Happy New Year my friends! Looking back over what we’ve been talking about lately, going into this new year I really want you to understand this ‘mystery’ of God so that you don’t feel proud about yourselves. Some of the Jewish people are stubborn, but this will only last until all of the rest of us come to Christ. And so all of the Jews will be saved. As the Bible says in Isaiah:
“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,
and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
And this is my covenant with them,
that I will take away their sins.” (Is. 59:20-21)
Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits us. Yet they are still the people God loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As you well know, God’s gifts can never be withdrawn (Heb. 7:21). Once we were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against Him, God was merciful to us instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to us so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned (and Earth is our prison) everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone.
Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is or us to understand His decisions and His ways!
For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give Him advice? (Is. 40:13)
And who has given Him so much
that he needs to pay it back? (Job 41:11)
Because everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory be to our God forever!
May our loving and merciful God bless you as you move into this new year.
Paul
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