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The Beloved Enemy

Words of Faith Final

The Beloved Enemy
Words of Faith 11-2-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 11
[28] As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, [29] for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. [30] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. [32] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Here is the paradox of Christian Jewish relations-- Judaism is both the enemy of the Gospel and the beloved of God. It is difficult to wrap one's brain around, but it is true.
"As far as the Gospel is concerned, Jews are enemies on your account." Judaism does, indeed, mount the strongest argument against Jesus as Messiah. There is great fear in the Jewish community because of Christian proselytizing. Judaism may not have deliberately made itself an enemy of the Gospel but after centuries of conflict and anti-Semitism propagated in the name of Christ they are enemies nevertheless.
But the Jewish people are also "loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." In relation to God's choice of Abraham and His covenant with him and the patriarchs, Israel is beloved. Why? Simply because God chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He loves the nation and will carry through on His promises. This is another reason Israel's hardening must be temporary, and she must finally be saved corporately. God chose her, and God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. He does not revoke what He has given or whom He has chosen.
This should be no surprise to anyone who has experienced the grace of God. We were at one time "enemies of God", disobedient corporately and individually, but have we now received the mercy of God. What is more, the Gospel actually came to the Gentiles because of the rejection by much of Israel, so we really must give thanks.
Now? Our prayer and witness can be that all people, Jew and Gentile, will receive mercy due to God's mercy shown show wonderfully in Jesus. Our prayer must be that Israel will come to see Jesus as Messiah despite a painful history. Our witness must be for Christ to be revealed in our words and actions.

Lord, I pray today for the peace of Jerusalem. I pray Your blessing upon Israel. I pray for the Gospel of peace in Christ to be made known in all the earth. I pray that You will reconcile all Your people to one another and reconcile to Yourself all those who have made themselves enemies of God. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.