We can be thankful the first-century Jewish world initially rejected the wedding feast invitation. Because of their rejection, space was made for all of us."
Isn't it devastating that God's people, the Jews, rejected Jesus' invitation? And wouldn't Gentiles still be welcomed into God's kingdom even if all Jews did accept Christ?
That’s a great question, “Wouldn’t the Gentiles still be welcomed into God’s kingdom even if all Jews did accept Christ?”
The way Paul phrases it in Romans is that the offer of salvation through Christ is for the Jew first, but also for the Greek. This is the pattern he followed throughout his missionary journeys. He preached to the Jewish community first, and only after the Gospel was rejected, did he go to the Gentiles.
He explains this in Romans 11 as the Gospel is shared with the Gentiles in order to make the Jews jealous and provoke them to come to Christ. He says in verse 15, “For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?”
The Jews’ rejection of the Gospel meant reconciliation for the world. And if they were to accept the Gospel, it would mean they would be brought back from the dead. Paul is explaining, in context, that Gentiles should be humble and recognize they’ve received this opportunity because many Jews rejected the Gospel (as God knew they would), but God can and desires to graft them back into the family tree if they will believe.