ADDRESSES ON ROMANS understand why Israel should be set aside, as a nation, and the Gentiles be brought into the place of blessing. They could not get away from the fact that these honors belonged to Israel. God had never made such promises to the Gentiles; but they could see Israel, that honored nation, set aside, while poor, lost, alienated Gentiles were brought into the place of blessing. This puzzled them. Therefore Paul explains in verses 6~13 that God's righteousness is vindicated in thus dealing with the Hebrew nation. GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS ESTABLISHED IN SETTING ASIDE ISRAEL FOR A TIME 9:6~13 For the enlightenment of these bewildered Christian Jews the inspired writer presents three plain facts: 1. THE WoRo OF Goo CONCERNING lsRAEL CAN NoT FAIL. The nation had failed and had been temporarily set aside. God called the Gentiles, and they received the bless~ ings. But Paul makes it clear that this does not put to naught God's purpose concerning Israel. Everyone of His promises to them, as a nation, will be fulfilled. This is what James meant when he said at the first church council in Jerusalem, addressing a group of apostles and other fellow~Christians: "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world" (Acts 15: 14~18). We studied earlier in this epistle that God can not lie. When He gave the promises to Abraham, He confirmed His word by His oath, "that by two immutable things (His word [Page 179
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